Postby fumaros » Wed Jan 31, 2018 10:51 am
Hi Beloved fiancee,
Cancer is always shocking to hear as a diagnosis and signet ring cell (SRC) always feels like a double blow in an already crippling event. However, there are certainly long-term survivors who have had cancer with signet ring cell features. It is treatable. I would strongly state that the standard frequency of follow up scans for SRC have to be more frequent than every 6 months. I received a scan half way through chemo, and scans every 3 months for the first year, and will be getting scanned every 4 months for the second year after chemo. SRC is very aggressive compared to standard colorectal cancer (CRC), treatment is usually the standard chemo regimen for CRC, the only difference being the frequency of scans as it needs to be caught early if there is ever recurrence (hopefully not). Also, if your fiance hasn't, he might want to consider getting a second opinion at a major cancer treatment center like MSKCC.
Diagnosed 4/8/16, age 29
Colectomy 4/20/16
Stage III, T4bN1 Tumor 7x6.5x2. Muscinous Adenocarcinoma with SRC features
2/16 lymph nodes
Stage IV, Peri mets 5/2019
CEA 4/14/16 - 16.8
CEA 6/2/16 - 1.9
CEA 6/17/16 - 0.87, 7/16 - 1.33, 12/16 - 1.14, 4/17 - 0.6, 7/17 - 0.5, 10/17 - 0.9, 3/19 -5.8, 4/19 -10
FOLFOX began 6/24/16 - 11/25/16, FOLFIRI - 5/10/19
10 round FOLFOX, 2 round 5-FU & Leucovorin, 1 round FOLFIRI
MRI & CT 8/16 - NED, CT 12/16 - 10/17 - NED