please help

[ginsc]

hello to everybody

I am from Greece and new to this forum
My father has colon cancer stage iv with mets to the lungs and one lymph node involment in the peritoneal area
He was diagnosed august 2008.
He started with folfox but the disease progressed.
After avastin with folfiri and the cancer stopped. All the lessions stayed stable for 7 months.
Unfortunately yesterday the ct scan showed an increase at his 2cm tumor at his peritoneal area.
I am in depression the onc says they will give him xeloda only to slow if we can the progression.
Is anything outhere that is happening that it could save my father?
I live in Greece and i don't know where to find something that's in the pipeline and has good results.
If anyody has a good onc please ask him if there is something we should try.
I desperate and very confused.
Has anybody tried gemzar i have read somenone who has some good results.

thanks

[John603]

Ginsc,

Sorry to hear about your father.

I think that Kimby recently posted that she has had success with Mytomycin (sp?) which is usually used on anal cancer. There are also some trials going on in the US which I think Justsing posted about such as Hedgehog and mTor. If you search those terms, you should be able to find her posting.

[Cured]

Ginsc, Most Holy Theotokos Save Us. It sounds like you are blessed to have a close relationship with your papa. Many people today do not have that.

Not being your Father's Oncologist we really cannot proscribe the next best step. No one drug cures all and often surgery is part of the mix. If you had plenty of money, we could advise you to bring your papa to America to a major cancer center for treatment.

As an American of Greek ancestry I can try to relate to your situation. Send me a Private Message if you want a personal reply. I can tell you that I would not undergo surgery without first giving Confession. Nor did I proceed without being anoited with Holy Unction. I took great comfort in the Hymns and the Jesus Prayer, and knowing that I am going to live forever. I will say a prayer for you and your papa. -Vasili

[Terry]

ginsc, Look up the meds that John posted, that might lead you to something. The other thing you can do is look up clinical trials in Greece I would think. I don't know anything about your healthcare (good or bad) there so I'm not sure.

I will keep your dad in my prayers!
Terry

[Lifes2short]

Look into Erbitux and/or Vectibix. They only work if you have a certain type of tumor. They can do genetic testing to see if your father is a candidate for the drug. They typically combine it with Irinotecan - a good thing considering that your dad had a good response to Folfiri. Ask his doctor if this treatment is available in Greece.

So sorry for your situation. Best of luck.