I don't think any doctor would approve of the use of Celebrex while the patient is on Avastin due to increased bleeding risk.

Cincinnati doesn't have a NCI designated cancer center, usually these centers offer the latest in treatment options as well as many on-going clinical trials. Below is a link to US News ranking of best hospitals in Cincinnati that you can use as a reference to gauge the quality of a hospital. Althoug...

They are using this vaccine in Germany and there are trials here for it. I believe the trial is called DCVax. I looked it up, too, it's for brain tumours. The one in Russia is for several types, including colon cancer. Just hope that cure comes soon in any form. DCVax is a technology owned by North...

In simple terms, KRAS is a protein in your body. When you don't have the KRAS mutation, it means you have more options in terms of treatment. Your oncologist can use Erbitux and Vectibix for your treatment and insurance company has to pay for it.

It sounds like the tumor shrunk in size! If your cancer is responding to treatment, it could start shrinking after the very first round. There are no rules stating you must have 3 rounds before your tumor starts to shrink. Of course you would need PET/CT and blood test to be sure. But at least your ...

P.S. Not sure if essiac tea is at all similar in it's mechanism of effectiveness,but when on active chemo my integrative dr. highly recommended against drinking green tea; the active ingredient (EGCG) supposedly can protect cancer cells. Your doc was most likely talking about the following study: h...

You want to be careful with the pain meds you listed. Definitely ask your doc for opinion. Depending on your chemo regimen, some of the drugs can potentially be dangerous. If your oncologist decides to put you on Avastin, then Advil and Aspirin shouldn't be taken because of bleeding risk. Since you ...

If you are in the US, FDA has approved 2 metastatic CRC drug in 2012: Zaltrap (Aflibercept) and Stivarga (Regorafenib). Zaltrap works in similar fashion to Avastin in that it is an VEGF inhibitor. The difference is instead of blocking just VEGF-A, it also blocks VEGF-B and PIGF. It is approved for u...

Even if you end up getting a biopsy, I would still want a PET scan done. I am surprised that your doctor is not pushing for one because it's a very standard practice to get one after cancer diagnose. Although no test can guarantee 100% accuracy, a PET scan can tell your doctor a lot more about the m...

Good read. Thanks for sharing your perspective!

With Stage 4 diease, if the tumor is not causing a blockage, the best option is to start chemotherapy immediately. Because of the circulating tumor cells already in the blood, doctors don't want to risk further metastasis. Chemotherapy can help contain the cancer and in some cases reduce tumor sizes...

I am sure someone with rectal cancer will log in with info. A friend was diagnosed with rectal cancer same month I was diagnosed with colon cancer. It is common to have radiation and chemo prior to surgery. I think this may help shrink tumor prior to surgery. The scans MRI and PET will help in stag...

Please call your doc ASAP. Looking at your sig it shows your husband is on Avastin, which is known to cause blood clots. Have an ultrasound done to make sure. If he does have blood clot then he needs to be on blood thinner. It can be a pretty serious matter. From chemocare.com "The following sy...

Hello, thanks in advance to anyone who replies. I am new to this forum and is seeking advice on those who have/are going through treatment for advanced stage colorectal cancer. A close relative was recently diagnosed with stage 4 of this cancer. His doctor referred him to a local clinic affilated wi...