Re: bad turn of events/questions/any advice you can give? stage 4

[Guest guest]

Dear --

Leucovorin & 5-FU as well as CPT-11 and OXAL are all established

drugs for colon cancer--maybe the mix is experimental, but otherwise

they're all in use. The two newest drugs out there are Avastin and

Erbitux. Both, I believe, work by interrupting the blood supply to

tumor grownth. (You still need the 'old stuff' to shrink existing

tumor.) Oxaliplatin worked well for me for 3 months; now I'm on CPT-

11, Avastin, 5FU and Leucovorin. Before that just the 5FU and

Leucovorin. ALL these buggers have side effects, but oncologist will

tinker with doseage, timing, to keep them at minimum. (Although my

last treatment was just Avastin and other than being a little tired,

had no trouble at all--I'm Stage IV.)

Find out what your Dad's CEA is now (blood marker for cancer

activity); when it gets smaller (3 or less is good), mens cancer is

less active.

Good luck to you and Dad

Katy

(p.s.--unless you dad has wonderful veins, getting a port would be a

good idea--saves the poke every time. Just outpatient surgery.)

> Hi

>

> I started on this board about 2 years ago, and at that time my dad

> had been diagnosed with colon cancer. They told us at the time

that

> he was stage 3, and they had felt like they had treated things and

> that he was out of the woods. Last Friday we got some terrible

> news. He is now stage 4, and the cancer which they had thought

they

> had gotten rid of had spread to at least the lungs. At this time,

> we are waiting for them to do another CAT scan to see where else

the

> cancer may have spread, and we meet with the doctor on wednesday.

> They are discussing a possible clinical trial involving treating

> with Leucovorin & 5-FU as well as CPT-11 and OXAL. From what I

> understand this is somewhat experimental but we have faith that the

> doctor knows what he is doing.

>

> At this time I find myself feeling lost, but wanting to be as

> educated on things as I can be. We of course are scared, not

> knowing what to do...what to think for a prognosis, etc...and I am

> having a hard time waiting til next wed to find out. When we do

> meet with the doctors, I want to have as much information as I can

> so that I can ask intelligent questions.

>

> What suggestions do any of you have as far as questions that I can

> ask so that our time with the doctor is as productive as possible,

> and I have as much information as I can get. Please, if you have

> any ideas for questions that I can/should ask to make me as well

> informed about the condition he is in and what we can look forward

> to in the future. I know how much things can vary, so I know that

I

> am not going to get as many answers as I would like, but of course

> the more information I have the better...

>

> Thanks in advance!

>

> Meis

[Guest guest]

Dear --

Leucovorin & 5-FU as well as CPT-11 and OXAL are all established

drugs for colon cancer--maybe the mix is experimental, but otherwise

they're all in use. The two newest drugs out there are Avastin and

Erbitux. Both, I believe, work by interrupting the blood supply to

tumor grownth. (You still need the 'old stuff' to shrink existing

tumor.) Oxaliplatin worked well for me for 3 months; now I'm on CPT-

11, Avastin, 5FU and Leucovorin. Before that just the 5FU and

Leucovorin. ALL these buggers have side effects, but oncologist will

tinker with doseage, timing, to keep them at minimum. (Although my

last treatment was just Avastin and other than being a little tired,

had no trouble at all--I'm Stage IV.)

Find out what your Dad's CEA is now (blood marker for cancer

activity); when it gets smaller (3 or less is good), mens cancer is

less active.

Good luck to you and Dad

Katy

(p.s.--unless you dad has wonderful veins, getting a port would be a

good idea--saves the poke every time. Just outpatient surgery.)

> Hi

>

> I started on this board about 2 years ago, and at that time my dad

> had been diagnosed with colon cancer. They told us at the time

that

> he was stage 3, and they had felt like they had treated things and

> that he was out of the woods. Last Friday we got some terrible

> news. He is now stage 4, and the cancer which they had thought

they

> had gotten rid of had spread to at least the lungs. At this time,

> we are waiting for them to do another CAT scan to see where else

the

> cancer may have spread, and we meet with the doctor on wednesday.

> They are discussing a possible clinical trial involving treating

> with Leucovorin & 5-FU as well as CPT-11 and OXAL. From what I

> understand this is somewhat experimental but we have faith that the

> doctor knows what he is doing.

>

> At this time I find myself feeling lost, but wanting to be as

> educated on things as I can be. We of course are scared, not

> knowing what to do...what to think for a prognosis, etc...and I am

> having a hard time waiting til next wed to find out. When we do

> meet with the doctors, I want to have as much information as I can

> so that I can ask intelligent questions.

>

> What suggestions do any of you have as far as questions that I can

> ask so that our time with the doctor is as productive as possible,

> and I have as much information as I can get. Please, if you have

> any ideas for questions that I can/should ask to make me as well

> informed about the condition he is in and what we can look forward

> to in the future. I know how much things can vary, so I know that

I

> am not going to get as many answers as I would like, but of course

> the more information I have the better...

>

> Thanks in advance!

>

> Meis

[Guest guest]

Dear --

Leucovorin & 5-FU as well as CPT-11 and OXAL are all established

drugs for colon cancer--maybe the mix is experimental, but otherwise

they're all in use. The two newest drugs out there are Avastin and

Erbitux. Both, I believe, work by interrupting the blood supply to

tumor grownth. (You still need the 'old stuff' to shrink existing

tumor.) Oxaliplatin worked well for me for 3 months; now I'm on CPT-

11, Avastin, 5FU and Leucovorin. Before that just the 5FU and

Leucovorin. ALL these buggers have side effects, but oncologist will

tinker with doseage, timing, to keep them at minimum. (Although my

last treatment was just Avastin and other than being a little tired,

had no trouble at all--I'm Stage IV.)

Find out what your Dad's CEA is now (blood marker for cancer

activity); when it gets smaller (3 or less is good), mens cancer is

less active.

Good luck to you and Dad

Katy

(p.s.--unless you dad has wonderful veins, getting a port would be a

good idea--saves the poke every time. Just outpatient surgery.)

> Hi

>

> I started on this board about 2 years ago, and at that time my dad

> had been diagnosed with colon cancer. They told us at the time

that

> he was stage 3, and they had felt like they had treated things and

> that he was out of the woods. Last Friday we got some terrible

> news. He is now stage 4, and the cancer which they had thought

they

> had gotten rid of had spread to at least the lungs. At this time,

> we are waiting for them to do another CAT scan to see where else

the

> cancer may have spread, and we meet with the doctor on wednesday.

> They are discussing a possible clinical trial involving treating

> with Leucovorin & 5-FU as well as CPT-11 and OXAL. From what I

> understand this is somewhat experimental but we have faith that the

> doctor knows what he is doing.

>

> At this time I find myself feeling lost, but wanting to be as

> educated on things as I can be. We of course are scared, not

> knowing what to do...what to think for a prognosis, etc...and I am

> having a hard time waiting til next wed to find out. When we do

> meet with the doctors, I want to have as much information as I can

> so that I can ask intelligent questions.

>

> What suggestions do any of you have as far as questions that I can

> ask so that our time with the doctor is as productive as possible,

> and I have as much information as I can get. Please, if you have

> any ideas for questions that I can/should ask to make me as well

> informed about the condition he is in and what we can look forward

> to in the future. I know how much things can vary, so I know that

I

> am not going to get as many answers as I would like, but of course

> the more information I have the better...

>

> Thanks in advance!

>

> Meis

[Guest guest]

Hi :

I am so sorry to hear this news about your father. To the best of my

knowledge, both Oxaliplating and CPT-11 are considered standard forms

of treatment for stage iv colon cancer and in some cases, even used

as an extra little bit of insurance for stage III's (my husband is

stage III and is getting 5fu/leucavorin/oxaliplatin.

There are new drugs out there since your father's diagnosis that have

been very helpful to many stage IV's. Also, how many lung nodules

are there? Your father may still be operable, providing him with the

best shot at cure. There is a procedure and for the life of me I

can't remember the clinical name right now, but it is often referred

to as " berry picking " whereby the tumors are removed from the lung,

providing it can be done. Also, with the new chemos, there may be

enough shrinkage or elimination of existing lung tumors that although

not operable now, perhaps a little ways down the road, he will be.

Don't give up and hope and continue to be strong and supportive for

your dad. It's another hurdle on this road we call the " cancer

highway " but not one that cannot be jumped.

Hugs,

Monika

> Hi

>

> I started on this board about 2 years ago, and at that time my dad

> had been diagnosed with colon cancer. They told us at the time

that

> he was stage 3, and they had felt like they had treated things and

> that he was out of the woods. Last Friday we got some terrible

> news. He is now stage 4, and the cancer which they had thought

they

> had gotten rid of had spread to at least the lungs. At this time,

> we are waiting for them to do another CAT scan to see where else

the

> cancer may have spread, and we meet with the doctor on wednesday.

> They are discussing a possible clinical trial involving treating

> with Leucovorin & 5-FU as well as CPT-11 and OXAL. From what I

> understand this is somewhat experimental but we have faith that the

> doctor knows what he is doing.

>

> At this time I find myself feeling lost, but wanting to be as

> educated on things as I can be. We of course are scared, not

> knowing what to do...what to think for a prognosis, etc...and I am

> having a hard time waiting til next wed to find out. When we do

> meet with the doctors, I want to have as much information as I can

> so that I can ask intelligent questions.

>

> What suggestions do any of you have as far as questions that I can

> ask so that our time with the doctor is as productive as possible,

> and I have as much information as I can get. Please, if you have

> any ideas for questions that I can/should ask to make me as well

> informed about the condition he is in and what we can look forward

> to in the future. I know how much things can vary, so I know that

I

> am not going to get as many answers as I would like, but of course

> the more information I have the better...

>

> Thanks in advance!

>

> Meis