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Chance for long-term NED for stage IV with chemo alone?

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 11:27 am
by LMighty
Hi everyone,

Have you any stories of stage IV survivors achieving long-term NED with chemo alone?

As mentioned in my signature, my mom is considered stage IV due to malignant pleural effusion despite the absence of any visible tumour. So resection is not an option -- we can only count on chemo, at least for the time being. I am aware of the low chance statistically but would really like to hear some positive stories to keep on fighting.

Thanks a lot.

Re: Chance for long-term NED for stage IV with chemo alone?

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 12:17 pm
by recruiter
To quote my oncologist, "There is always hope."

Keep fighting.

Re: Chance for long-term NED for stage IV with chemo alone?

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 12:55 pm
by Achilles Torn
Chances may be low but it is quite possible.

See Bob Ramey's story (Chemo only) on the Colon Cancer podcast

http://thecoloncancerpodcast.com/2016lybl008/

There are a few a few others on this board that if you search you may find. Also - there are those that when they had surgery after Chemo their tumors were virtually gone or 'dead' from the Chemo.

Chances are low (I would guess less than 1 in 10) but it can happen....Also possible to fail a chemo line and have a great response to the next.

Stay positive!

AT

Re: Chance for long-term NED for stage IV with chemo alone?

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 7:35 pm
by LeonW
Achilles Torn wrote:. . . there are those that when they had surgery after Chemo their tumors were virtually gone or 'dead' from the Chemo.

Yes this sometimes happens. I'm one of these lucky ones, see my signature. IIRC, my docs said that they see this in some 6% of initially non-resectable cases of liver mets. I sometimes wonder if, in retrospect and in theory, my (difficult) liver resection could have been avoided, but have no regrets.

I hope this helps a little, L

Re: Chance for long-term NED for stage IV with chemo alone?

Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2017 11:21 am
by plastikos
Hey LMighty. This is a question that crosses my mind a lot. I would say it is possible but only in a small percentage of cases. Praying for the best.

Re: Chance for long-term NED for stage IV with chemo alone?

Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 1:37 pm
by LMighty
Hi everyone,

Thanks a lot for your replies and kind words. Happy to know some of us do achieve what seemed to be extremely rare. I really need those stories. I need hope to cling to. This is so tough.

Right now my mom is on some sort of a break before we start Xeliri in early April. She stayed in the hospital for a few days for thoracentesis and pleurodesis to relieve symptoms. PET scans done 2 months ago showed no visible tumors but I have really been worried about the possible progression during these few months off chemo. She is back home today, sleeping really well, and alive and kicking. We try to be positive, eat and sleep well, to prepare for another battle ahead.

I hope all the best for you.

Re: Chance for long-term NED for stage IV with chemo alone?

Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 2:07 pm
by dianetavegia
My sweet friend at church was dx's with rectal cancer and told with over 50 liver tumors, she wouldn't make it to summer. They haven't removed the rectal tumor and each chemo eventually has failed but she's on a new one right now and her CEA is coming down. With radioactive beads, they shrunk all but the two largest liver tumors. This is her 3rd summer and she's in church every Sunday, helps care for her 3 grandbabies and you'd never know she had anything wrong to look at her.

There's always hope! I sometimes say 'Cancer may kill me...... but NOT TODAY!'
Diane