My CRC with liver mets journey

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cartech78
Posts: 78
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2018 6:22 pm

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby cartech78 » Mon Apr 08, 2019 6:29 pm

ginabeewell wrote:Well I must be doing well because they want to start the pump chemo TODAY. We were just expecting saline. Glad I had sushi yesterday!

Sounds like they only found one affected lymph node, near the colon, which was removed during surgery. Pathology on all the other nodes was negative. I was a bit surprised by this, I assumed stage 4 went hand in hand with lymph nodes being more broadly impacted.

One more post op to go (with Dr Paty) and then will get the pump filled.

Thats good you had very minor affected lymph nodes. I have read studies that say its a positive prognostic indicator. I never had any blood thinners short of those heaprin shots. The pump chemo is easy cause you don’t get side effects from it. They started me on Folfiri this week and let me tell you that was another story. I feel like the FolFox was easier to tolerate for me anyway. I met with Dr. Polite today, very nice guy and they will be servicing my pump now in the off weeks. Goodluck!
40 Y/o male
Dx 10/5/18 stage lV CRC
Sg colon
23 inoperable liver mets largest 4.5 cm
Colon resection 10/6/18 clean margins
Starting FolFox on 11/18
2nd opinion at MSK on 12/18
HAI pump installed on 3/6/2019 also found 20 more small tumors on liver scans missed
7/2/2019 MRI and CT show only 2 liver tumors visible and they are shrunk by 3/4
11/25/19- Liver resection at MSK- got out all cancer and am NED. More scans and mop up chemo to follow.
1 month Scan clear! Jun/20 scans still clear. Off chemo since 3/20

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ginabeewell
Posts: 565
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2018 10:30 am

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby ginabeewell » Mon Apr 08, 2019 6:41 pm

cartech78 wrote:Thats good you had very minor affected lymph nodes. I have read studies that say its a positive prognostic indicator. I never had any blood thinners short of those heaprin shots. The pump chemo is easy cause you don’t get side effects from it. They started me on Folfiri this week and let me tell you that was another story. I feel like the FolFox was easier to tolerate for me anyway. I met with Dr. Polite today, very nice guy and they will be servicing my pump now in the off weeks. Goodluck!


I asked Dr Kemeny to consider keeping me on FOLFOX since my response to it has been so good so far. She wanted to spend some more time with my file before deciding which chemo to use. She has two weeks to decide, and likewise, we have two weeks to figure out who at Northwestern can service the pump. Otherwise we may be back on a plane to NY...or back to Dr Polite!
49 YO mom of twins (11) lucky stepmom of 16/19 year olds
9/17/18 DX stage 4 CRC w inoperable liver mets CEA 931
Currently NED!

Join me on a lookback of my journey via my Strive for Five on Substack here:
https://ginajacobson.substack.com

All treatment details here:
https://www.weareallmadeofstars.net/col ... nt-journey

My favorite posts here:
https://weareallmadeofstars.net/favorite-posts

cartech78
Posts: 78
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2018 6:22 pm

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby cartech78 » Mon Apr 08, 2019 7:19 pm

ginabeewell wrote:
cartech78 wrote:Thats good you had very minor affected lymph nodes. I have read studies that say its a positive prognostic indicator. I never had any blood thinners short of those heaprin shots. The pump chemo is easy cause you don’t get side effects from it. They started me on Folfiri this week and let me tell you that was another story. I feel like the FolFox was easier to tolerate for me anyway. I met with Dr. Polite today, very nice guy and they will be servicing my pump now in the off weeks. Goodluck!


I asked Dr Kemeny to consider keeping me on FOLFOX since my response to it has been so good so far. She wanted to spend some more time with my file before deciding which chemo to use. She has two weeks to decide, and likewise, we have two weeks to figure out who at Northwestern can service the pump. Otherwise we may be back on a plane to NY...or back to Dr Polite!

I asked her to stay on it as well cause it was pretty effective for me and ive only had 7 treatments of it. I mentioned that I had very minor neuropathy in my finger tips and that dream died right there :lol: So from what my wife and I understand, Dr Polite actually has the people from Medtronic oversee the pump maintenance which made me feel a lot more comfortable. Im going to stick with my local onc for the systemic although MSK did do my First Folfiri April 1st. They have this very unique 5fu pump that is disposable. They even teach you how to unhook yourself at home and give you a kit for it. The tradeoff is that you might be traveling and feeling sick. :mrgreen: Cheers!
40 Y/o male
Dx 10/5/18 stage lV CRC
Sg colon
23 inoperable liver mets largest 4.5 cm
Colon resection 10/6/18 clean margins
Starting FolFox on 11/18
2nd opinion at MSK on 12/18
HAI pump installed on 3/6/2019 also found 20 more small tumors on liver scans missed
7/2/2019 MRI and CT show only 2 liver tumors visible and they are shrunk by 3/4
11/25/19- Liver resection at MSK- got out all cancer and am NED. More scans and mop up chemo to follow.
1 month Scan clear! Jun/20 scans still clear. Off chemo since 3/20

Pyro
Posts: 305
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:40 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby Pyro » Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:29 am

I’ve read the FOLFOX regiment is now 6, I see in your sig you’re around that, is that still the case? I thought FOLFOX was the worst of the bunch, I’ll never do it again, what’s your Onc say?
Aug 2015- Stage 4 CC with liver Mets(38/m)
Sep 2015- Avastin/Folfox/Iron
Dec 2015-Not liver surgery candidate
Jan 2016- Erbitux/Folfiri, 2nd opinion at MDA in TX
Feb 2016 -MDA liver surgery
Mar 2016 -30% of left lobe rem, PVE
May 2016 - 70% of liver rem
Jun 2016-Rad
Jan 2017-perm colost @MDA
Jul 2017-Erb/FOLFURI
Nov 2017 -Lung & Liver ablations@MDA
Jan 2018 -Xeloda & Avastin mx
Jul 2018-Avast/FOLFURI
Sep 2018-Rad
Mar 2019 - Keytruda fail
Jun 2019 - FOLFURI
Aug 2019 - No more, quality time!

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ginabeewell
Posts: 565
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2018 10:30 am

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby ginabeewell » Tue Apr 09, 2019 11:40 am

Pyro wrote:I’ve read the FOLFOX regiment is now 6, I see in your sig you’re around that, is that still the case? I thought FOLFOX was the worst of the bunch, I’ll never do it again, what’s your Onc say?


It is? My original onc had planned 12 total rounds for me and I got to 8 before my WBC was too low for #9.

I think Dr Kemeny’s instinct is to switch to FOLFIRI. I had such a tough time with diarrhea on FOLFOX that I’m a little worried about the switch. I really wish someone would take me off Vectibix, but so far it seems to be working so I stay on it, rash be damned!
49 YO mom of twins (11) lucky stepmom of 16/19 year olds
9/17/18 DX stage 4 CRC w inoperable liver mets CEA 931
Currently NED!

Join me on a lookback of my journey via my Strive for Five on Substack here:
https://ginajacobson.substack.com

All treatment details here:
https://www.weareallmadeofstars.net/col ... nt-journey

My favorite posts here:
https://weareallmadeofstars.net/favorite-posts

Gravelyguy
Posts: 382
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:03 pm

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby Gravelyguy » Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:50 pm

The Vectibix rash is no joke. When I was on Vectibix, it was probably the low point in my journey. I felt terrible. But I sure am glad it worked and would do it again if need be.

Dave
6/17 dx mRC t3n1m1 very low rectal tumor 2 liver Mets 1.3 cm and .9 cm

6/17 begin 4 rounds Folfox w/Vectibix
9/17 short course radiation
10/17 rectal and liver resection LAR with coloanal anastomosis (no rectum left)
11/17-3/18 8 rounds Folfox
6/18 still NED!! Takedown
8/28/18 still NED! CEA .8 new low for me
10/18/18 colonoscopy clear
12/12/18 CEA .9 still NED!
6/11/19 CEA 1.0
12/19/19 CEA 1.0 still NED!
6/17/20 CEA 1.1 still NED!
12/15/20 CEA 1.1still NED!
12/16/21 CEA 1.2 still NED!

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juliej
Posts: 3114
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 12:59 pm

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby juliej » Tue Apr 09, 2019 5:55 pm

ginabeewell wrote:I asked Dr Kemeny to consider keeping me on FOLFOX since my response to it has been so good so far. She wanted to spend some more time with my file before deciding which chemo to use.

ginabeewell wrote:I think Dr Kemeny’s instinct is to switch to FOLFIRI. I had such a tough time with diarrhea on FOLFOX that I’m a little worried about the switch. I really wish someone would take me off Vectibix, but so far it seems to be working so I stay on it, rash be damned!

You're right that Dr. K's instinct is to go with Folfiri. That's because all the studies/clinical trials were done with it, so she has the most data on its efficacy with the pump.

I did Folfiri initially after my pump was implanted, but three months later I had double-lung surgery and an ileostomy reversal. After it, I asked if I could go back to Xeloda (which I had been taking prior to my liver resection + pump) because it was easier for me to take the pills at work. She looked over my records, saw it had been very effective on my tumors, and let me switch to it. I'm sure part of her decision was based on the fact that no new tumors came up during the 3 months after the pump surgery.

So it's worth asking her about staying on Folfox if that's what you prefer. I think you could talk her into going off Vectibix, if not immediately, then in the near future. Once it looks like the FUDR in the pump is working to keep your liver clear and no additional extra-hepatic lesions show up, she'll feel more relaxed about your chemo.

I wanted aggressive treatment and was young enough and healthy enough to handle it, so I let her make all the decisions. I'm NED now so no regrets there! :D

You're doing great! Make sure you are eating plenty of protein so you heal faster. Just because your incision is closed, there is still a lot of internal healing that has to happen.

The puffiness you mention is irritating, but it will go away as the fluid leaves the area. It is weird though - I freaked out the first time I saw my abdomen in a mirror!!! :shock: A few weeks later, the pump clearly showed up as a small bump so I knew the extra fluid was gone. I wore compression running tights which made it a lot more comfortable to walk around in NYC. You can grab a pair at Uniqlo if you don't have some with you. Or wear tights under your pants. They both work.

Hope this helps!
Juliej
Stage IVb, liver/lung mets 8/4/2010
Xelox+Avastin 8/18/10 to 10/21/2011
LAR, liver resec, HAI pump 11/2011
Adjuvant Irinotecan + FUDR
Double lung surgery + ileo reversal 2/2012
Adjuvant FUDR + Xeloda
VATS rt. lung 12/2012 - benign granuloma!
VATS left lung 11/2013
NED 11/22/13 to 12/18/2019, CEA<1

Mohrfamily
Posts: 267
Joined: Tue May 22, 2018 4:04 pm

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby Mohrfamily » Wed Apr 10, 2019 4:47 am

As far as vectibix goes. DH was able to dose reduce his vectibix he went as low as 60% he still had the nasty rash but for him is was more manageable. From May through November he did a full 12 rounds of FOLFOX before they took oxaliplatin completely away due to the neuropathy trouble. Our oncologust suggested a B vitamin supplement to maybe help or try to repair that nerve damage but we know its a long shot.

...anyway. DH just put himself back on 100% vectibix and the break outs are pretty much doubled. They call him a super trooper at the center because most people see 1 spot and go off till is gone and resume etc. The fight is real though he's going to try his best to stay on for 3 month, do another PET scan and see where he lands.

My point is maybe you don't have to take it completely out but ask about reducing the dose.
DH dx stage IV liver mets largest 6x6.4 cm
Colonoscopy/endoscopy/port place 5/29
4cm mass in splenic flexure
1st round FolFox 5/30
08/2018 new CT no new lesions, clear lungs, slight decrease in colon.
3/2019 PET scan shows greater than 6-7 liver mets largest measuring 3x3 cm. No growth nothing new.
8/15/19 largest liver lesion 1.9x2.1
9/16/2019 OSU to proceed with surgery implant HAI and colon resection
11/19 resection of colon HAI placed
2/20 CEA back to 1000s, liver worse than when we began-start FOLFIRI

Pyro
Posts: 305
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:40 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby Pyro » Wed Apr 10, 2019 6:53 am

He is a super trooper! I cut my vectibux when my fingernails would bleed just picking things up, it’s terrible but effective stuff.
Aug 2015- Stage 4 CC with liver Mets(38/m)
Sep 2015- Avastin/Folfox/Iron
Dec 2015-Not liver surgery candidate
Jan 2016- Erbitux/Folfiri, 2nd opinion at MDA in TX
Feb 2016 -MDA liver surgery
Mar 2016 -30% of left lobe rem, PVE
May 2016 - 70% of liver rem
Jun 2016-Rad
Jan 2017-perm colost @MDA
Jul 2017-Erb/FOLFURI
Nov 2017 -Lung & Liver ablations@MDA
Jan 2018 -Xeloda & Avastin mx
Jul 2018-Avast/FOLFURI
Sep 2018-Rad
Mar 2019 - Keytruda fail
Jun 2019 - FOLFURI
Aug 2019 - No more, quality time!

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ginabeewell
Posts: 565
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2018 10:30 am

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby ginabeewell » Wed Apr 10, 2019 2:08 pm

The reality is that I’m a mom, so I feel like I’m going to do whatever my oncologist tells me is my best shot! If that means more Vectibix, so be it. I know it’s mostly vanity at play - the splitting skin I could address with SuperGlue - so I have to be a big girl and deal with it.

I’ve told myself once I’m done I will treat myself to a full laser/whatever treatment with a dermatologist!

Until then I can deal with it. And the hair loss and the sore butt from diarrhea and anything else. So long as I have an outlet for complaining a little!

I try to be resilient and have a positive attitude but some days just get to me...
49 YO mom of twins (11) lucky stepmom of 16/19 year olds
9/17/18 DX stage 4 CRC w inoperable liver mets CEA 931
Currently NED!

Join me on a lookback of my journey via my Strive for Five on Substack here:
https://ginajacobson.substack.com

All treatment details here:
https://www.weareallmadeofstars.net/col ... nt-journey

My favorite posts here:
https://weareallmadeofstars.net/favorite-posts

brokenwings
Posts: 147
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 1:50 am

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby brokenwings » Wed Apr 10, 2019 3:49 pm

ginabeewell wrote:The reality is that I’m a mom, so I feel like I’m going to do whatever my oncologist tells me is my best shot! If that means more Vectibix, so be it. I know it’s mostly vanity at play - the splitting skin I could address with SuperGlue - so I have to be a big girl and deal with it.

I’ve told myself once I’m done I will treat myself to a full laser/whatever treatment with a dermatologist!

Until then I can deal with it. And the hair loss and the sore butt from diarrhea and anything else. So long as I have an outlet for complaining a little!

I try to be resilient and have a positive attitude but some days just get to me...


Irinotecan gave me the worst diarrhea of my life! But for the second cycle, the nurse gave me a shot of atropine and I didn't have diarrhea after that.
DX 2019 Adenocarcinoma Sigmoid colon. PC + ovarian met.
Obstruction. Temporary colostomy.
Folfirinox + Avastin: 6 cycles. Scans: partial response.
Surgery (CRS + HIPEC) 04/29: too much disease, surgery cancelled. Right ovary removed.
2nd ptotocol: IP chemo (oxaliplatin) + IV chemo (Folfiri + Avastin). 8 cycles
10/31/2019: 11 hour-long Hipec + 6 weeks in hospital
12/30/2019: liver met
02/05/2020: reversal surgery. New peri mets discovered
March 2020: 5fu+Avastin
May 2020: fistula
Back to 1957: 5fu.

Milk Tea
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2019 1:14 pm

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby Milk Tea » Wed Apr 10, 2019 4:58 pm

Hi Gina,
Your positive attitude is very inspiring. I have no doubt you will beat this, not only you have the MSK team behind you also because of your positive attitude and determination. Thank you for sharing your journey with us here. Sending healing vibe to you for a speedy recovery and successful chemo.
Wife to DH
09/2016: Dx at 50, CC Ascending colon, 10+ liver Mets
KRAS-Mut G12V, MSS, CEA 8
09/2016: Nearly blocked, Emergency colon surgery (LAR)
FOLFOXIRI+Avastin: 6 before and 6 after liver resection
01/2017: Liver resection, open, both lobes, 40% total liver cut, tumors either cut out or microwave ablation burn, all tumors are out
02/2017-01/2019 : Clean CT every 3-4 months, CEA between 2-3
06/2017-Present: Maintenance Chemo: Xeloda + Avastin

stu
Posts: 1613
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:46 pm

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby stu » Wed Apr 10, 2019 5:24 pm

Hi ,
I keep meaning to pop on and say how much I love the way you describe your step children in your signature. How lucky are they to have a step mum like you .

Interestingly my mum despite having a significant spread to her liver , when she eventually had the Bowel tumour remover had no visible cells in her lymph nodes . She had reactionary nodes prior to chemo but had no PET scan at that point . I am not sure if it leads to a better prognosis. My desire to digest every oncology article subsided many years ago but she is doing well ten years later .
You are doing amazingly well in your recovery .
Best foot forward as my mother likes to say .
Take care,
Stu
supporter to my mum who lives a great life despite a difficult diagnosis
stage4 2009 significant spread to liver
2010 colon /liver resection
chemo following recurrence
73% of liver removed
enjoying life treatment free
2016 lung resection
Oct 2017 nice clear scan . Two lung nodules disappeared
Oct 2018. Another clear scan .

User avatar
ginabeewell
Posts: 565
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2018 10:30 am

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby ginabeewell » Wed Apr 10, 2019 7:49 pm

stu wrote:Hi ,
I keep meaning to pop on and say how much I love the way you describe your step children in your signature. How lucky are they to have a step mum like you .


That’s super nice of you to say! But I really do feel lucky, we are a double blended family, and the early years were not so easy with our exes. But the four kids took to each other right away - the 13 year old is now posting pics of all of them on Instagram for siblings day.

And the 16 year old is downstairs setting up a Nespresso machine after I made a comment about being sad his dad wasn’t around to make me French press coffee tomorrow morning - which he traditionally makes and brings to me in bed on a tray. How lucky am I? Like father like son I guess.
: )
49 YO mom of twins (11) lucky stepmom of 16/19 year olds
9/17/18 DX stage 4 CRC w inoperable liver mets CEA 931
Currently NED!

Join me on a lookback of my journey via my Strive for Five on Substack here:
https://ginajacobson.substack.com

All treatment details here:
https://www.weareallmadeofstars.net/col ... nt-journey

My favorite posts here:
https://weareallmadeofstars.net/favorite-posts

Mohrfamily
Posts: 267
Joined: Tue May 22, 2018 4:04 pm

Re: My CRC with liver mets journey

Postby Mohrfamily » Thu Apr 11, 2019 4:37 am

I've only just started hearing this on the radio but every time I hear it I blast my speakers.

Panic at the Disco - High Hopes

Makes me think of my husband and all of you!
DH dx stage IV liver mets largest 6x6.4 cm
Colonoscopy/endoscopy/port place 5/29
4cm mass in splenic flexure
1st round FolFox 5/30
08/2018 new CT no new lesions, clear lungs, slight decrease in colon.
3/2019 PET scan shows greater than 6-7 liver mets largest measuring 3x3 cm. No growth nothing new.
8/15/19 largest liver lesion 1.9x2.1
9/16/2019 OSU to proceed with surgery implant HAI and colon resection
11/19 resection of colon HAI placed
2/20 CEA back to 1000s, liver worse than when we began-start FOLFIRI


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