Finally some good news!

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BeansMama
Posts: 959
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2016 1:38 am
Location: North Carolina

Finally some good news!

Postby BeansMama » Thu Mar 02, 2017 11:32 am

According to my CEA numbers it looks like the Keytruda is working! It has gone from 345 at the beginning, to 78 after a treatment of Opdivo and a treatment of Keytruda. Now after two treatments of Keytruda it has dropped to 21.5!

Should be having a scan in the next three weeks to see if there are any changes in the tumor.

As of right now the plan is to treat with Keytruda for 6 months and watch the scans carefully. Once I hit the plateau where it stops responding I go to surgery.

My oncologist also said that they will be doing a write up of my treatment. He feels that the combination of the Keytruda treatment and the complicated surgery makes it write up worthy.

I am just glad something finally seems to be working, that I feel more like my old self again. I have more energy, I don't feel as sick all the time. I still battle fatigue and I have a low grade fever and bone pain from the treatment but I will take that over chemo side effects any day.
41 yrs old
Tumor found 9/2015
Surgery 1 - 11/2015 LAR and colostomy
Surgery 2 - 11/2015 wound vac
Surgery 3 - 12/2015 revise resection, move colostomy
Mets to liver - tumor inoperable - one add'l met destroyed
Stage IVa (T3 N2a M1a)
Primary tumor 9 cm x 7.5 cm x 2 cm
Beginning Folfox 1/2016 - Failed
Beginning Folfiri and vectibix 8/2016 — Failed
Beginning Folfirinox + Avastin 11/2016 - Failed
Beginning Keytruda 1/2017
CEA drop from 345 to 7.3 after starting immunotherapy
Lynch positive 3/2016

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Maia
Posts: 2443
Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:00 am

Re: Finally some good news!

Postby Maia » Thu Mar 02, 2017 11:38 am

HOORAY!!
NOW you are in your way to surgery and NED!! Just wait to your next scan. 8)
I hope you and your family celebrate, big time. :)

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BeansMama
Posts: 959
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2016 1:38 am
Location: North Carolina

Re: Finally some good news!

Postby BeansMama » Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:18 pm

I am seriously hoping the next scan shows good results! We have family visiting this weekend so we will be doing lots of fun stuff, I am glad I will have the energy to fully participate! Now if the bone pain would calm down I would be all set. :D
41 yrs old
Tumor found 9/2015
Surgery 1 - 11/2015 LAR and colostomy
Surgery 2 - 11/2015 wound vac
Surgery 3 - 12/2015 revise resection, move colostomy
Mets to liver - tumor inoperable - one add'l met destroyed
Stage IVa (T3 N2a M1a)
Primary tumor 9 cm x 7.5 cm x 2 cm
Beginning Folfox 1/2016 - Failed
Beginning Folfiri and vectibix 8/2016 — Failed
Beginning Folfirinox + Avastin 11/2016 - Failed
Beginning Keytruda 1/2017
CEA drop from 345 to 7.3 after starting immunotherapy
Lynch positive 3/2016

Maddielolo
Posts: 140
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 4:57 pm

Re: Finally some good news!

Postby Maddielolo » Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:32 pm

That's a great sign, and happy to hear your feeling better. Hoping for a fantastic scan!

alurker
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 1:41 pm

Re: Finally some good news!

Postby alurker » Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:33 pm

I have been lurking anonymously for some time, because it is my ex husband who has CRC. So I am on the down low (he is remarried). But I have been checking and checking to see an update from you, because I was struck by your kindness and generosity. Just how positive you are and welcoming to others. I am keeping you in my prayers. Wonderful news!

jhocno197
Posts: 817
Joined: Mon May 11, 2015 9:33 pm

Re: Finally some good news!

Postby jhocno197 » Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:35 pm

Oh my goodness, how fantastic!! YAY!!!
DH - dx Dec 2014, stage IV with bladder & peritoneal involvement - non-resectable
Colostomy
FOLFOX failed
FOLFIRI failed
Tumor actually distending pelvic skin
Not a candidate for last-ditch pelvic exenteration
Stivarga finally begun 2/19/16
Tumor growing/fungating
Lonsurf started 11/18/16
Died 3/10/17

MDK
Posts: 46
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2015 1:43 pm

Re: Finally some good news!

Postby MDK » Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:55 pm

Wonderful babe!!!!

Forward!

Marianne
Diagnosed 11/9/2015
Stage III Rectal Cancer
Began Chemoradiation 01/04/2016
Completed Chemoradiation 2/17/16
Local Excision
Developed Rectovaginal Fistula
06/24/16 APR / Flap Repair Fistula
Permanent Colostomy
09/20/2016 Liver Mets, possible Lung Mets
9/16 - 11/17 Xeloda and Avastin to progression
12/17 - 01/18 Folfox 6 sessions liver tumor shrank considerably - severe allergic reaction
01/18 - 04/18 Xeloda and Avastin - Progression
06/18 Avastin and Irinotecan

Philippians 4:6-7

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CRguy
Posts: 10473
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: Finally some good news!

Postby CRguy » Thu Mar 02, 2017 1:12 pm

BeansMama wrote:As of right now the plan is to treat with Keytruda for 6 months and watch the scans carefully. Once I hit the plateau where it stops responding I go to surgery.
My oncologist also said that they will be doing a write up of my treatment. He feels that the combination of the Keytruda treatment and the complicated surgery makes it write up worthy.

WE always knew you were "write-up" worthy sista' !!!!!!
Glad your docs agree :mrgreen:

Excellent news my friend ... keep kicking the ass outta those numbers

Cheers and MegaHarmony
CRguy
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

JJ2212
Posts: 268
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2013 3:54 pm
Location: Montréal, QC

Re: Finally some good news!

Postby JJ2212 » Thu Mar 02, 2017 2:20 pm

Yay Beans! Congrats on the great news!

Janie
Rectal cancer dx 04/13 @ 42, MSS, KRAS positive
T3N2M1 (1 lung met)
5 weeks xeloda+radiation finished 07/13
APR 9/13 (permanent colostomy), 27/31 nodes positive :-(
12 rounds of FOLFOX 04/14
Lung met growth 11/14
26 cycles Regorafenib (Stivarga) from 11/15 to 01/17
New lung met and chest/neck lymph nodes 01/17
1 cycle Folfiri

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SEWHAPPY
Posts: 86
Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2016 4:25 pm

Re: Finally some good news!

Postby SEWHAPPY » Thu Mar 02, 2017 2:32 pm

Congratulations ! Wonderful news. :D
Female age 51.
CC diagnosed 10/13/16 at first colonoscopy.
Lap colon resection 11/21/16, removed ovary & fallopian tube.
T4N0M0, stage IIC.
Lynch negative.
Power port installed 12/19/16.
12 rounds FOLFOX done 6/16/17.

AussieAssCancer
Posts: 258
Joined: Sat May 21, 2016 10:16 am

Re: Finally some good news!

Postby AussieAssCancer » Thu Mar 02, 2017 3:07 pm

Wahoooo!!! That's brilliant news Beans :D Yay!!
Dx Oct '15 w/ Stage 3c RC/ CEA 8
Nov '15 - Jan '16: 3x FOLFOX and 5wks Chemoradiation w/ Xeloda
March '16: ULAR w/ temp ileostomy
Complete pathological response incl 0/12 nodes
May - Aug '16: 9x FOLFOX (dropped Oxaliplatin for final Rd due to neuropathy)
Clear CT scans in April ‘16 (NED), Dec ‘16, Aug ‘17, Feb ‘18, March ‘19, Feb ‘20
Feb '17: Ileostomy reversed
CEA Post Surgery: ALWAYS 2

Blog: kickingrectalcancerintheassblog
https://kickingrectalcancerintheassblog.wordpress.com/

tarheelmom
Posts: 168
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2016 5:55 pm

Re: Finally some good news!

Postby tarheelmom » Thu Mar 02, 2017 3:18 pm

Great news. Prayers for a good scan
52 y at dx, mom to 4
DX: RC on 2/22/2016
Stage I, T2N0M0, 0/32 LN
23 mm x 7 mm moderately differentiated invasive adenocarcinoma
3 cm from anal verge
4/12/16: ULAR, TME, & temp ileostomy
6/14/16: ileo reversal

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Marylandmaniac
Posts: 234
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 6:22 pm

Re: Finally some good news!

Postby Marylandmaniac » Thu Mar 02, 2017 3:26 pm

Wow that is a big drop in CEA!!! SO happy to hear it is working. Also glad to hear you are feeling better energy wise. So glad you are on this protocol now. Congrats!
DX 6/29/16 7 cm tumor, 10 cm fr av
CT scan ab,MRI abdomen - 9mm spot on liver,CT scan of chest lungs clear
Special staging MRI - clinical staging stage 3b - T3N2M0 (unless spot proves to be met)
8/11 PET scan - spot lit up not nodes
8/16 Port in, 8/17 liver microwave abltn - spot gone
8/23 6 rds FOLFOX started
PET scan 10-13 43% red of tumor and no mets shown
Exam tumor greatly reduced. Surgery 12-14-16.
Clear margins, 7 out of 13 nodes positive. Tumor 2.1 cm
Kras wild, MMS, not MSI. 6 more rds FOLFOX

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LPL
Posts: 651
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2016 12:49 am
Location: Europe

Re: Finally some good news!

Postby LPL » Thu Mar 02, 2017 5:12 pm

BeansMama,
So Happy for You :D :D
Sending Good vibrations for the upcoming Scan.
DH @ 65 DX 4/11/16 CC recto-sigmoid junction
Adenocarcenoma 35x15x9mm G3(biopsi) G1(surgical)
Mets 3 Liver resectable
T4aN1bM1a IVa 2/9 LN
MSS, KRAS-mut G13D
CEA & CA19-9: 5/18 2.5 78 8/17 1.4 48 2/14/17 1.8 29
4 Folfox 6/15-7/30 (b4 liver surgery) 8 after
CT: 8/8 no change 3/27/17 NED->Jan-19 mets to lung NED again Oct-19 :)
:!: Steroid induced hyperglycemia dx after 3chemo
Surgeries 2016: 3/18 Emergency colostomy
5/23 Primary+gallbl+stoma reversal+port 9/1 Liver mets
RFA 2019: Feb & Oct lung mets

Wonderfullymade
Posts: 140
Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2016 4:33 pm

Re: Finally some good news!

Postby Wonderfullymade » Thu Mar 02, 2017 5:54 pm

That is excellent! You have made my day! Keeping you in prayer that your scan is just as good ( or better!) as your drop in CEA!
Wonderfullymade
DX 3/2015 53
Stage IVa CC w/liver met
BRAF/KRAS wild type MSI-High (MLH1, PMS2) not Lynch
Folfox 3 cycles
5/2015 ER for subtotal colectomomy due to perforated colon, ovary removed
Folfuri/Pantiumumab 5 cycles
8/2015 liver resection, gallbladder removed and new LN
10/2015 CT scan new nodes
10/2015 Pembro started CEA 2.2
5/2017 stable lung things, coltis, lymph nodes stable cea 1/2017 1.1
9/2017 NED CEA 1.1 ( stopped Pembro)
2/2019 ER for DVT/ PE
2/2019 clean CT (NED) CEA 1.1


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