Cancer times two...............UPDATE

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
User avatar
teacher49
Posts: 189
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2011 10:34 am

Cancer times two...............UPDATE

Postby teacher49 » Sun Feb 07, 2016 2:36 pm

Dear colon clubbers: As I approach the 5 year mark on my diagnosis of rectal CA, I'm now on the caregiver side for my dear husband. My condition is NED.

DH was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of mid-esophagus on Dec. 21, 2015. January was a blur of CT scans, EUS, PET scans etc. He has a Stage IV esophageal cancer. Unresectable as of now with mets to T5 vertebral body. Not good but we won't look at the stats on this one.

He had longtime GERD and Barrett's esophagus which was well controlled for last 12 years. Just had clean EGD scope on Oct. 14, 2015. He is a smoker.
T4 tumor one year later and not at all in the area of Barrett's . All the doc's we saw from August until December for worrisome symptoms (per me, his wife) of back pain, and abnormal, excessive burps never once thought he should have another EGD immediately. Instead they did the usual protocol for months: EKG, nuclear stress test to rule out heart disease, gall bladder removal, orthopedic doc said osteoarthritis of upper back after lateral CT of spine. Physical therapy. Chiro's & DO's all said musculoskeletal. Not until he had drenching night sweats and swallowing problems did they rush to biopsy his esophagus. End of story.

He's had Carbo/Taxol - 3 infusions once per week so far. I asked ONC if carboplatin would have similar symptoms as oxaliplatin used in FOLFOX which I had done, and I was surprised when he said carbo was not as harsh! Radiation everyday began last Mon.

Keeping his weight stable at 180 lbs will be my challenge. Our hope is that he will have complete response after 6-7 wks. Then a rest......then PET scan. Possible surgery if nothing lights up on PET after a period of time.

There are miracles out there and new drugs are on the horizon such as Keytruda that look promising for squamous cell carcinomas.

My sincere best wishes for everyone who is going through tough surgeries, chemo regimens, etc.......this year. Take one day at a time.

Loving caregiver now.
F, 62,CRC, Adenoca, mod diff
cT3N0M0 Stage IIA May 2011
chemorad
APR on 9/27/11 Margins & Nodes Neg
comp.after surg/2 pelvic abscesses/Sepsis/Hosp 40 days
10th FOLFOX 6/6/2012 feet went numb
5FU to finish
NED 8/11/2021

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: Cancer times two...............UPDATE

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Sun Feb 07, 2016 2:49 pm

I'm so sorry to hear that your husband is battling esophageal cancer!*hugs* I hope he will have a complete response to the chemo!*hugs* Congratulations on being NED.*hugs*
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

Nik Colon

Re: Cancer times two...............UPDATE

Postby Nik Colon » Sun Feb 07, 2016 5:19 pm

I am so sorry :( hugs and best wishes

teachpdx
Posts: 634
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:29 am
Location: Portland, OR

Re: Cancer times two...............UPDATE

Postby teachpdx » Sun Feb 07, 2016 7:29 pm

I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles. My thoughts are with you and your husband.
4/24/12 RC T3N1M0 age 53
5/23-7/2 - 26 chemorad - Xeloda
7/16 Lynch- MSH2
8/28 LAR w/ temp ileo, CR, 0/11,M0, hysterectomy
10/13 6 cycles Xeloda - completed only 1 1/2 due to HFS
3/12/13 - reversal
8/13 NED
6/15 - HFS gone!

Danieljt
Posts: 309
Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2014 10:32 pm

Re: Cancer times two...............UPDATE

Postby Danieljt » Sun Feb 07, 2016 7:35 pm

Oh, so sorry! Hope things go good for you and your husband. Take care of him and take care of yourself.
Jackie
70 male stage 3b cc
Dx 5/9/14
Resection 7/1/14
dx 9/14
65 yr wife DLCl
Sct 3/21/19 Ned last 8 mo.

Ajane
Posts: 427
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 3:03 am

Re: Cancer times two...............UPDATE

Postby Ajane » Mon Feb 08, 2016 12:58 am

I'm so sorry to hear this. Hoping you can keep his weight on and he gets a complete response. Gentle hugs to you both, Jane
7/13, T2, G3, Ultra-low. CEA 5.7 KRAS Wild, MSS
8-9/13 6 wks Xeloda/radiation
12/13 TEM pCR NED
5/15 CEA 4.6 PET 1.5 cm met, UL Lobectomy
6-10/15: Rounds 1-2 Xelox+Avastin; 3-8 Folfox+Avastin
10/15-4/16: 12 rounds Avastin
9/2016 CEA 4.2, 12 mm AP node
11/2016 CEA 4.3. PET/CT. 16mm AP nodal met removed
4 wks chemorad
2/2017 NED CEA 2.4
Carafate to tx esophageal ulcers caused by rad
Avastin maintenance postponed

2 Corinthians 12:9

lpas
Posts: 1010
Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2014 11:11 pm

Re: Cancer times two...............UPDATE

Postby lpas » Mon Feb 08, 2016 9:24 am

This just stinks. There truly should be a limit to what one family has to endure. Thinking of you and hoping your husband finds some good treatment options.
11/14 Dx sigmoid CC @ 45yo
12/14 Colectomy + hysterectomy
Stage IIIB, T3N1bM0, 2/20 nodes, MSS, G2, KRAS(A146T), TP53, SMAD4, ERBB2, CEA 1.0
2/15-7/15 XELOX & celecoxib
2/19 clean scope
11/19 clean CT
Ongoing cimetidine & other targeted supplements
Mom to a 6 & 8yo


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], Google Feedfetcher and 113 guests