Dads appt today, asked about kras

[canadiandaughter]

So my folks went into their appt today with a list of questions from me. One was what is his kras status. The answer, they don't test for that until they find that chemo is not working. Another was what are his CEA levels? ENd of July before starting chemo they were normal. Also found out it was his white blood count that was low that caused him to miss chemo for a week. So really didn't learn all that much. Is this off that they don't test for Kras right away? Tomorrow they meet with a surgeon, so hoping that appt goes ok as well. I have my daughter tagging along to that one so we get the details about what he says. THis really sucks being so far away!!

[mymom]

My mothers oncologists tested for KRAS right off the bat when first diagnosed. Not sure if it is different in the US. Hang in there.

[canadiandaughter]

Thanks. I'm fairly positive that he is kras wild as the chemo seems to be working on his colon tumor as far has his symptoms go. Will be a sleepless night before the catscan results in November to see what the liver and the lungs have done. I totally get why those who are NED have anxiety when they go for scans. This disease sucks no matter what stage you are at it seems. You never really get away from it. It has to keep its ugly claws in your for life.

[raym]

I think what the doctor meant to say about chemo working is that if the first line chemo does not work they will move to second line chemo which can include treatments that are not effective for KRAS mutant patients (Vectibix and Erbitux). The fact that FOLFIRI may be working does not indicate the KRAS status.

[canadiandaughter]

Thanks Ray, i'm trying hard to learn all of this damn cancer stuff but sometimes its mind boggling and I appreciate anything I can get from those of you who do know.

[janderson]

They didn't test for KRAS with me until I needed an EGFR inhibitot (Erbitux, or Vectibix). CEA might not be a good indicator for him if he still has visible lesions and his CEA is normal. That is the case with me. I can only go by scans to know what the cancer is doing.

[canadiandaughter]

Surgeon today said from his first scan there was malignant looking lymph nodes in the chest so no surgical option. Why the heck would the oncologist send them there and raise his hopes??