Dad - notmore treatments? Help!

[Guest guest]

Dear and Friends,

I was just informed today that my Dad's onc won't be giving him

anymore chemo treatment until Avastin or Erbitus becomes available

early next year.

My Dad is stage iv with mutiple lung mets. He was on his 4th cycle

of oxaliplatin/xeloda (from 8/29-11/14). His CEA was the following:

8/22(prior to chemo): 82

10/24: 98.7

11/14: 86.2

Prior to starting oxaliplatin/xeloda, he was on CPT-11 (April -

June '30), and xeloda only (Nov '02-March '03). The most current

MRI/CT results on 12/4 indicated that his cancer is worsening, there

are mutiple mets in his lungs. The 7/29 PET result only showed 3

mets, all in the right lobe of the lungs. However, is liver and

other organs are still clear and he as normal liver functions.

His onc said it does not appear that oxaliplatin is working and my

Dad exhausted all chemo options (oxali, CPT-11 and xeloda). His

doctors also said he is not eligible for radiation or surgery

because of the number of mets and location. [i am waiting for a

copy of the MRI/CT report.]

Does it make sense to discontinue him on oxaliplatin? (What if

oxaliplatin is slowing down the growth). What are the symptoms of

lung failure beside breathing?

I just feel so hopeless and devastated right now, especially since

Jan 1 will be my Dad's 63rd birthday!

Thank you all,

Nickie

Any suggestions you may have will be greatly appreciated!