Seeking advice of colorectal cancer Survivors

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disissue
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Mar 08, 2019 3:51 am

Seeking advice of colorectal cancer Survivors

Postby disissue » Fri Mar 08, 2019 4:01 am

Dear all,

Bf at 56y.o diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer spreaded to lymph nodes. Surgery just done and starting chemotherapy in two weeks time.

May i know what supplements are Good to combat side effects of chemo?

Please Share your experiences of supplements taken during your chemo sessions and what has helped u through the rough journey.

Thank you

boxhill
Posts: 789
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:40 am

Re: Seeking advice of colorectal cancer Survivors

Postby boxhill » Fri Mar 08, 2019 11:33 am

Which chemo regimen?

There are things one can take which are thought to help lessen the neuropathy associated with Oxaliplatin, for example, but if s/he isn't getting oxi there's no point.

By "supplements" is it safe to assume that you are talking about things other than prescription anti-nausea drugs, and also not over the counter drugs commonly used, such as immodium for diarrhea and various stool-softeners and laxatives? You mean things like CBD oil, Vitamin Bcomplex, L-Glutamine, et al?

If you clarify the chemo, for example FOLFOX or FOLFIRI, people can be more helpful.
F, 64 at DX CRC Stage IV
3/17/18 blockage, r hemi
11 of 25 LN,5 mesentery nodes
5mm liver met
pT3 pN2b pM1
BRAF wild, KRAS G12D
dMMR, MSI-H
5/18 FOLFOX
7/18 and 11/18 CT NED
12/18 MRI 5mm liver mass, 2 LNs in porta hepatis
12/31/18 Keytruda
6/19 Multiphasic CT LNs normal, Liver stable
6/28/19 Pause Key, predisone for joint pain
7/31/19 Restart Key
9/19 CT stable
Pain: all fails but Celebrex
12/23/19 CT stable
5/20 MRI stable/NED
6/20 Stop Key
All MRIs NED

Pyro
Posts: 305
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:40 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Seeking advice of colorectal cancer Survivors

Postby Pyro » Sun Mar 10, 2019 8:05 am

Medical marijuana, and not just CBD.
Aug 2015- Stage 4 CC with liver Mets(38/m)
Sep 2015- Avastin/Folfox/Iron
Dec 2015-Not liver surgery candidate
Jan 2016- Erbitux/Folfiri, 2nd opinion at MDA in TX
Feb 2016 -MDA liver surgery
Mar 2016 -30% of left lobe rem, PVE
May 2016 - 70% of liver rem
Jun 2016-Rad
Jan 2017-perm colost @MDA
Jul 2017-Erb/FOLFURI
Nov 2017 -Lung & Liver ablations@MDA
Jan 2018 -Xeloda & Avastin mx
Jul 2018-Avast/FOLFURI
Sep 2018-Rad
Mar 2019 - Keytruda fail
Jun 2019 - FOLFURI
Aug 2019 - No more, quality time!

Tri girl
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2017 10:26 pm

Re: Seeking advice of colorectal cancer Survivors

Postby Tri girl » Sun Mar 10, 2019 4:19 pm

My mom is starting chemo on Wednesday. Folfox. She has mets to liver and lungs. I posted a topic wondering what people thought of Marinol (medical marijuana) to reduce side effects of chemo. I hope people respond with ideas to reduce side effects of Oxi.

Thanks.

crikklekay
Posts: 142
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Richmond, VA

Re: Seeking advice of colorectal cancer Survivors

Postby crikklekay » Mon Mar 11, 2019 12:08 pm

All I remember is the Oncologist mentioning not to take any supplements that might cover up the effects of neuropathy. His general doctor said to take vitamin B to help the neuropathy but the Oncologist overruled, saying that it could mask the actual damage being done and she needed to know how bad it was so she could lower the dosage accordingly.

Good luck!
Caring for DH John
Stage IIIC, Lymph nodes: 6/22
Chemo: FOLFOX (6)
12/17 ER and emergency surgery
02/18 Hospital w/MSSA infected port, PICC line inserted, chest CT scan showed septic emboli & blood clots
03/18 Hospital w/CDIFF
08/18 CT Scan Clear, NEMD
2018/2019/2021 Colonoscopy Clear
2019/2020/2021/2022 CT Scan Clear
2021 PET scan & MRI show one spot on liver
08/21 Liver surgery to remove spot, confirmed mCRC. Now Stage IV
09/21 Start Folfiri + Avastin
03/22 CEA Rise, continuing chemo

radnyc
Posts: 446
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:32 pm

Re: Seeking advice of colorectal cancer Survivors

Postby radnyc » Mon Mar 11, 2019 2:51 pm

What I believe helped me through chemo were three things: exercise, walking or running, acupuncture really helped and Coriolus versicolor or Turkey tail mushroom supplements. There are a few brands out there, but this is the one I used and still use: Mushroom science, https://mushroomscience.com/coriolus-super-strength/.

As always check with your oncologist first!

Peace
DX Jan 2010, at age 47
Feb - colon resection - 2/17 nodes positive
April - liver mets - Stage 4
3 months Folfox chemotherapy
August '10 liver resection and HAI pump
7 months chemo FUDR HAI and Folfiri systemic
NED since August 2010
Last treatment April 2011
HAI Pump removed Dec 2015

disissue
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Mar 08, 2019 3:51 am

Re: Seeking advice of colorectal cancer Survivors

Postby disissue » Tue Mar 19, 2019 2:39 am

Is It insane of not going to chemo for stage 3 colon cancer? Few days ago went for CT scan prior to chemo and result was clear. Chemo will start on 21st and there will be a total 8 sessions. Extremely fearful of secondary cancers or other permanent Damages caused By chemo. What r the chances?


Thanks

zephyr
Posts: 363
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:31 am

Re: Seeking advice of colorectal cancer Survivors

Postby zephyr » Tue Mar 19, 2019 1:55 pm

disissue wrote:Is It insane of not going to chemo for stage 3 colon cancer?


In my opinion, yes.
Nov-2009 Early stage CRC, routine colonoscopy
2010-2014 F/U colonoscopies, all clear
Jun-2016 CRC during F/U colonoscopy, surgery, Stage 4, KRAS, MSS
Aug-2016-May-2018 Folfox, 5FU, Folfiri & Avastin
Aug/Sep-2018 YAG laser surgeries (Germany), 11 nodules removed
Nov-2018 clean CT scan
Mar-2019 New lung nodules
Apr-2019 Dec-2020 Xeloda/Avastin, SBRT, cont. Xeloda/Avastin
Mar-2021 Forfiri/Avastin
Mar-2022 Ablation & Thoracotomy
Feb-2023 Folfiri & Avastin
Nov-2023 Xeloda & Avastin

boxhill
Posts: 789
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:40 am

Re: Seeking advice of colorectal cancer Survivors

Postby boxhill » Tue Mar 19, 2019 2:07 pm

Yes, from my perspective it is unacceptably risky not to do adjuvant therapy of some kind with Stage 3 cancer.

But again I will ask, WHAT KIND OF THERAPY/CHEMO is proposed??

Answer that simple question and you can get much more valuable feedback. All chemo regimens and therapies are not the same.
F, 64 at DX CRC Stage IV
3/17/18 blockage, r hemi
11 of 25 LN,5 mesentery nodes
5mm liver met
pT3 pN2b pM1
BRAF wild, KRAS G12D
dMMR, MSI-H
5/18 FOLFOX
7/18 and 11/18 CT NED
12/18 MRI 5mm liver mass, 2 LNs in porta hepatis
12/31/18 Keytruda
6/19 Multiphasic CT LNs normal, Liver stable
6/28/19 Pause Key, predisone for joint pain
7/31/19 Restart Key
9/19 CT stable
Pain: all fails but Celebrex
12/23/19 CT stable
5/20 MRI stable/NED
6/20 Stop Key
All MRIs NED

Cured
Posts: 581
Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:53 pm
Location: MO

Re: Seeking advice of colorectal cancer Survivors

Postby Cured » Tue Mar 19, 2019 3:45 pm

Disissue- If it is in the lymph nodes, one NEEDS Adjunct therapy. No question. Micro tumors have floated in the bloodstream and you need to kill them off before they find a ‘home’ to grow - thus Stage 4.

I have done both Folfiri and Folfiri. They aren’t that bad. Much better than dying. So you endure some fatigue, diarrhea & neuropathy.

SUPLEMENTS:
I regularly use Konsyl pfsyllium fiber. Vitamin D. Krill oil. Aspirin (known prophylactic for colon cancer) Garlic tablet. Turmeric. Drink Green Tea.

Wishing you comfort and faith.
7-18 Stg 4
5-08:Stg 3 Rectal: 6/14 Nodes
Ace Surgn Remvd 90%Rectm,lots of Colon-Full Incision
Ileo Rev'd 6 Mos.
Radian+5fu Pre-Surg
FOLFOX 8 Cyc,1-09
Clear Scope 8-17; CEA 2-18
Glory to God! Healed by prayers of many: for 10 yrs
7-18: tumor pressing brain Remove
Met to lung. CEA 6.9
Folfiri
CEA 4.5 after 1 chemo
8rds CEA 3 1.8, 2.3,1.7 then up:32
12rd Folfiri
Avastin ev 2 wks
Seizure Anti-seiz meds work-no driving for 6m
4-20PET: Lng spots=Chemo
2-21 tumr gth =Folfiri
Radiation 7-22

Ron50
Posts: 699
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:04 pm

Re: Seeking advice of colorectal cancer Survivors

Postby Ron50 » Tue Mar 19, 2019 4:10 pm

Hi Disissue,
I was dxed with an aggressive stage3c into six nodes. Right from the start I chose to just do whatever the doctors told me to do and although I have issues from chemo at the time I made up my mind that there would be no regrets with whatever I chose to do. I had 48 sessions of chemo , every Tuesday for nearly a year. I was 48 at dx and next month I turn 69 , still cancer free. I still work four days a week and go out fishing in my 4 meter kayak every time I get the chance. Best of luck with your treatment, Ron.
dx 1/98
st 3 c 6 nodes
48 sessions 5Fu/levamisole
no recurrence cea <.5
numerous l/t side effects of chemo


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