38 with, single with baby stage 4

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Trying
Posts: 250
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 10:11 pm

38 with, single with baby stage 4

Postby Trying » Sun May 13, 2018 10:22 pm

I found out last week i have stage 4 inoperable colon cancer which spread to liver. 10 liver spots total.y baby has no father and is only 1 and a half. I am looking for positive outcomes and inspiation from others who have come through. I am terrified.

RulaLenska
Posts: 24
Joined: Fri May 04, 2018 8:13 pm

Re: 38 with, single with baby stage 4

Postby RulaLenska » Mon May 14, 2018 1:18 am

Welcome to the club though I’m really sorry that you’re here. I too was “inoperable “ when I was first diagnosed stage IV in 8/16. I had mets to my liver, lungs, and adrenals. I responded well to chemo. I became operable when I had a partial obstruction and had been off of chemo for a while to travel. I had surgery in November and resumed chemo. My first CT scan after surgery showed that my lung and adrenal tumors have resolved so I only have tumors in my liver now. Fewer and smaller and the two largest are actually necrotic. I had a PVE 11 days ago and I’ll have a liver resection 6/12.
I remember the fear in the beginning. I felt so unprepared for what was happening and alone in a way that was different. And I was so sick...I didn’t know if I could survive long enough for my port to heal enough to start chemo. I found this site soon after. I read everyone’s story and all the information. It helped me navigate my physical and emotional experience. I won’t lie...it’s been really hard at times. You can do this. Read as much as you can here. Ask every question that you can’t find an answer for. I wish I had started a journal to keep track of everything. We’are all in this together.
Dx 8/16 IV stage with mets to lungs liver adrenals
KRAS wt MSS CEA over 400
2 x folfori caused refractory diarrhea but dropped CEA to 200
Switched to folfox stopped after 10 due to neuropathy
Avastin leucorvorin 5fu dropped after 11 due to hfs
Chemo break to travel.
Nov. 2017 emergency sleeve colectomy of primary tumor.
Vectibix irinotecan
PET scan shows no lung or adrenal tumors
5/2 Portal Vein Embolisation in preparation for liver resection.
6/12 extended right resection removing 60%.

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

Re: 38 with, single with baby stage 4

Postby stu » Mon May 14, 2018 1:52 am

I am so sorry for your situation but hope my mum’s news encourages you on . She has just been scanned and has no evidence of disease nine years later .
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 .

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juliej
Posts: 3114
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 12:59 pm

Re: 38 with, single with baby stage 4

Postby juliej » Mon May 14, 2018 5:43 pm

Trying wrote:I found out last week i have stage 4 inoperable colon cancer which spread to liver. 10 liver spots total.y baby has no father and is only 1 and a half. I am looking for positive outcomes and inspiation from others who have come through. I am terrified.

Trying, I am a Stage 4 survivor. Like you I was told I was inoperable and would be on chemo for life or until it quit working. They gave me 6 months without chemo and 18 months if I did well on chemo. I had tumors in all lobes of my liver (7 in total) and also one in each lung. But, after having a strong initial response to chemo, I sought a second opinion at MSKCC. They said I was a good candidate for surgery and a few weeks later I had my primary tumor removed along with a liver resection. They also implanted an HAI pump, which sends chemo directly to the liver instead of the whole body. Three months later I had double lung surgery and they removed both tumors at the same time. I am currently NED (no evidence of disease)! :D

I am telling you this so you know that a Stage 4 diagnosis is not a death sentence. There are many advances being made to treat Stage 4's - HAI pump, immunotherapy, etc. The most important thing you can do is to find a good cancer center, preferably an NCI-Designated cancer center. I'll put a link below so you can find the nearest one to your location. Even if it's too far away for you to get treatment, at least try to get a second opinion there. It could make all the difference in the treatment you receive.

https://www.cancer.gov/research/nci-role/cancer-centers/find

Also, ask for genetic testing if you haven't had it done yet. Tests for MLH1, MSH2, APC, MSH6, PMS2, and MUTYH mutations helps doctors determine which kind of treatments work best for you. There is an ever-increasing number of new agents aimed at a variety of these genetic targets so you need to know the biology of your tumor to get the best results.

You have a baby so I don't have to tell you that you have a lot to live for! Concentrate on that: your baby needs you. Then do what you have to do to get the best treatment possible. I know it seems overwhelming right now. The diagnosis alone is enough to knock you on your butt! :shock: The feelings you're having? Loss, sorrow, anger, numbness, confusion, shock, emptiness? We have felt all those things too.

But dig down deep inside you and find the strength you need to get through this. Don't be afraid to ask friends and family for help. And remember that we are always here for you. Ask questions, rant, vent your frustrations or anger about the situation, whatever -- we're listening.

Hope is the only thing that's stronger than fear.

Juliej
Stage IVb, liver/lung mets 8/4/2010
Xelox+Avastin 8/18/10 to 10/21/2011
LAR, liver resec, HAI pump 11/2011
Adjuvant Irinotecan + FUDR
Double lung surgery + ileo reversal 2/2012
Adjuvant FUDR + Xeloda
VATS rt. lung 12/2012 - benign granuloma!
VATS left lung 11/2013
NED 11/22/13 to 12/18/2019, CEA<1

Trying
Posts: 250
Joined: Sun May 13, 2018 10:11 pm

Re: 38 with, single with baby stage 4

Postby Trying » Mon May 14, 2018 7:58 pm

Thank you all. Your positive words are inspiring
38 yr old single mom of almost 2 year old at the time
April 2018 colon cancer stage IV 10 liver mets and peri met. Folfox and 12 rounds oxyplatin
Fec 2018 Down to 2 mets in liver. 8 dissapeared
July 2019 switched to xeloda pills as I prefer to 3 day infusion. Also on avistan
Oct 2019 emergency colostomy due to perforated bowel. ( unreal pain)
Feb 2020 show 2mm tumor increase.
Plan to go back on oxy
Oxy failed- irinotecan as of of Sept 2020

mariane
Posts: 704
Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2015 6:16 pm

Re: 38 with, single with baby stage 4

Postby mariane » Mon May 14, 2018 10:11 pm

Hi,
I git diagnosed in June 2015 with 10+mets to the liver. AS JulieJ I seeked help in MSKCC and received HAI pump treatment. I am 2 years NED and off chemo.
I agree Julie's post. The genetic testing was the first thing I did even before coming to MSKCC.
Good luck!
mom of now 14 years old twins, dx @ 40 in 6/2015 with upper rectal cancer, 10+ liver mets, CEA 140
chemo: 8/2015 - 10/2016 - 4xFOLFIRINOX, 2xFOLFOX, 8xFOLFIRI, 10x5FU, HAI pump -12xFUDR
4 surgeries, complete pathological response
CEA<2 since 10/2015
NED since May 2016

I praise God for every day with my family!

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henry123
Posts: 218
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2017 3:25 am

Re: 38 with, single with baby stage 4

Postby henry123 » Tue May 15, 2018 12:57 pm

Keep your spirits up.
What has to happen, has to happen.
We can only work /fight to the best of our ability.
Pray well , eat well and get the best oncologist in a large institution that you have access to. I can't overemphasise the last point.
46yo M msi-high Lynch +ve
5/16 lap AR 14/21 L nodes +ve
T4N2M1
7/16 Capox 9 cyc
9/16 cea 2
1/17 550
PET CT mets in lung & peri
iri+ avast fail
3/17 10577
4/17 regro fail
5/17 cea 28800
5/17 CT inc in size of mes nodes ,onset of multi nodules in liver
6/17 Opdivo start
7/17 26754
8/17 5623
9/17 497
10/17 52
CT all clear exc a nodule in Lung. liver norm
1/18 3.6
Aspirin start
6/18 1.5 CT clear
12/18 1.1 NED
1/20 NED Opdivo stop
8/23 1.0 All ok

anitaw
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:06 pm

Re: 38 with, single with baby stage 4

Postby anitaw » Tue May 15, 2018 10:39 pm

Hello. I'm so sorry you are in this situation. I was diagnosed in Feb. 2012 and was told I had less than 2 years. I too found myself at MSKCC and now 6 years later I am NED again. There is hope!!

When I was first diagnosed I couldn't even stand to be awake. It was too much to deal with. Slowly I pulled myself out of the depression by finding inspiring stories on this board. Juliej said it all in her post. She is an inspiration and has been so helpful on this board.

I wish you all the best.
DX 2/12 Stage IV CC, mets to liver
3/12 - 12/12 Folfox + Avastin
2/13 - 5/13 Folfuri + Vectibix
HAI Pump - 6/13
2 stg liver res - 11/13 & 4/14
Clear scans: 5/14, 8/14, 9/14
1/15 new met in liver, ablated 6/15
11/15 - new met in liver, surgery 1/16, start Folfuri again
2/16 Scan: NED! Every day is a gift. 6/16 new mets, 2 lymph nodes
3/18 Lymph nodes resection, NED, Folfox again

User avatar
CRguy
Posts: 10473
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: 38 with, single with baby stage 4

Postby CRguy » Tue May 15, 2018 11:29 pm

juliej wrote:Hope is the only thing that's stronger than fear.
Juliej
and all I can add to that is :

LOVE is the only thing stronger than Hope

here, you will be embraced with Love
by those who know what you are going through

In Harmony on the Journey with you Trying
CRguy
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

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

Re: 38 with, single with baby stage 4

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Wed May 16, 2018 8:39 am

Welcome to the group and sorry for your diagnosis!*hugs* I hope that your chemo goes well!*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! :)

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

Re: 38 with, single with baby stage 4

Postby lpas » Wed May 16, 2018 9:33 am

I'm so sorry you're going through this. My youngest was only 10 months when my tumor was found, so I know how incredibly scary it can be to face a cancer diagnosis with young children. You've gotten some great advice. To echo what others have said, I would strongly recommend that you find a way to get yourself to Memorial Sloan Kettering as soon as possible. Again and again I've seen posters with inoperable liver tumors who made it to NED with the HAI pump. Dr. Nancy Kemeny is a world expert in this approach.

Wishing you the best of luck! I hope you'll stick around and keep us all posted. This board is a wealth of great information and advice.
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


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