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It's baaaaaaack!

Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 8:12 pm
by MikeManess
Had a follow-up MRI and CT scan this past Monday. Since I am stage 4, they scan me every six months - my last scan was in November. After a year and a half of being NED, a new tumor has appeared on my liver. It's in the same location as one of my two previous liver tumors was removed. They did a wedge removal, and in one of the places where the liver regrew is where the new growth was found. It's poorly defined in the scans, so they cannot tell the size of it.

So .. it looks like another period of chemo and surgery is coming up. I'm to meet with my surgical oncologist within the next two weeks, and meet with my medical oncologist after that. By then, they'll have a beter plan of attack.

Just gotta hang in here for a few more years until newer treatments come up. Hope like heck that we can eventually knock this sucker out for good. And hoping that I haven't become resistant to chemo!

Re: It's baaaaaaack!

Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 1:50 am
by stu
Hi Sorry to hear you have more to deal with . It certainly can take a few steps to NED in a stage 4 situation . But just to encourage you , once the micro disease had “ shown its face” and was dealt with , my mum has scanned clear for seven years in her liver . 73% of her liver was removed at one point . Chemo kept working for her .
All the very best and hang on in there , quite a lot of people have experienced a few years of treatment then it settles .
Take care,
Stu

Re: It's baaaaaaack!

Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 5:29 am
by mpbser
I just read this post after writing about good news my husband got after a scan he had on Tuesday. This scares me to read because I can't imagine him going through more chemo and another surgery. You sound like you are taking the news very well. I had also written about the power of positivity - which you have. That's great and really does help. Hang in there!

Re: It's baaaaaaack!

Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 6:49 am
by DarknessEmbraced
I'm sorry your cancer came back and hope your chemo goes well!*hugs*

Re: It's baaaaaaack!

Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 10:05 pm
by orlar
Disappointing news to say the least. Trying not to be clique, but you've been down this road before and what's involved. Hang tough and I hope whatever treatment plan you decide on kicks the big "C" to the curb for the duration! Larry

Re: It's baaaaaaack!

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 8:03 am
by mymom
Hang in there. My mom has had several relapses but is currently in her longest remission about 2 years, 7 months. She had several rounds of chemo. Never became resistent.

Re: It's baaaaaaack!

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 5:38 pm
by MikeManess
I met with my surgeon today. There are two ways to go with this .. chemo, surgery, then more chemo. Or surgery up front, and chemo. He prefers the chemo, <month break> surgery <continue break for recovery>, resume chemo route. The Tumor Board will meet next Wednesday and come to a decision. Whichever way they decide, they're jumping all over this. The tumor in the liver has already grown to 1.5 inches (3.3cm) since my last scan on November - it's growing and growing fast. The surgery this time will not be robotic, but open .. taking about 1/3rd of my liver. ICU, longer hospital stay, longer recovery time. That's okay, I can deal with that (don't want to, but no real choice).

Biggest concern is if I should take disability retirement or continue working. I'm 62 and had planned on waiting for full retirement, but that's 4 years away (66 for my age). My employer is great and will keep me on the payroll while recovering from surgery, but really - do any of us want to work until we die? To retire, I'll have to downsize home so I can have a mortgage-free house with sales proceeds (and maybe a bit from 401K). Not sure what I want to do, yet, but this cancer return is having me considering getting my affairs in order just in case. Ever since my initial diagnosis I believed that I would be okay. Today, I'm not so certain that it's all sunshine and daffodils.

The meeting with the surgeon is making me consider options ... not only for me, but for my wife as well. What's best for her if I should assume room temperature? Big questions to consider.

Re: It's baaaaaaack!

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2018 4:02 am
by mpbser
Good luck making those big decisions!

Re: It's baaaaaaack!

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2018 10:55 am
by aja1121
This has nothing to do with colon cancer, but I encourage you to take early retirement if it's an option for you. My dad was unsure if he should stop working at 62 or keep at it for a few more years in order to receive more Social Security. He decided to go for it and retired shortly after his 62nd birthday last May. He was happier and more relaxed than I'd ever seen him, and his health was good, so we were all anticipating that he'd enjoy many years as a retiree. In September, he died suddenly. While I'm grateful his last few months were so wonderful, it makes me sad that he worked so incredibly hard all his life only to have the "fun part" taken away from him so soon. I miss him like crazy. I guess my point is, time is precious. If you can comfortably retire now, I hope you'll strongly consider it.

Re: It's baaaaaaack!

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 6:13 pm
by MikeManess
My oncological surgeon's office called me today. They're going to do 4-6 rounds of chemo, then surgery, then more chemo after that. For my last liver met, they did it via robotic surgery and I was home in 2 days. This time, they'll take about 1/3rd of my liver. He said he will actually remove my liver and ultrasound the heck out of it. If he finds anything, they'll deal with it then. I'll spend 2 days or so in ICU, 5-7 more days in the hospital (probably drugged all to heck) and then be discharged. Recovery time will be much longer than last time.

Hate like heck to be having surgery and chemo again, but hate even more the alternative. So I've gotta go through with it - no choice. Going from NED to having a 3.3cm liver tumor in 12 months is quite a shock. I've been here, done that, bought the t-shirt and already wore it out, so I know what to expect. Just trying to hang on until more and better treatments come out.

Re: It's baaaaaaack!

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2018 9:00 pm
by henry123
Mike,
I would advise being on rolls till you are out of woods with at least current episode.
Wait till your recovery from surgeries and chemos to make your decision.
You have backing of a good employer. Keep that.
Best of luck and stay strong.

Re: It's baaaaaaack!

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 7:02 pm
by Basil
MikeManess wrote:My oncological surgeon's office called me today. They're going to do 4-6 rounds of chemo, then surgery, then more chemo after that. For my last liver met, they did it via robotic surgery and I was home in 2 days. This time, they'll take about 1/3rd of my liver. He said he will actually remove my liver and ultrasound the heck out of it. If he finds anything, they'll deal with it then. I'll spend 2 days or so in ICU, 5-7 more days in the hospital (probably drugged all to heck) and then be discharged. Recovery time will be much longer than last time.

Hate like heck to be having surgery and chemo again, but hate even more the alternative. So I've gotta go through with it - no choice. Going from NED to having a 3.3cm liver tumor in 12 months is quite a shock. I've been here, done that, bought the t-shirt and already wore it out, so I know what to expect. Just trying to hang on until more and better treatments come out.


Sucks to have to go through. I admire your attitude, though. My path has been relatively easy but I’ve had the same outlook. Whatever it is, “don’t want to do it but will. No other choice.” Soldier on.

Re: It's baaaaaaack!

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2018 7:16 pm
by SpringerSpanielMommy
I’m so sorry it is back and you will be going through more treatments. It sounds like you have a really good team of doctors and what a comfort to have an employer that will work with you. I’ll be praying for you.

Re: It's baaaaaaack!

Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2018 8:12 am
by lovelife789
MikeManess wrote:My oncological surgeon's office called me today. They're going to do 4-6 rounds of chemo, then surgery, then more chemo after that. For my last liver met, they did it via robotic surgery and I was home in 2 days. This time, they'll take about 1/3rd of my liver. He said he will actually remove my liver and ultrasound the heck out of it. If he finds anything, they'll deal with it then. I'll spend 2 days or so in ICU, 5-7 more days in the hospital (probably drugged all to heck) and then be discharged. Recovery time will be much longer than last time.

Hate like heck to be having surgery and chemo again, but hate even more the alternative. So I've gotta go through with it - no choice. Going from NED to having a 3.3cm liver tumor in 12 months is quite a shock. I've been here, done that, bought the t-shirt and already wore it out, so I know what to expect. Just trying to hang on until more and better treatments come out.


I'm so sorry it has come back... I pray for your speedy recovery. I have undergone two open surgeries, both for removing a significant part of the liver, one out of the two I also had my gall bladder and part of colon removed. The recovery was rather smooth, I'm sure it will be for you. After surgery they gave me a pain killer pump, so i could manage suitable dosage. I only used 2-3 pumps for each surgery, so don't worry, it will be fine!!! Force be with you!