I'm 24 with Stage IV Colon Cancer

[Angelina]

I was diagnosed about a week and a half ago with Stage IV Colon Cancer. I have it in my liver and my lungs. I guess I am just curious on how others out there have handled their situation and if there are others who have been in my situation that have had success with treatments and have been long term survivors. I am really scared at the moment and not sure of what to do.

[missjv]

hi,
well my advice to you is go to a large cancer center and find a doctor who specializes in colon cancer. i travel from florida to new york once a month to see doc. i was diagnosed stage 4 in june 06 with liver mets. had chemo from july to october 2006 then december 2006 had surgery to remove spots on liver and now im on more chemo but i am now showing no evidence of cancer. you need to go where they specialize in this cancer if i would have stayed with doc here in florida who said i had 2 years to live and pretty much wrote me off then my life would be much different and i would not have a chance to beat this crap. chemo alone will not cure stage 4 colon cancer it will relieve symptoms and shrink tumors and you could go in remission but the only way to get rid of cancer is to surgically remove it if possible. do not get discouraged and do not read statistics you find on the internet they are old and do not reflect the new treatments that are available to treat this disease i made the mistake when i was 1st diagnosed and read every statistic and any other bull crap i could find on the internet and it did me no good. please contact a large cancer center such as sloan kettering in new york or md anderson in houston because they do alot of resective surgery for people with liver and lung mets and have alot of success. go check out their websites and read the info. good luck and there are alot of people on this board that have survived stage 4 for years so there is always hope just keep your chin up and search out all options for treatment.

missjv

[tennislover]

Hey there, I am a Stage IV survivor. I was diagnosed last year and I was only 28. I am sure that you are very scared....I will be honest, I am still scared! I did 6 weeks of Xeloda and radiation, then came surgery then Chemo - Folfox with Avastin. I found out in November that I was in remission. I think that you have found an awesome place to go, it has helped me out so much to have people that I could ask questions to, people who have been there before and know what I am feeling. I think you are in for a rollercoaster of emotions but remember that you are not alone! There are so many people here that you can always chat with and ask whatever questions you want. I will admit that this past year has been anything but easy for me but there have been some positive things also. Just try and remember that what ever you are feeling at the time is OKAY!

[Noonie2]

when a doc tells you straight up you have so many months, years to live, it is time to find another. and please do not search the internet, nothing will help you there, i tried when first diagnosed and it scared me to death. i live close to st. louis and that is where i went. colon specialist, liver specialist and a fantastic oncologist. that is what helped me survive. and having surgery to remove the cancer? yes! i was diagnosed stage iv in may, 2005. surgery removed the tumors in my colon, chemo shrank the large tumors in my liver, and then liver resection surgery in april, 2006. SURVIVED! they had to remove my whole left lobe and a portion of my right lobe, a part of my diaphragm and 80% of my stomach...like having a gastro intestinal bypass. but it is gone.........my point.......doctors who know what they are doing and who care and WHO DO NOT GIVE UP!!!! There is always hope! Hang in there and if you want to know the names of some great docs? I will sure share their names with you. Like I said, they are in St. Louis, but this is your life! Don't let anyone tell you there is no hope. Stay positive that you will BEAT this!!!!!!!!

Love, Noonie2

[Noonie2]

when a doc tells you straight up you have so many months, years to live, it is time to find another. and please do not search the internet, nothing will help you there, i tried when first diagnosed and it scared me to death. i live close to st. louis and that is where i went. colon specialist, liver specialist and a fantastic oncologist. that is what helped me survive. and having surgery to remove the cancer? yes! i was diagnosed stage iv in may, 2005. surgery removed the tumors in my colon, chemo shrank the large tumors in my liver, and then liver resection surgery in april, 2006. SURVIVED! they had to remove my whole left lobe and a portion of my right lobe, a part of my diaphragm and 80% of my stomach...like having a gastro intestinal bypass. but it is gone.........my point.......doctors who know what they are doing and who care and WHO DO NOT GIVE UP!!!! There is always hope! Hang in there and if you want to know the names of some great docs? I will sure share their names with you. Like I said, they are in St. Louis, but this is your life! Don't let anyone tell you there is no hope. Stay positive that you will BEAT this!!!!!!!!

Love, Noonie2

[suzannchili]

It sucks that you had to be here, but you came to the right place! There are stage 4 survivors! It is scary and horrible, but you can beat this. Attitude is everytrhing. At 24, I am so surprised, but it happens. Keep raeching out and asking questions.

[Guest]

Hi Noonie -

Who are the doctors you worked with in St. Louis, and at what hospital(s)? Thanks for the information.