Nickie - Re: Dad - notmore treatments? Help!

[Guest guest]

Hi Nickie:

I'm so sorry to hear all this. The choice to discontinue treatment

and waith until Avastin and Eribitux become available must have you

all waiting on pins and needles.

I don't know the answers to your questions, but I do know others here

have had their existing treatments " tweaked " when they didn't seem to

be working. Would this be a reasonable option in the waiting period

until Avastin and Eribitux are available. By " tweaking " I mean

adding an existing med to the mix, like Celebrex, or looking at

increasing dose etc. Just some examples of what I've seen others do,

though may perhaps not be the right thing for your Dad.

Not the expert - just wondering if the questions have been asked.

Have you considered a second opinion? Just thinking that it might be

worth it, given your hesitation with this decision. At least you

will know you checked out all the options.

I'm sure there are others here who can help a lot more than I can,

but I wish you both all the luck with it. Will be keeping you and

your Dad in my thoughts and prayers,

Laurie

> 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!