NED for 2+ years, CRC on liver recurred; will start chemo next week

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patrickt
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2016 12:32 pm

NED for 2+ years, CRC on liver recurred; will start chemo next week

Postby patrickt » Thu Mar 21, 2019 4:03 pm

I'm a caregiver to my mom who has stage IV CRC and was NED for 2+ years. After a routine test the doctors noticed an elevated CEA of 12.5 and found two lesions on her liver (2.5 cm and 10mm). The doctor ordered more tests/scans (MRI, CT), then a biopsy confirming the recurrence. He recommended 6 rounds of chemo and no surgery (not sure why).

The doctor also suggested that she may be doing chemo indefinitely (lower dosage) to help prevent future recurrence. She starts chemo in 7 days.

Any perspectives on the treatment plan above? Any thoughts on how to prepare for chemo?
Mom (58) has RC stage 4, 1 metastasized to liver, stage 1A lung.
Diagnosed 5/2016
Chemo/radiation 6/2016 - 11/2016
Radiation therapy to treat stage 1 lung cancer 10/15/2016
Liver ablation (colorectal cancer liver metastasis) 11/20/2016
LAR surgery - 11/30/2016
Recovery - tests are looking good 1/1/2017
Radiation completed 3/24/2017
NED 1/2019
Recurrence - liver + spleen - 2/2019
CEA = 19
Chemo - 3/2019
Splenectomy + Liver ablation - 7/2019
Finished 6 rounds of chemo - 9/2019
CEA = 4

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

Re: NED for 2+ years, CRC on liver recurred; will start chemo next week

Postby stu » Fri Mar 22, 2019 7:43 am

Hi .

Sorry to read about your mum . My mum had Avery different approach to her second recurrence. Chemo first then surgery but no post op chemo . Her liver has been clear for the last eight years . My mum has not had chemo since 2010 . Her oncologist only gave chemo for visible disease but they may have change in recent years as research had provided better evidence .

What are your thoughts on a second opinion? Would your mum be up for that . She has actually done very well and I think I would want to know the reason for no surgery being proposed .

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 .

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

Re: NED for 2+ years, CRC on liver recurred; will start chemo next week

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:34 am

I'm sorry for your mother's recurrence and I hope her 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! :)

Gravelyguy
Posts: 382
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:03 pm

Re: NED for 2+ years, CRC on liver recurred; will start chemo next week

Postby Gravelyguy » Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:41 am

I would get a second opinion. If possible, liver resection is the best way to get rid of the cancer.

Dave
6/17 dx mRC t3n1m1 very low rectal tumor 2 liver Mets 1.3 cm and .9 cm

6/17 begin 4 rounds Folfox w/Vectibix
9/17 short course radiation
10/17 rectal and liver resection LAR with coloanal anastomosis (no rectum left)
11/17-3/18 8 rounds Folfox
6/18 still NED!! Takedown
8/28/18 still NED! CEA .8 new low for me
10/18/18 colonoscopy clear
12/12/18 CEA .9 still NED!
6/11/19 CEA 1.0
12/19/19 CEA 1.0 still NED!
6/17/20 CEA 1.1 still NED!
12/15/20 CEA 1.1still NED!
12/16/21 CEA 1.2 still NED!

martd
Posts: 128
Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2017 3:48 pm
Location: Phoenix, Az

Re: NED for 2+ years, CRC on liver recurred; will start chemo next week

Postby martd » Sun Mar 24, 2019 10:05 am

Was the doctor who said no surgery her oncologist? If so maybe get an appointment with her surgeon and get his/her perspective

Dan
49 y/o male dx 11/2017 crc
Stage 4 with 17 liver Mets, cea 490
RAS, BRAF WT Tp53 LOF
12 rounds folfox , avastin
5/18 cea 2.8 liver resection and pve
7/18 part 2 liver resection, remove right side of liver
Surgical site mrsa infection, wound vac
8/18 cea .9 cCR, rectal tumor is gone
Rectal surgery postponed, watch and wait
10/18 clear scan CEA .7
01/19 clear scan CEA .9
04/19 clear scan CEA .9
07/19 clear scan CEA 1.0


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