Surgery Questions

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CMeeks
Posts: 36
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:13 pm
Location: Oak Park, Illinois

Surgery Questions

Postby CMeeks » Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:11 am

HI Colon Clubbers,

I haven't been on here in a while, and I have some questsions. I feel guilty about even asking since I haven't been on here and I consider it my duty to support all of you however I can. but I've been so tired with chemotherapy and just trying to keep my work and personal life in order, I haven't been on. I promise to be better in the future.

So....as some of you might remember, I had a recurrence of my cancer. After 6 months of Folfox, I had a recurrence in my mesentary and peritoneum.

Since my recurrence I have been on Folfiri + Avastin. It seems to have worked. After 4 treatments, my PET scan came back with "no scintigraphic findings of residual or recurrent metastatic disease."

The doctors wanted me to finish my chemotherapy rounds, which i have been doing (4 more left). Now they want me to undergo a surgery that sounds very complicated. It involves resecting areas of my mesentary and peritoneum that had disease, and then "bathing" my mesentary and peritoneum in "hot" chemotherapy. They want me to do this surgery at MD Anderson in Houston, where there is a surgeon who specializes in this surgery.

I'm wondering if anyone else has heard of or undergone such a surgery and what it is like. Any information anyone can provide would be so much appreciated.

I hope everyone is doing well. If you need anything feel free to send me an email at chetmeeks@yahoo.com. Even though I haven't been on here lately I am so committed to this website and its members. I'll do anything for any of you that I can.

To Health,
Chet
Chet

bud
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:02 am

Postby bud » Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:54 am

I'm not familiar with the surgery, but would definitely trust MDA..you can likely find details about the doctor, and the surgery by going to the MDA site. Once you get to the site, you should be able to search the Dr and surgery by name. I think it is www.mdanderson.com
bud
bud

meighan
Posts: 65
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 12:31 pm

Postby meighan » Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:24 pm

hi chet is so good to see you posting here and the surgery sounds very promising especially since it is at MD Anderson with a specialist. I wish i knew something to tell you, We had a friend at sloan who during an extensive surgery after a reoccurance received open radiation which was a very complicated procedure and knock on wood he is doing very well.I hope you find someone out there who has had it done and can answer your questions. As for me i just really wanted to say how glad i am to hear the chemo worked so well and you will continue to be in our thoughts. let us know about the surgery, take care meighan

livinon

places of treatment

Postby livinon » Mon Jan 29, 2007 3:57 am

Chet, thank you for posting and for your wonderful attitude about giving back...it is an amazing thing that does transforms you...this responsibility to give back even when you are fighting your worst fight. I feel it every day and that is what keeps me going.

Any way to possibly post where you have been receiving treatment and who will be seeing you at MD Anderson? Have you heard of Dr. Sugarbaker in DC who apparently invented this type of surgery? He has alot of info on the surgery if you are looking for info...the website is http://www.surgicaloncology.com/.

thanks for your help and keep on fighting!

Guest

Surgery

Postby Guest » Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:10 am

The surgery is nicknamed MOAS (Mother of all surgeries). It is technically called Cytoreductive Surgery w/IPHC (Intra-peritoneal Hypothermic Chemotherapy). It is a tough surgery but it is offering some good remissions. They are very selective on who they will perform the surgery on so if they don't think it is for you'll know. It is FDA approved and is NOT considered investigational. In our case insurance will pay for it. There are only about 8-9 places in the US that offer this surgery.

I am consulting with Dr. Lowy at the University of Cincinnati to see if my husband might be a candidate (3 pelvic mets). They will evaluate him after he has his next scan to see what the chemo (CPT11, 5fu, and Avastin) is doing.

Magnolia
Posts: 1514
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 2:38 pm
Location: Virginia

Postby Magnolia » Mon Jan 29, 2007 3:13 pm

Anybody know if this surgery is done for other cancers besides colorectal? I know someone with ovarian cancer who has pelvic mets and who is not responding well to her second course of chemo after recurrance. Just curious.

CMeeks
Posts: 36
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:13 pm
Location: Oak Park, Illinois

Postby CMeeks » Mon Jan 29, 2007 9:26 pm

Thanks to all of you for the info and advice. I really appreciate it.

To Liveinon. I am receiving my treatments at Emory Crawford Long in Atlanta, GA. I used to live in Illinois/chicago area. But my career (what's left of it) took me to Atlanta. Emory is a very good health care system, very knowledgable doctors. I don't really "like" my doctor here, but he seems to have landed on the right treatment. My surgeon here, on the other hand, is incredible.....truly wonderful. So I feel extremely lucky. What can I say: I have great insurance and am able to see whomever I choose. I wish everyone had the kind of health insurance I had, because it would make everyone's lives much easier.

Thanks again to everyone for your support.....Chet
Chet

Holly
Posts: 537
Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:06 pm

Wow

Postby Holly » Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:49 pm

Chet,

Pleased to read that your most recent pet was unremarkable and sounds like you once again are preparing for your post chemo party to get started.

About the Surgery, yes it is complicated. There are a number of technical experts in this procedure throughout the country. Remember to ask lots of questions and demand answers. Note that the removal is sometimes referred to as 'debulking'. I am hopeful that you will handle the surgery well and be back to your wonderful self in no time!

Holly

Guest

Re: Surgery

Postby Guest » Fri Feb 16, 2007 2:50 pm

Guest wrote:The surgery is nicknamed MOAS (Mother of all surgeries). It is technically called Cytoreductive Surgery w/IPHC (Intra-peritoneal Hypothermic Chemotherapy). It is a tough surgery but it is offering some good remissions. They are very selective on who they will perform the surgery on so if they don't think it is for you'll know. It is FDA approved and is NOT considered investigational. In our case insurance will pay for it. There are only about 8-9 places in the US that offer this surgery.

I am consulting with Dr. Lowy at the University of Cincinnati to see if my husband might be a candidate (3 pelvic mets). They will evaluate him after he has his next scan to see what the chemo (CPT11, 5fu, and Avastin) is doing.


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