NED maybe. Stage 4, after 10 years Free. FOLFIRi?

[Cured]

My wife says we don’t do normal. It is rare for Rectal or colon cancer to reappear after 10 years of being cured. Especially since colonoscopies have all been clear. But in late July we found a tumor -metastasized from Rectal cancer- pushing against my brain. Plus tumors in my right lung. 4 days after detection, surgically removed tumor from brain. Went home 2 days later. No pain or ill effects; amazing!

The markers don’t let me be treated with new Immunotherapy. Treatment is old FOLFIRi. I went 8 weeks before the diarrhea hit. Then I had to wear diapers and be careful. But if that is all I have to tolerate to be cured, then I am blessed.

After 8 rounds I told the Onc I am taking a break. It has been 2.5 weeks and I feel great. I needed that.
The CTscans showed tumor in my lung had shrunken dramatically and some foggy stuff from the scans are gone.
CEA down to 3.0, on a scale which wants you >3.0. I believe our prayers are answered. My lungs have full capacity.
Still, the Onc prescribed 4 more rounds of FOLFIRi two weeks ago when I insisted on the hiatus. I planned for the Chiefs to win and I would go to the Super Bowl. That didn’t happen, so I scheduled Chemo to restart this past Tuesday. I cancelled it so I wasn’t doing during my Mothers funeral- which was yesterday. (She was 92 and passed peacefully in her sleep.). Things worked out so my blood counts would be up so I was able to visit Mom in her final days and I was able to come in contact with all of the visitors.

This Tuesday I see the Onc again, as they plan to infuse me. Unless he relents due to the good CEA. He had seen the good lung scans, but still wanted more Chemo! (The fact that cancer centers and MDs. make lots of $ can't be a factor...)
Perhaps he will order a PET Scan now instead of later to see if the remaining spot on my lung is active or dead.
I do worry about radiation, as I have had so many CT scans and a PET in 5 months.

I know that many of you have had FOLFIRi; how many rounds have you done?
Are you on it for life?
Has anyone resulted in NED after being metastatic and doing FOLFIRi?

[stu]

Just want to pop on and say how remarkable you are despite a horrible bump on the road . The details of the last few weeks have given you the space to handle your mum’s funeral and that’s so special . Precious days for sure .

I can’t answer your question regarding the chemo as my mum has come almost ten years into a stage 4 diagnosis with just twelve cycles of cap and oxy . Nothing else !! Lots of surgery and more importantly a great quality of life .

Your lung met seems to be going in the right direction . You know some people just seem to respond incredibly well despite a difficult diagnosis. It never ceases to amaze me .

Great to hear your latest update ,
Stu

[mpbser]

I guess I have a similar question, not to hijack this thread, since I have heard of people doing worse on Folfiri than on FOLFOX.

How many of you have been NED since doing HAI and FOLFIRI?

I am just very hesitant for my husband to go from something we know worked for him (XELOX/FOLFOX) to something different. I have posted about this in other threads, e.g. 5FU ineffective for tp53 issue, inability to parse out whether it was the 5FU part of his treatment that worked compared with the Ox part, etc.

[Jack&KatiesMommy]

Cured:
I don't know anyone with metastatic colon/rectal cancer who was cured with chemo alone. I think an rfa to the lung spot or a wedge resection after chemo would be your best shot at NED.
Cynthia

[e_enyedy]

according to "universal" wisdom, the effectiveness of Foilfox and Folfiri are just about the same.
Unfortunately - even after long searches--I could not find any comparative studies.

all the best

E

[LPL]

according to "universal" wisdom, the effectiveness of Foilfox and Folfiri are just about the same.
Unfortunately - even after long searches--I could not find any comparative studies.

all the best

E

I found the following (have not read it though).
FOLFOX Versus FOLFIRI: A Comparison of Regimens in the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Metastases
http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/25/1B/563.long

[NedPlease]

Hate, hate, hate that you once again have to handle cancer. Your thought process regarding treatment sounds impressively calm and collected and I’m in awe.
I have no real treatment guidance (xeloda was used for my lung lesion and that was in 2011) but am curious of any recurrence symptoms since I assume scans had ceased.
Were there any?

Very best to you,
N

[Cured]

N- I really was clear. Did a scan a year after my surgery. Then did colonoscopies and blood tests. When I was diagnosed with cancer again my wife was mad at me that I didn't get more scans. When she expressed such, my Onc said he wouldn't have ordered the scans since there were no signs they were needed.

I am in touch with my body. A year-&-a-half before this was found I could hear a slight whistle when I breathed. I was checked out at the ER including a chest X-Ray. They said I was fine and to follow up with the ENT Dr. (Went to ER since I was in a car wreck previously). In retrospect: the micro-tumor may have begun to grow. We can't go back in time. We have to deal with the hand we are dealt.

God is great in all!

[Pyro]

I’m on round 50 something of that cocktail, it’s kept the devil at bay for a while.

[radnyc]

I guess I have a similar question, not to hijack this thread, since I have heard of people doing worse on Folfiri than on FOLFOX.

How many of you have been NED since doing HAI and FOLFIRI?

I am just very hesitant for my husband to go from something we know worked for him (XELOX/FOLFOX) to something different. I have posted about this in other threads, e.g. 5FU ineffective for tp53 issue, inability to parse out whether it was the 5FU part of his treatment that worked compared with the Ox part, etc.

8.5 years NED, folfiri and HAI. Worked for me.