Guest guest Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 Hello everyone, I just found this group and thought I'd share my experience. I currently have colon cancer. I was diagnosed 2 months ago at age 31 in stage IV, the cancer has mestasized to my liver. I was told they are unable to do any surgery and that chemotherapy is all they can offer at this point. We are hoping for a miracle and that the cancer cells and tumors will shrink at the end of my 6 mos of treatment so I will be able to have surgery. I have spoken to other colon cancer survivors who are stage IV like me and there is hope. I just wanted to be a voice for any stage IV colon cancer patients out there that we too can make it. I'm hoping to be one of those. I have just completed my first cycle of chemo and ready to start the second. Because of my age I am not experiencing bad side effects. I have not lost my hair as well. People are amazed to see me look so well. I realize though not everyone takes to the chemo the same way. I pray and have tremendous faith in God that he will heal me and take care of me during this difficult time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Kaila- Although we all here wish that you did not have to be here, . This is a group of just wonderful people, with a lot of knowledge from their experiences good and bad with this tough disease-welcome. There are a number of people here who have had liver nodules resected surgically or with RFA. Here is hoping/praying that yours also respond to chemotherapy well enough to consider resection. I am glad to hear that you are handling chemotherapy well. (I am 47 with stage IV disease on chemo since 6/03 and have also been tolerating it well.) Keep up the positive attitude, and keep us posted on your progress. Best wishes, Kris > Hello everyone, I just found this group and thought I'd share my > experience. I currently have colon cancer. I was diagnosed 2 > months ago at age 31 in stage IV, the cancer has mestasized to my > liver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Kaila, Welcome to this group! I really admire your spirit and wish you well. My husbaand's situation is similar to yours in that he was also diagnosed at stage IV with liver(and lung)mets and considered to be inoperable. He haas just completed his 4th cycle of chemo with CPT-11 (Camptosar)/5FU/Lv and has tolerated the chemo pretty good so far. He takes several " prevention " meds to prevent the worst side-effects before they occur. His onc told us that most people on this form of chemo usually do not loose their hair and he hassn't yet although it has thinned considerably and is more grey but he's 52 so much older than you. Many of his tumors have been shrinking since starting the chemo in August which is a good sign and has greatly decreased the pain he had before. We're on 2 weeks off right now(he does 4 weeky treatments followed by 2 off for each cycle)and has CT scans again on Feb.3rd before starting the next cycle. Wwe're hoping for some good news. Take good care of yourself and check in to the board often, I've found a lot of good information and support from the members here. > Hello everyone, I just found this group and thought I'd share my > experience. I currently have colon cancer. I was diagnosed 2 > months ago at age 31 in stage IV, the cancer has mestasized to my > liver. I was told they are unable to do any surgery and that > chemotherapy is all they can offer at this point. We are hoping for > a miracle and that the cancer cells and tumors will shrink at the > end of my 6 mos of treatment so I will be able to have surgery. I > have spoken to other colon cancer survivors who are stage IV like me > and there is hope. I just wanted to be a voice for any stage IV > colon cancer patients out there that we too can make it. I'm hoping > to be one of those. I have just completed my first cycle of chemo > and ready to start the second. Because of my age I am not > experiencing bad side effects. I have not lost my hair as well. > People are amazed to see me look so well. I realize though not > everyone takes to the chemo the same way. I pray and have > tremendous faith in God that he will heal me and take care of me > during this difficult time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2004 Report Share Posted January 20, 2004 Hi Kaila, My name is Ken and I'm 33 years old. I was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in August 2003. I had mets to two abdominal lymph nodes, I can tell you that the Doctors had initially told me that surgery on my primary rectal tumor was unlikely due to the mets. After 7 cycles of CPT-11/5-FU/LV I no longer have any mets (confirmed with combo CT/PET scan). I had two local nodes that looked suspicious; those were eradicated as well and my primary tumor is showing minimal uptake according to the scans. If I was diagnosed again today I would be a Stage II. You have the right attitude, don't give up hope. I am doing radiation now to further shrink the rectal tumor further so that my surgery in March will be less invasive. Here's hoping that you will have the same response that I had to chemo. No Surrender! Cheers, Ken > Hello everyone, I just found this group and thought I'd share my > experience. I currently have colon cancer. I was diagnosed 2 > months ago at age 31 in stage IV, the cancer has mestasized to my > liver. I was told they are unable to do any surgery and that > chemotherapy is all they can offer at this point. We are hoping for > a miracle and that the cancer cells and tumors will shrink at the > end of my 6 mos of treatment so I will be able to have surgery. I > have spoken to other colon cancer survivors who are stage IV like me > and there is hope. I just wanted to be a voice for any stage IV > colon cancer patients out there that we too can make it. I'm hoping > to be one of those. I have just completed my first cycle of chemo > and ready to start the second. Because of my age I am not > experiencing bad side effects. I have not lost my hair as well. > People are amazed to see me look so well. I realize though not > everyone takes to the chemo the same way. I pray and have > tremendous faith in God that he will heal me and take care of me > during this difficult time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2004 Report Share Posted January 21, 2004 Ken, I really like your attitude! I don't have cancer, but have a younger brother who does, so I have become his research assistant (lol) and read every post! Anything that I can learn and/or even know enough to discuss options with him has been helpful. Thanks. Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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