Any ideas?

[Sparrow]

Hi folks
I need some hopeful comments regarding my husband's diagnosis. I'm scared to death, not feeling so hopeful anymore and confused. Here is his story in brief:

56 y.o., good health otherwise
1/7/15 Complete sigmoid colon blockage and 2 large liver lesions, lungs clear. CEA 3,000+. Stage 4 colorectal cancer.
Temp colostomy throughout chemo
6 months chemo 5FU with Avastin. At completion CEA 7
9/15 Did a liver resection with good margins. Tumors only 1-5% viable. CT scan showed questionable, tiny spots in lungs.
10/15 Waited 6 weeks then went in for colostomy reversal and colon tumor removal. Pre-surgery CT showed some growth of lung spots. Hubby opted to proceed with colostomy/colon tumor removal surgery over more chemo first. Colon surgery had good margins but path report showed tumor was 60 to 70% viable. CEA .07. Dr. Says he will have to do chemo for the rest of his life and feels he will make it to the 2.5 year mark. My question is this: in all honesty, once colorectal CA has metastasized to liver and lungs will chemo buy him much time? Anybody know of any long time survival stories beyond 3 years with Stage 4? AND does anyone know anything about Vitamin C infusions, treatment with Tumeric or Ph balancing?

[orcasres]

Hi, Sparrow,

This must be very frustrating for you and your husband. It definitely sounds like it would be appropriate for you to seek a second opinion. Every case is different and there may be options for your husband, including clinical trials, that would make sense. I personally would not want to stop investigating other options this soon or to give up on chemo yet. There are definitely stories of survival on this board for stage IV at five years and beyond and hopefully they will respond. Lois

[stu]

Hi.
My mum is doing nicely at 6 1/2 years. She has a small met showing just now but she has a good life and enjoys it. Where we live chemo is not used in the same way and she has only ever had six cycles twice to get her to surgery. The first couple of years were spent reducing the tumour load and then it settled for four years.
Much love
Stu

[betsydoglover]

Seeking a second opinion is a good idea.

And, there are many folks doing well more than 3 years after a Stage 4 diagnosis. See my signature, for example. 10.5 years since diagnosis. 7 years since recurrence in lung. No chemo for 4.5 years.

Take care,

[rp1954]

We used multiple chemistries, 5FU chemo, natural supplements and off label drugs to beat down metastatic colon cancer for over 5 yrs, including minor lung spots, "thangs".

You might read several Life Extension articles on colon cancer. Several people, either definitely or probably with Kras/BRAFmuatations, have benefited from IV vitamin C with their 5FU based treatments. Curcumin, the much concentrated turmeric extract, has been used or added by a number of survivors here. PSK and vitamin D3 have had a number of successful survivors adding them. Off label drugs like cimetidine and celecoxib have helped a number of people.

You might read our prior discussions how people have advocated for themselves, gone beyond the minimum standard of care to get ahead of their cancer, gotten multiple kinds of medical and nutritional support, to recover from serious situations.

[Crystald]

Hello.

A wealth of info here:

mCRC STAGE IV OR RECURRENT PATIENTS thread - ONGOING

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=41618

All from stage IV folks.

[jhocno197]

You can look into clinical trials. I know there are at least a couple of people here who have done well with that.

[jalusa]

I would seek a 2nd opinion. User JulieJ had both liver & lung mets.

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