I have just been diagnosed with colon cancer

[Tkoury]

I have just been diagnosed with colon cancer and am scared to death.......my CT scan says it has spread to my liver.......
do you think this is treatable ?

Thea

[roadrunner]

I’m sorry you got that news. It is indeed scary, but there is always treatment and hope. This is a wonderful forum, with lots of super helpful, super experienced folks who can help in many ways as you fight this. It is a great place to get support and knowledge. I have learned many, many important things here, some that I’ve seen nowhere else (despite my truly obsessive research : ) during my own cancer journey.

With respect to your question, the precise treatment approach will of course be determined by your doctors (and you). When you do ask questions, it is helpful to folks on this forum to see the details of your situation in your signature (you can look at people’s posts to see what to include, and mess around with the control panel until you figure out how to add to the signature). Or if that’s tough at this point, you can give relevant details in a post if you want.

Without knowing those details, I can’t responsibly say much, but please understand that the diagnosis you describe is not by any means a death sentence — there are many different situations — indeed, everyone is different — and therapies, more and more as time goes by, and there are many people (some on this forum) who have beaten colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver.

I wish you strength and good luck. You made a good choice by seeking out this forum.

[claudine]

Welcome to the forum no one ever wants to join, Thea. I hope you will find here answers to your questions, and support in difficult times - a lot of us have!
Getting such a diagnosis is incredibly distressing, but cancer - even metastatic CRC - isn’t the death sentence it once was. Especially when mets are confined to the liver. This amazing organ can be chopped up and it will regrow!

A few things to add to roadrunner’s comments. It may be still too soon after diagnosis, but it’s important to know one’s mutation status, especially KRAS, BRAF and NRAS mutations. Also, whether one is micro satellite stable (MSS) or not (MSI high); this will influence the type of treatment you receive (I.e., MSI H make sure you a candidate for immunotherapy).
Also, look into the HAI pump. This is a device that delivers chemo straight to the liver, and many here have had great success with it.

Good luck with everything - please don’t hesitate to come here with questions, or simply to vent frustration and anxiety.

Best,

Claudine

[brokenwings]

Hi Thea,

I imagine how scared you must feel: we've all been there. However, to answer your question, yes colon cancer that has spread to the liver is treatable and can be cured. We have patients in this board and other boards that have been in remission for years and some of them are considered cured.

As Claudine said, it is very, very important to get a molecular panel (Foundation One, Caris, etc.) to look for the following:
- MSS/MSI status;
- TMB;
- NTKR fusions;
- BRAF, KRAS, NRAS, HRAS mutations;
- HER2/ERBB2 amplifications;
- PIK3CA mutations.

It's also important to have genetic testing and check for mutations in the POLE gene and the Lynch genes.

As for treatment, I second Claudine's idea to look into the HAI pump.

If you have any doubt, don't hesitate to ask for help.

Hugs.

Paola

[Tkoury]

Thank you all for your replys......I dont know what any of these acronyms are......what is an HAI pump? I do not have insurance so I am at the mercy of what ever discount servicers I can find to help me.....I am trying to get an Oncologist to work with me thru JPS(i am in Texas) this is a teaching hospital, so I dont know that I will have access to any of these things you all have spoken of........I have been diagnosed with Anemia which is what has led to all of this.....so with said I am feeling pretty bad from the Anemia, The Anemia started a couple months ago and the Cancer screening started 3 weeks ago......I want to be positive but finding it difficult right now, this is my first conversations with anyone about all of this......

[boxhill]

If at all possible I think you should be seen at MD Anderson in Houston. If they have a satellite cancer center closer to you, you could try that. Not only are they one of the top cancer centers in the country, but places like that usually have patient financial support offices that can help you figure out the payment issue. Access to state funds, etc.

[Tkoury]

Sweetie I am in DFW, I hopefully going to be accepted thru JPS.. I noticed you were also diagnosed with Colon Cancer that has moved to your liver.....did you do chemo? how long have you been dealing with this? does the chemo effect your quality of life? Thank you for talking to me

[stu]

Hi ,

Just to give you a little encouragement my mum responded to standard chemo which lead to surgery . Different country but the standard approach without the backup of private medicine. Still doing well 11 years later .
Wishing you every success.
Stu

[Tkoury]

Yes Stu that is very encouraging......
God Bless you and your mum..

[roadrunner]

IMO Stu’s point is very important. Various chemotherapy regimes have been successful in eradicating or reducing liver metastasis in CRC. The HAI pump can also work, but these are questions to discuss with your oncologist.

[brokenwings]

I can't help with the financial issue (I'm not in the US) but you really need to get tested. Getting tested might change the treatment plan.
If you're...
MSI: you can do immunotherapy instead of chemotherapy.
BRAF+: you can do targeted therapy and later chemo.
KRAS+: you can't use Erbitux nor Vectibix.
HER2: you might need targeted therapy instead of chemo.
NTKR: targeted therapy works better than chemo.
You should get at least these ones checked...
You can see if Foundation One, Guardant or Caris can test you free of charge...
All the best.

[texmexflute]

I'm at UTSW in Dallas and have had top notch care there with amazing doctors. I've had colon resection, 2 liver surgeries, 2 different chemos, and a clinical trial with immunotherapy there. At the current time I'm clear of cancer (last liver surgery was in June). Right now we're just watching and waiting to see if any other mets pop up in my liver. I believe that even as a stage 4, there can be remission or cure. It's been done. Hang in there!