My husband Pete was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in October 2003. He had He had APR and a permanent colostomy. He was stage 3 at diagnosis. With perhaps 2 lymph nodes involved. Then he had 25 sessions radiation which burned and cooked his inside and he was very sick from that. For 2,5 years he was NED, and then in February 2006 the onc picked it up in a 6 months consultation on the sonar. It spread to his liver. There were 2 mets, for which he received 6 months (12 sessions of chemo. Folfox plus Avastin. After 3 months the onc only got excited when he saw the 7,5 cm tumor shrinking to almost 5 and the other 5 cm tumor shrinked to 2,5 cm. Then only he started to talk about a liver recection. Initially he thought it was not possible. So he had the recection in Sept 2006 and 6 days later in hospital he had a blockage (due to the radiation - which bothered him for a year) and the liver surgeon operated again. He lost 20 kilogram at that stage. Picked it all up again.
He went home, was booked of from work for 6 weeks, and then he went back to work again (office job). He really live life to the fullest. He files his feelings, and he only think about it, when he wants to. He really handles this whole situation well. Better than me. I am the one on the anti depressant.
We went on a boat cruise for 10 days to Mauritius with the children in January 2008, and then when we came back, he had to go for his 3 months check up. So, he went for a scan, and they saw little spots, under 1 cm on his lungs. 3 of them. So, he was warned. On the liver only calcifications from where they operated and RFA previously. We knew something was coming.
August 2008 he went for the next checkup scan and they saw that the tumors were now 6 little ones, the biggest was 1,5 cm. The onc gave him a choice whether he want to go for chemo or not. So, he didn't want to go, but the children and I (girl 20 and boy 17) talked him into it. Better to go when it is still small. He started on Folfiri in August 2008 and in January 2009 the onc did a scan again. The 6 marks was down to 3 again, half smaller, and it looked like the chemo was working. He only finished the 12 sessions in middle March 2009. His hair fell out this time on Folfiri. It was very traumatice at first, until we went to buy take away pizza one night, and he saw 3 men in 10 minutes with less hair than him. Then he accepted it. Normally every second week when he had off from the chemo, he went on a happy hour with his friends and he had his brandy and cola or a glass or red wine.
He is so full of life, his first port was blocked after 2,5 years, so he had to get a new one in the other shoulder. That was his rifle shoulder for hunting, and that was bad. But he was on a hunting trip again and he shot an eland and a blue wilde beast. He enjoys his biltong and dry wors.
He went back now in June 2009 for a 6 month scan again, and the tumors on the lungs were stable. No new ones, and they didn't grow from January from the last scan. The onc said he was stable, he can go home, work, have quality of life, and come back for a check up in 3 months again. They explained to us that his 3 remaining small mets on the lungs cant be operated now, as they are too far apart. As long as he is stable now, it is okay. Mets like he has now, is best to be treated with chemo.
His situation sound a lot familiar to Justsing's situation. He has never been on a trial, because there was never a trial suitable for him yet at the stages what he has been in.
The only thing I can say which is a integral part of his almost 6 years survival till now, is a positive attitude and outlook on life. If anybody says he is sick, he asks "who is sick?". He doesn't want any sympathy. He is not hiding his colostomy, he will even tell people that himself. That was not his choice to have it, and thanks to the colostomy he is still alive. He lives without stress, has a good pension from his job, got a new job, still working every day. Always busy outside and on the go, and loves his red wine and now and then the brandy and coke. He decided that the time he has left, he must enjoy.
We did make a few food changes. He doesn't drink sugar in tea or coffee. Rather sweetner. We don't braai that ofter anymore. BUt the onc says if we do on a gas braai, it is better than on the coals because of carcinogenics. He bought a nice gas braai, and now we braai again. He drinks his milk thistle, magnesium and calcium, probiotics, selenium, multivitamin and antioxidants daily.
A positive attitude and a good support system is helping him very much. He is the strong one! And he is a stage 4 survivor for almost 6 years now. Due date is 18 October.
We realized that some people has high blood pressure, and take something for that. Others have diabetes, and take injections or pills for that. He has cancer and he will get chemo once or twice a year. If necessary. If that is the only thing that will help, so be it. He has been cut open knots and crosses and thinks chemo is better. He survived it twice for 12 sessions at a time, 25 sessions of radiation, and he looks like any other man passing you by. He doesn't look sick, and you wouldn't know it, if we don't tell you.
My message to you all Be positive!
Ilse (Pete's wife)
Pete age 56, dx Oct 2003. APR then.
25 Sessions radiation Nov 2003.
NED for 2,5 years.
Feb 2006 2 mets to liver.
Folfox and Avastin for 12 sessions.
Liver resection and RFA Sept 2006.
NED
Aug 2008 - 6 Spots on lungs - biggest 1,5 cm
Folfiri August 2008 to March 2009.
June 2009. 3 Mets on left lung. No growth. No new mets.
Stable for now - till next check up.