CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

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Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby Rikimaroo » Wed Dec 06, 2017 10:51 am

so now I know why my CEA was so high. I now have a liver met, 5cm...Getting port installed 15th with a liver biopsy and start chemo on the 20th.

2 days on 12 days off folfox 5fu /oxaliplatin...and some avastin near the end possibly depending on liver biopsy. Liver tumor is stable.

Any advice. I am so confused on survivable and beating this thing, but I know I will.
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

stu
Posts: 1613
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:46 pm

Re: CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby stu » Wed Dec 06, 2017 3:15 pm

Hi ,
Sorry to hear your news . It takes time to find your feet but you will .
I hope my mum can give you some hope . Her liver has remained clear for the last six years .
She had her chemo and surgery and no long term liver issues .
Hope it gives you a little lift ,
Take care,
Stu
supporter to my mum who lives a great life despite a difficult diagnosis
stage4 2009 significant spread to liver
2010 colon /liver resection
chemo following recurrence
73% of liver removed
enjoying life treatment free
2016 lung resection
Oct 2017 nice clear scan . Two lung nodules disappeared
Oct 2018. Another clear scan .

Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

Re: CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby Rikimaroo » Wed Dec 06, 2017 7:59 pm

Stu,

It does. thank you so much. You read and hear all this talk about 5 year survival rate and get scared, but when I see posts like yours and others here, it makes me feel confident that I have a long life ahead of me. 3 little kids means I need to be here.

Thanks,
Rikimaroo
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

Basil
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:33 pm

Re: CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby Basil » Wed Dec 06, 2017 8:16 pm

Those five year rates are based on mountains of outdated data. You will want to look at them and start running a bunch of statistical brain teasers in your head. Don’t, because the statistics are skewed, and not in a positive way.

It’a not a cake walk - cancer never is - but your doctors have a lot of different options that the patients making up most of those statistics did not.
40 y/o male (now 46), kids 11 & 14.
Dx 3/16/17, rectal cancer s3,t3,n1,m0
PROSPCT trial (FOLFOX in lieu of chemorad)
FOLFOX 4/5/17 - 6/26/17
LAR 7/31/17, temp ileo
pathological complete response
Adjuvant chemo cancelled (IDEA Study)
Ileo reversed 9/25/17
NED
1 year scans - clear
2 year scans - clear
3 year scans - clear
4 year scans - clear
5 year scans - clear (considered cured)

User avatar
LeonW
Posts: 358
Joined: Sun May 03, 2015 4:59 pm
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Re: CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby LeonW » Thu Dec 07, 2017 5:19 am

Don't panic about things that you cannot influence << I agree - easier said than done >>.

As Basil said, there are many options these days. Keep in mind that you're in the hands of docs who have spent half their lives understanding cancer.

One good thing is that you already know is that your CEA may well be a good indicator for you - easy to monitor.

I started off with liver mets that were too big for resection. Had a rough ride and chemo wasn't easy, but effective.
I wish you the same.

Don't spend too much time on Google
Don't conclude anything from what you find before you've soon your ons seen your oncs
Take it day by day / celebrate each and every success however small

Best wishes, Leon

edit: spelling
Last edited by LeonW on Fri Dec 08, 2017 6:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
Dec 2012 - CC 2 unresect liver mets, CEA 41.8 (MM 65yrs)
Jan 2013 - colectomy @ spleen 2/26 nodes IVa T3N1bM1a
Feb-Jul - 1x Xelox-7x Xelox/Avastin, shrinkage from #3
Aug - 2x PV embolization (both failed)
Sep 2013 - R liver resect, 25d hosp (liver failure/delirium, lung emboli, encephalopathy), no living cancer (pCR)
2014/15 - recovery, scopy: 2 polyps
2016 - new town/life
2018, scopy: 2 polyps
2018/20 low (1.0-1.4) CEAs/clean CTs: 4x2014, 6x2015-17, 3x2018-20
next June 2021!

Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

Re: CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby Rikimaroo » Thu Dec 07, 2017 4:01 pm

Thanks Leon your story gives me hope. Basil I agree. I will keep at it and stay positive.
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

NedPlease
Posts: 550
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2012 3:56 pm

Re: CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby NedPlease » Thu Dec 07, 2017 5:03 pm

Riki,

Both depressing and frightening news for sure but keep the faith because I had two big fat liver mets in 2010 and I’m doing well in 2017. A good outcome is possible.

Best to you,
N
F-54- St 4- Ascend Colon, 2 Liver mets, Poorly dif, Mutant
6/10- Folfox
9/10- R Liver Resect/Colon/Gall/Appendix
11/10-3/11- Folfox
11/11- R Lung, 1 met, VATS
3/12- 9/12- Xeloda
2/12- 6/18 Clear Scans
6/19- first time no scan
Today- NED

Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

Re: CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby Rikimaroo » Thu Dec 07, 2017 5:33 pm

NedPlease that is amazing news my friend. Thank you for the well wishes.
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

NedPlease
Posts: 550
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2012 3:56 pm

Re: CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby NedPlease » Thu Dec 07, 2017 10:54 pm

Riki,

A treatment do-over for me would be to ask for IV fluids because I had much difficulty staying hydrated. It affected my fatigue level and I’m convinced IV fluids could’ve made life much better. Something to think about especially as a parent of young children

N
F-54- St 4- Ascend Colon, 2 Liver mets, Poorly dif, Mutant
6/10- Folfox
9/10- R Liver Resect/Colon/Gall/Appendix
11/10-3/11- Folfox
11/11- R Lung, 1 met, VATS
3/12- 9/12- Xeloda
2/12- 6/18 Clear Scans
6/19- first time no scan
Today- NED

Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

Re: CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby Rikimaroo » Fri Dec 08, 2017 11:42 pm

Thanks everyone. I feel so disappointing in myself for not doing surgery in June. I may have been done with this. The W&W protocol I did I should of done chemo as a mop-up and I probably wouldn't be in this situation. I hate thinking this way and I know I shouldn't but I put myself in now such a sticky situation. :(
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

User avatar
Robino1
Posts: 463
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 12:09 pm
Facebook Username: Robin.lawthers
Location: Florida

Re: CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby Robino1 » Sat Dec 09, 2017 7:58 am

Rikimaroo wrote:Thanks everyone. I feel so disappointing in myself for not doing surgery in June. I may have been done with this. The W&W protocol I did I should of done chemo as a mop-up and I probably wouldn't be in this situation. I hate thinking this way and I know I shouldn't but I put myself in now such a sticky situation. :(


I played the 'What if I" game. Don't.

I had a resection three years ago. No lymph node involment. Clear margins. No chemo.
When I went to a colon cancer specialist this November, they told me that they wouldn't have recommended chemo after either.

I didn't ask the question and I'm not sure why she volunteered that info but I'm glad she did.

Dont beat yourself up looking back. Focus on kicking ass again.
At 54 2014 1st colonoscopy colon cancer detect
Colon resect margins clear. No chemo Stage II
2017
Distend abd, pain in intestines.
CT scan seeding & Ascites
Lap diag - cancer on the omentum
CEA 217; 219
FOLFOX started 6/17
CEA 202
8/29/17 CT melting of tumor.
Latest CT scan shows 2 new tumors and return of ascites.
CEA: (2017)9/30 -109; 10/12 -99.1; 11/4 -90.7; 11/30 -70.7; 12/14 -83.4; (2018)1/4 -73.3; 2/1-84.2; 89.2; 89.8; 88.5; 81.8: 93.5; 107; 119
BRAF V600e

User avatar
susie0915
Posts: 945
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:17 am
Facebook Username: Susan DeGrazia Hostetter
Location: Michigan

Re: CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby susie0915 » Sat Dec 09, 2017 9:03 am

That was one of the reasons my oncologist recommended chemo after surgery so I wouldn't play the "what if" game if I did have a recurrence. It is a tough decision, I considered not doing chemo as my surgeon told me that only scar tissue remained after chemo/radiation, and I may not need it after surgery. But on my oncologists recommendation I went ahead. But if she had given me an indication opting out was okay I probably would've. Don't beat yourself up, you don't know for sure that your decision was the reason for your recurrence. Just know so many here are doing very well after recurrences and you can be one of them as well. Move forward and fight
Robin,
It looks like you are responding well to treatment as your CEA is coming down. That is great.
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5

Rikimaroo
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:48 pm
Location: Florida

Re: CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby Rikimaroo » Sat Dec 09, 2017 12:06 pm

Thank you guys really appreciate it. Robin hang in there my brother you’re going to be this glad you responded well to treatment.
RC T3N1M0 12/16
MSS - NRAS Mutation
Chemo Rad, CCR - W&W 5/2017
Recurrence 11/2017
CT Scan 11/2017 Liver Met 5.5cm Stable, Stage IV
LAR/Liver Resect 4/2018
Reversal 10/18
CEA highest 500, lowest .8 throughout process, waiting for latest
Recurrence left vesical/pelvic sidewall - 10/7/2019 resect perm bag,
CEA rise Feb/May 3.7, 8.8, 30, Recurrence in Pelvic
CEA 40 right now, but was 57, so folfiri to beat it back down.
Lots of chemo for the past 4 years.

gfpiv
Posts: 157
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 9:24 pm

Re: CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby gfpiv » Sat Dec 09, 2017 2:16 pm

You may want to consider looking into HAI / hepatic pump, especially if your met(s) is/are liver-limited. It can really have dramatic results, and it's the main reason I'm still here today. Most oncs that don't know much about HAI will discourage looking into it, voicing doubts on effectiveness. However, at hospitals with expertise in the treatment (esp. Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC), they are well aware of its effectiveness. You may want to search this forum for "HAI"; I'm sure there are hundreds of posts about it. Best wishes in your treatment.

-Chip
Chip
DX stage IV CC Jan '10, numerous unresectable liver mets
FOLFOX + Avastin Feb-Jul '10
Colon resection, HAI install Aug '10
Systemic FOLFIRI and hepatic FUDR Dec'10-May'12
Chemo break May'12-pres (tumors calcified & stable, knock on wood)
Billiary bypass surgery and SBRT on pesky liver met in 2015

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: CT Scan Just came in Liver Met (one)

Postby NHMike » Sat Dec 09, 2017 2:34 pm

I kind of went through this recently. Stage 3B with a complete response after surgery. Surgeon suggested that I could do Xeloda or 5-FU of Adjuvant and skip the Oxaliplatin. Oncologist recommended, of course, Oxaliplatin. I've seen a lot of people go through this decision lately and the vast majority go with Adjuvant chemo, both 2s and 3s. At the 2 level, it's a much tougher decision, both for the oncologist and the patient. So I'm taking the risk on neuropathy in exchange for better odds of it not coming back. Believe me, if I could skip Adjuvant or Oxaliplatin, I would. No fun doing this stuff for the next five months.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT


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