Postby okie57 » Fri Sep 30, 2016 10:56 pm
Thanks for all the replies---they really got us thinking. Thanks, LPL for the links, we are going to send DH's info in and see which trials they match us with.
Thanks, DH2Sleen, for pointing out the common trial disqualifier of 70 years of age. DH turns 69 in Dec, so we need to get a move on. We think that our HEMOC may say that FOLFOX is failing because of DH's rising CEA and the confluence in his right liver lobe at his Oct 10th appointment, especially if the CEA on that day is up for the 3rd time. So, we have an appointment for Oct 17th at MD Anderson for a second opinion about where we should go next, any possible trials, and DNA sequencing. I also read your wife's blog completely and think she is one brave woman who got to NED because of her strength and willingness to be in a trial. Thanks for the tip about getting surgery when possible before the tumors start mutating or resisting chemo. We didn't realize that different tumors in the body could be mutated to different DNA at different times, making it possible for one line of chemo to work on some, but not all. Cancer is so insidious and sneaky!
Tip for anyone going to MD Anderson: Initially (before chemo), they told us that it would be 4 to 6 weeks to get an appointment and they needed a pathology report from the colon tumor. The CT or PET scan wasn't enough. They said that 1st line is pretty standard and that DH needed chemo ASAP and not to wait on them. So, we started here in OKC. It is hard to get in quickly there, so plan ahead. They told me today that they would take us because DH had at least 4 rounds of 1st line FOLFOX. I thought he had to be done with 12 tx or already considered 1st line chemo failed. They said that if we start the 2nd line, we would have to wait until DH finished at least 4 rounds. So, there is a timing issue with chemo, as well.
DH, 68 @ dx 6/16, Stage IVb, mCRC tumor spread to liver, lungs, lymph system
MSS, K R A S mutated G12D
CEA 7/16 125, 8/16 143, 9/16 155, 10/10 78, 10/17 171, 11/07 93
CA-125 10/17 99.8
7/12/16 start FOLFOX, 7 tx, 1st tx w/Avastin (but got lung blood clot), Avastin added back on 6th tx, 7 tx no 5-FU push now, 8th tx allergic reaction to Oxi, 11/23/16 failed, progressing
11/23/16 start FOLFIRI + Avastin