FOUR YEARS! It has been 4 years since my liver resection (when I became Stage IVa after a cancerous spot was found on my liver) and 7 years and 3 months since I was diagnosed with Stage IIIb Colon Cancer. My oncologist does not agree with the 'keeping the original stage and adding the word 'recurrent', etc'. He says the minute cancer spreads, you ARE Stage IV.
Officially, as of my visit today, I remain CANCER FREE (NED) and a normal CEA.
This is a HUGE milestone! At 5 years, next April, my doctor will pronounce me cured. He laughed at me today because I told him my true cure date according to the Hazard Ratio is 6.48 years. He looked it up and I was right, but the Hazard Ratio (point at which I become as susceptible to having a new cancer as the general public) bottoms out at 4 years and then takes a final slight dip at 6 years, so the point between 4 and 6.48 he chose is 5 years.
Believe me, I’ll still have follow ups and blood work done, but not as many scans in year 5 and 6 and probably none after year 6, just the every 6 month blood work. This really is a milestone for me and should bring HOPE to all Stage IV cancer patients!
MY OPINION:
I give ALL glory to God for my healing and restoration to health!
Stage IVa and all clear at 4 years NED
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dianetavegia
- Posts: 2731
- Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 8:47 pm
- Facebook Username: Diane Weldy Tavegia
- Location: Villa Rica, Georgia
Stage IVa and all clear at 4 years NED
Stage III cc surgery 1/7/09. 12 tx FOLFOX
Stage IV PET = 1.5cm liver met. HR 4/11/12
14 years since dx and 11 years post liver resection.
Pronounced CURED and discharged by onc
“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.” Psalms 30:2
Stage IV PET = 1.5cm liver met. HR 4/11/12
14 years since dx and 11 years post liver resection.
Pronounced CURED and discharged by onc
“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.” Psalms 30:2
Re: Stage IVa and all clear at 4 years NED
Diane, thank you for sharing your great news. You've been one that has always given me that ray of Hope since I became stage 1R (or Stage 4A or whatever they want to call it) last May. Although our journey has not been the same, I hope to follow the same blessed path you're on. Congratulations and may you always be NED! Jane
7/13, T2, G3, Ultra-low. CEA 5.7 KRAS Wild, MSS
8-9/13 6 wks Xeloda/radiation
12/13 TEM pCR NED
5/15 CEA 4.6 PET 1.5 cm met, UL Lobectomy
6-10/15: Rounds 1-2 Xelox+Avastin; 3-8 Folfox+Avastin
10/15-4/16: 12 rounds Avastin
9/2016 CEA 4.2, 12 mm AP node
11/2016 CEA 4.3. PET/CT. 16mm AP nodal met removed
4 wks chemorad
2/2017 NED CEA 2.4
Carafate to tx esophageal ulcers caused by rad
Avastin maintenance postponed
2 Corinthians 12:9
8-9/13 6 wks Xeloda/radiation
12/13 TEM pCR NED
5/15 CEA 4.6 PET 1.5 cm met, UL Lobectomy
6-10/15: Rounds 1-2 Xelox+Avastin; 3-8 Folfox+Avastin
10/15-4/16: 12 rounds Avastin
9/2016 CEA 4.2, 12 mm AP node
11/2016 CEA 4.3. PET/CT. 16mm AP nodal met removed
4 wks chemorad
2/2017 NED CEA 2.4
Carafate to tx esophageal ulcers caused by rad
Avastin maintenance postponed
2 Corinthians 12:9
Re: Stage IVa and all clear at 4 years NED
What an amazing story. Congratulations and thank you for sharing this. 
DH T2 N1b M0. 3/15 positive nodes.
Stage IIIA moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma.
Tumor size 6 cm.
Left hemicolectomy 10/26/15.
FOLFOX 11/30/15 to 5/2/16, full 12 cycles.
10/3/16 CT scan clear.
11/10/17 CT: "Focal opacity along the left lower lung, 7 mm. Two small peripheral opacities along the right lower lobe, 2 to 3 mm. A few small to mildly prominent left-sided central mesenteric nodes, up to 13 mm.
June 2019: NED.
2020: NED 5 years. 4 mm lung nodule on CT
Stage IIIA moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma.
Tumor size 6 cm.
Left hemicolectomy 10/26/15.
FOLFOX 11/30/15 to 5/2/16, full 12 cycles.
10/3/16 CT scan clear.
11/10/17 CT: "Focal opacity along the left lower lung, 7 mm. Two small peripheral opacities along the right lower lobe, 2 to 3 mm. A few small to mildly prominent left-sided central mesenteric nodes, up to 13 mm.
June 2019: NED.
2020: NED 5 years. 4 mm lung nodule on CT
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Felicitym23
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2016 2:37 am
- Facebook Username: Felicity Malyszko
Re: Stage IVa and all clear at 4 years NED
Awesome news. You give me such hope.
I was originally Stage 3C until Christmas and then it had spread to neck lymph nodes and I was up graded to Stage 4.
I started immune therapy and had no cancer at my PET scan after 3 sessions. I am in remission but still on chemo.
I believe I will be here in 5 years, 10 years heck even 15 years.
I love hearing stories like this. I know that there are more of us out here surviving Stage 4. But I think we just tend to get on with living life to the fullest and only the sad stores are being posted.
Life life to the fullest my friend. You have just battled the toughest journey.
I was originally Stage 3C until Christmas and then it had spread to neck lymph nodes and I was up graded to Stage 4.
I started immune therapy and had no cancer at my PET scan after 3 sessions. I am in remission but still on chemo.
I believe I will be here in 5 years, 10 years heck even 15 years.
I love hearing stories like this. I know that there are more of us out here surviving Stage 4. But I think we just tend to get on with living life to the fullest and only the sad stores are being posted.
Life life to the fullest my friend. You have just battled the toughest journey.
47yrs and mother to a 12 year child with autism
Cancer confirmed 9/23/15
Ext right hemicolectomy 10/13/15
35 Lymph nodes & 6 cancer told Stage 3C.
Nov 15 Oxy, Leucovorin, Flurourcil
CT and PET Scan told that cancer was now in abdo & neck lymph nodes.
STAGE 4 told two days before Christmas 2015.
Oxy, Leucovorin, Flurourcil & Panitumumab
MARCH 2016 NED - currently in remission. Stage 4.
After 3 sessions of Vectibux.
PET & CT SCAN July 16 - Still NED but still on chemo and Vectibix.
Cancer confirmed 9/23/15
Ext right hemicolectomy 10/13/15
35 Lymph nodes & 6 cancer told Stage 3C.
Nov 15 Oxy, Leucovorin, Flurourcil
CT and PET Scan told that cancer was now in abdo & neck lymph nodes.
STAGE 4 told two days before Christmas 2015.
Oxy, Leucovorin, Flurourcil & Panitumumab
MARCH 2016 NED - currently in remission. Stage 4.
After 3 sessions of Vectibux.
PET & CT SCAN July 16 - Still NED but still on chemo and Vectibix.
Re: Stage IVa and all clear at 4 years NED
That's fantastic news 
Dad diagnosed Sept 14 Stage IV. Age 57yrs. Transverse colon - spread to Retroperitoneal, Mesenteric & Supraclavicular lymph nodes. Folfiri commenced Sept 14.
April 15 - Bowel resection
August 15, stable scan
Feb 16 - No signs of cancer on scan...stop chemo & scan in 3 month
Scan April 16, Crazy growth to stomach, lymph nodes & multiple mets to liver. Commencing Folfox.
August: chemo not working. Stopped treatment.
September 3rd 2016 peacefully left this earth.
April 15 - Bowel resection
August 15, stable scan
Feb 16 - No signs of cancer on scan...stop chemo & scan in 3 month
Scan April 16, Crazy growth to stomach, lymph nodes & multiple mets to liver. Commencing Folfox.
August: chemo not working. Stopped treatment.
September 3rd 2016 peacefully left this earth.
Re: Stage IVa and all clear at 4 years NED
Thank you for your news, so delighted for you. You give hope some much hope to us all Stage 4 ers, so vitally important to read such successful stories, thank you.
Dx 3/14. Stage 111b. Aged 51 Mother of 4
3/14 Sigmoidectomy (6 positve lymph nodes out of 15)
12 rounds of oxaliplaton, 5 F-U and leucovorin
9/14 PEP scan tumor in superaclavicular lymph node
Stage IV
10/14 Radiation,
1/15 PEP activity in the lymph nodes in abdomen.
12 rounds irinotecan and avastin
4/15 NED
9/15 PEP activity in the lymph nodes in sternum
10/15 Radiation SBRT
1/16 PEP activity in another 2 superaclavicular lymph nodes
2/16 irinotecan and avastin
3/16 NED but CEA 6.1
3/14 Sigmoidectomy (6 positve lymph nodes out of 15)
12 rounds of oxaliplaton, 5 F-U and leucovorin
9/14 PEP scan tumor in superaclavicular lymph node
Stage IV
10/14 Radiation,
1/15 PEP activity in the lymph nodes in abdomen.
12 rounds irinotecan and avastin
4/15 NED
9/15 PEP activity in the lymph nodes in sternum
10/15 Radiation SBRT
1/16 PEP activity in another 2 superaclavicular lymph nodes
2/16 irinotecan and avastin
3/16 NED but CEA 6.1
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DarknessEmbraced
- Posts: 3817
- Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
- Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
- Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Re: Stage IVa and all clear at 4 years NED
Wonderful news!
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!
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!
Re: Stage IVa and all clear at 4 years NED
Congratulations, Diane, that is such wonderful news! To me, it seems like yesterday that you had the liver dx. Where do the years go? Many blessings and wishes for peace to you and your family.
Rectal dx 4/2011 (Stage 3B - T3N1M0)
5FU/Rad - daily/6 wks ending 6/2011
Surgery 8/19/2011
Finished 8 rounds Folfox 2/2012
Ileo reverse and port out 3/2012
NED
5FU/Rad - daily/6 wks ending 6/2011
Surgery 8/19/2011
Finished 8 rounds Folfox 2/2012
Ileo reverse and port out 3/2012
NED
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