Hernia? Nope, looks like cancer is back

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Fluff Bottom
Posts: 77
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2015 8:13 am

Hernia? Nope, looks like cancer is back

Postby Fluff Bottom » Wed Sep 12, 2018 5:57 pm

When I was first diagnosed in 2015 I had a CT scan and a “stable umbilical hernia was seen.” Jump ahead to July 2018..I start having pain around my belly button. Last month the pain had gotten bad enough so I went and saw my GP. She sent me for a CT, which took nearly 3 weeks to be scheduled. Keep in mind I just had my annual CT in May and everything was clear.

Today was my follow up. Below are some of the findings:

New subcentimeter pulmonary nodules, largest 6mm

1.8cm hypodensity in the dome of the liver which may represent a surface implant of carcinomatosis

Multiple soft tissue nodules in the abdomen suspicious for carcinomatosis

2.8cm nodule adjacent to the gastroheptic ligament
1.7cm nodule in left upper quadrant
1.9cm nodule adjacent to the right lobe of the liver

1.2cm nodule in the right lateral abdomen
1.8cm nodule anteriorly in the right abdomen

I’m waiting to get in with my oncologist. What’s next, PET scan? None of this sounds good to me, hope it’s not as bad as it sounds. Can’t believe all this could happen so fast. Oh, and they saw no evidence of a hernia...
10/26/15-Colonoscopy-Mass in Sigmoid
adenocarcinoma mucinous type components.
Lynch Neg
Stage IIIb-T3N1c, 3/13 nodes, High Grade-Poorly Diff to Undiff
12/16/15-Port, FOLFOX
12 rounds FOLFOX 5/22/16
5/22/18-Clear CT
9/6/18-CT for possible hernia=mets
9/18/18 PET mets to lungs, liver, peri
10/23/18-rapid growth of mets
BRAF V600, KRAS Wild, MSS
Back on FOLFOX=reaction
FOLFIRI until it failed
Tafinlar/Mekinist=Kidney Failure
Mets to uterus, adrenal gland
Low dose Stivarga/Opdivo. Possible liver toxicity.

WarriorSpouse
Posts: 220
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2016 9:02 pm

Re: Hernia? Nope, looks like cancer is back

Postby WarriorSpouse » Wed Sep 12, 2018 6:51 pm

I am sorry to read this fluff.

Reoccurrence is something nobody wants hear on this forum. Much like your initial diagnosis, buckle down and get ready to fight again. Your oncologist will dictate the plan and my recommendation would be to make sure you visit your closest major cancer center to make sure you have all of the data to make your best decisions going forward.

We are all here for you and our thoughts and prayers are heading in your direction.
All the best moving forward. Keep us posted.
WS
D/H 47 years old, 10/2014, Stage IV M/CRC, nodes 12/15, para-aortic, 5 cm sigmoid resection, positive Virchow. KRAS mut, MSS, Highly Differentiated, Lynch Neg, 5FU/LV and Avastin 1 YR (Oxi for 5 months), Zeloda/Bev since 01/2016. 02/2019 recurrence para-nodes, back to 5FU/LV Oxy/Bev. It is working again. "...Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other."-Walter Elliot

rp1954
Posts: 1853
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:13 am

Re: Hernia? Nope, looks like cancer is back

Postby rp1954 » Wed Sep 12, 2018 10:18 pm

Standard treatment is chemo forever. Multimodal treatment is a careful, integration of advanced treatments, like optional chemistry(s) and surgery(s) for complete local cancer removals where possible, and more effective use of nicer metronomic (immuno)chemo closer in to surgery. With some luck, you'll do far better. Such advanced options require exploration, preparation and serious self advocacy.

We have been able to knock off mets in different locations, step by step, far beyond "standard" results, with a high quality of life, for more reasonable costs.

Most people let their doctors and insurers override them and fly more blinded, but I would make sure I got, at least, CA199, AFP, LDH, ESR, hsCRP, and maybe CA125 included in my bloodwork, at least once right now before any treatment. You'll be better positioned/prepared to evaluate, discuss (in many places, like here) and monitor the situation long term, beyond standard bloodwork, like CEA + CBC with differentials + CMP. This is an important moment in your story.
watchful, active researcher and caregiver for stage IVb/c CC. surgeries 4/10 sigmoid etc & 5/11 para-aortic LN cluster; 8 yrs immuno-Chemo for mCRC; now no chemo
most of 2010 Life Extension recommendations and possibilities + more, some (much) higher, peaking ~2011-12, taper chemo to almost nothing mid 2018, IV C-->2021. Now supplements

crazylife
Posts: 256
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2015 11:29 am

Re: Hernia? Nope, looks like cancer is back

Postby crazylife » Thu Sep 13, 2018 8:42 am

Geez. DH is in the same boat. Clear CT in May and we are now dealing with a brain met (removed 2 weeks ago), spinal mets (being radiated), femur mets (hip replaced 2 weeks ago) and pelvic mets. Get a good plan and start fighting!
Wife to DH, 41 years old, diagnosed 11/15
Stage 4, Mod diff, 13/24 LN, 1 liver met
Colon/liver resection at MSK, 11/15
8mm lung met (not confirmed) and enlarged lymph nodes 1/16
12 rounds of folfox (9 with Oxi) 6/16
NED - July 2016
NED - October 2016
3 lung mets - March 2017
7 lung mets, May 2017
RFA to largest met, June 2017
Lung mets growing slowly, October 2017 (off treatment since June 2016)
Right lung surgery, November 2017
Left lung surgery, January 2018
NED - May 2018

Fluff Bottom
Posts: 77
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2015 8:13 am

Re: Hernia? Nope, looks like cancer is back

Postby Fluff Bottom » Thu Sep 13, 2018 7:01 pm

Thank you all for your responses and support. I will be working on my plans ASAP!
10/26/15-Colonoscopy-Mass in Sigmoid
adenocarcinoma mucinous type components.
Lynch Neg
Stage IIIb-T3N1c, 3/13 nodes, High Grade-Poorly Diff to Undiff
12/16/15-Port, FOLFOX
12 rounds FOLFOX 5/22/16
5/22/18-Clear CT
9/6/18-CT for possible hernia=mets
9/18/18 PET mets to lungs, liver, peri
10/23/18-rapid growth of mets
BRAF V600, KRAS Wild, MSS
Back on FOLFOX=reaction
FOLFIRI until it failed
Tafinlar/Mekinist=Kidney Failure
Mets to uterus, adrenal gland
Low dose Stivarga/Opdivo. Possible liver toxicity.

User avatar
dianetavegia
Posts: 2731
Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 8:47 pm
Facebook Username: Diane Weldy Tavegia
Location: Villa Rica, Georgia

Re: Hernia? Nope, looks like cancer is back

Postby dianetavegia » Sat Sep 15, 2018 4:19 pm

That's just unbelievable that you were clear in May and have so many spots 3 1/2 months later! I honestly pray that they made an error and the next test will just show the hernia.

I'm so sorry for both of you.

Diane
Stage III cc surgery 1/7/09. 12 tx FOLFOX
Stage IV PET = 1.5cm liver met. HR 4/11/12

14 years since dx and 11 years post liver resection.
Pronounced CURED and discharged by onc

“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.” Psalms 30:2

Cmac1275
Posts: 55
Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2018 4:21 pm

Re: Hernia? Nope, looks like cancer is back

Postby Cmac1275 » Sat Sep 15, 2018 5:17 pm

Sorry to hear this. Similar boat here. Clear CT scan 08/09/18. “New” spots identified 08/28/18 after MRI. Later confirmed with PET scan. Biopsy scheduled for Monday because according to my onc, all my other markers are normal. So, they want to be 100% sure.

Mind you, my last chemo session was 05/16/18 to allow Avastin to exit my system before liver resection 07/02/2018. Still, a 3.5 month progression-free rate is dissapointing if indeed I have new metastasis. But, like others have stated, just gotta get ready to fight again.

Sending thoughts and prayers your way.
42 yr, male, husband and father of 3
DX Stage IV Colon Cancer Jan 2018
Multiple liver mets
KRAS G13D / MSS

Jan 2018 Partial colon resection
Mar 2018 FOLFOX + Avastin | CEA 60.1
July 2018 Partial liver resection | CEA 4.7
Sep 2018 Recurrence in liver | CEA 2.9
Oct 2018 FOLFOX + Avastin
Nov 2018 Stopping FOLFOX. New mets | CEA 4.3
Dec 2018 Beginning AbbVie ABT-165 Trial


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