Postby GrouseMan » Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:15 pm
Lori Outlaw,
Get the second opinion, but in the mean time I would go with the FolFox and Avastin to get the ball rolling. It sounds like you have a lot of tumors and what the oncologists consider a larger tumor burden. It might be a good idea to get started in reducing their size if possible. FolFox is the normal first line of chemo therapy, and a lot of oncologists are adding Avastin now a days. This doesn't preclude you from taking the advice of other oncologists/doctors, but I think it important not to wait at this stage.
My wife (also named Lori ) is also stage IV with mets to Liver Spleen and possibly though they can't be sure the Lungs. She is not a candidate for a Liver resection either because of the other mets. However - they did remove the tumor in her colon. I am not sure why they don't do this with yours at this point unless they are afraid that while you are recovering the existing METS further may spread, or become too large. My wife's were slow growing and the largest I think 4 cm in size, so they didn't get very much bigger in the 6 weeks it took before she could start doing the FOLFOX chemo. She handled that very well, and Is now on just 5-FU and Avastin once every three weeks. Her tumors shrunk, to the point the ones on her spleen they don't see on the CT any more. And the ones on her Liver look about 50% calcified. Now that she has done well with this treatment they may consider other perhaps surgical or ablation options now.
So - Don't fret. As others said take a deep breath. Ask LOTS and Lots of questions here. Chances are very good that someone on these forums have felt the same way, has similar reactions to the drugs or can explain things that the oncologist or other doctors failed to do a good job explaining to you.
Best Regards,
GrouseMan
DW 53 dx Jun 2013
CT mets Liver Spleen lung. IVb CEA~110
Jul 2013 Sig Resct
8/13 FolFox,Avastin 12Tx mild sfx, Ongoing 5-FU Avastin every 3 wks.
CEA: good marker
7/7/14 CT Can't see the spleen Mets.
8/16/15 CEA Up, CT new abdominal mets. Iri, 5-FU, Avastin every 2 wks.
1/16 Iri, Erbitux and likely Avastin (Trial) CEA going >.
1/17 CEA up again dropped from Trial, Mets growth 4-6 mm in abdomen
5/2/17 Failed second trial, Hospitalized 15 days 5/11. Home Hospice 5/26, at peace 6/4/2017