Best Hospitals for treatment of Colon Cancer

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Andrea
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Location: Poquoson, VA

Best Hospitals for treatment of Colon Cancer

Postby Andrea » Sat Dec 09, 2006 12:01 pm

I am waiting to see if I can have SIR-spheres done at Inova Fairfax Hospital, VA. I've been off of chemo since October and don't feel myself getting any stronger. I feel like I am wasting away to nothing. It is so frustrating. I don't want to be tired anymore. I hate to say it but I am very close to giving up after fighting this disease for the past 2+ years. It's not so much I am giving up as it is I'm running out of options. Chemo keeps me alive but at what cost when you've done 40+ rounds of it? I'm even more tired. I am going to start researching for more options to keep me holding on. This is as much mental as it is physical. Lance Armstrong found the best Dr for his type of cancer in Indianapolis. Where is the best Dr/hospital for colon cancer? Also has anyone heard of Stereotactic Radio Surgery for liver tumors? I wish everyone strength, and above all HOPE for the new year.
Andrea

johnmeissner
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Postby johnmeissner » Sat Dec 09, 2006 2:04 pm

I have my colon resection (DX in June '06 at Stage One) done at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Orlando, Florida and my surgeon was Dr. Paul Williamson. M.D. Anderson has hospitals in several locations and are well known for their high quality of care. Dr. Williamson is one of the top colon rectal surgeons in the country. The first time I met him, I knew that he was the surgeon I wanted. His team did a fantastic job and a follow up at the 3-month mark showed absolutely no signs of cancer. Dr. Williamson can be reached at the Colon and Rectal Clinic in Orlando.

God luck and keep fighting!
Hi, I'm John. But you can call me NED! Meet our son Jimmy at http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn243/jimmymize/

Thelma
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Postby Thelma » Sat Dec 09, 2006 2:44 pm

Andrea,It is so wonderful to see you posting! I had wondered how you are doing! You keep fighting girl and my thoughts and prayers are with you!
Thelma

Lifes2short
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Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Postby Lifes2short » Sat Dec 09, 2006 6:20 pm

Sloan Kettering, M.D. Anderson in Houston, UPMC (Univirsity of Pittsburg Medical Center) are three well known cancer hospitals that are pretty advanced in their research of colorectal cancer.

I'm sure there are others as well. The key is to get a doctor you trust - hopefully one with a fair amount of experience in the type of cancer you have. I have been treated in Salt Lake City. I loved my rectal surgeon, but didn't like my Oncologist. Now I have a great Oncologist and also a top notch cancer surgeon who will be doing my liver resection. I feel good about the resources I found close to home. But if I did not have access to these resources I would definitely go to one of the major hospitals for a second opinion.

My current surgeon did his fellowship at M.D. Anderson. His advice to me was "don't ever let anyone tell you there's no hope. There's always something more that can be done". Those words have stuck with me and made me want to fight this thing. However there may be a time when you just can't handle doing "one more thing". Chemo is miserable. I can understand wanting to just stop the treatment and try to enjoy what's left of life.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do. Happy holidays.

Guest

Re: Best Hospitals for treatment of Colon Cancer

Postby Guest » Sat Dec 09, 2006 7:08 pm

Andrea wrote:I am waiting to see if I can have SIR-spheres done at Inova Fairfax Hospital, VA.

Where is the best Dr/hospital for colon cancer? Also has anyone heard of Stereotactic Radio Surgery for liver tumors? Andrea


Andrea

I´m new here so dont know your history but think you should be looking for a liver surgeon to see if your liver is resectable.

I assume you had the colon cancer removed?

Jude

Holly
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Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:06 pm

Wow

Postby Holly » Sat Dec 09, 2006 7:32 pm

Andrea,

I used to live and work in VA. There are many excellent physicians around the beltway. Dr. John Marshall has an office in Georgetown and is considered an expert in stage IV colon cancer. I would strongly encourage you to contact and schedule a consultation with him. You may send me a private message and I will forward his personal contact information to you.

I encourage you to reflect on our many telephone conversations. Andrea, it is so important that you find a medical team that you value, trust and respect. One that will go to bat for you and wants this win as much as you do. Separate the 'white noise.'

Remember ALL things are truly possible.

Holly
Last edited by Holly on Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:10 am, edited 1 time in total.

Wendy
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Stereotactic radiation therapy

Postby Wendy » Sun Dec 10, 2006 2:37 pm

Hi,

I looked into a clinical trial for SRT back in June 06 but I had too many tumours to treat. Here is an article which I found very interesting...


http://www.nationalreviewofmedicine.com ... 02_21.html


Now, due to Avastin - I am awaiting to have a liver resection at the end of January 07.

Best wishes,
Wendy
www.wendysbattle.com

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pjpeace
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Postby pjpeace » Sun Dec 10, 2006 10:16 pm

I have heard that IU (where Lance Armstrong went) doesn't turn down any cancer patients. I've been up there and have been seen by several of their Doc's and each of them were excellent. My Oncologist up there after every symptom I had totally knew why it happened and where...where was she when I first started all this stuff man (before they knew what was wrong with me)!!! They also teach so they are really good about explaining stuff to you as well. They are also developing new stuff all the time...when I was up there last I donated my blood for a future test that will detect colon cancer earlier and younger. My next surgery is going to be up there. Any cancer center you will have better rates of survival with. Since that's what they do all day everyday.

I know a survivor who went to MD Anderson and swears they saved her life. It all depends on where you feel comfortable. I LOVE my entire treatment team up in Indy and down here locally.

Go where you feel comfortable and a place that goes along with how you want to be treated. Find Doc's who will fight for you and believe in you. I call my guys my fellow 'knights in arms' ; )

Best wishes :D
"When you've been abandoned in the desert and the vultures are circling and squawking at you...raise you fist at them and yell "I'M NOT DEAD YET!!!"
Stage IV @ 30 yrs. 6/06 Ms. April 2008
Recurrence to pancreas 2/09 & 6/10

Lifes2short
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Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Postby Lifes2short » Sun Dec 10, 2006 11:37 pm

The article on SRT is very interesting. It sounds like the doctors using SRT are thinking it is more effective than chemo. I've heard similar comments about using the radioactive spheres. So much info. So much progress being made recently. But how to decide what is best?

My oncologist sees the chemo has had an effect and suggests maybe we should keep going for 12 or 14 rounds. Ouch! My surgeon says six or eight rounds will be fine - then we cut! Oncologists use chemo, surgeons cut, radiologists use radiation. How to know what is best?

Wendy, I'd be interested in hearing more of your story. I, too, will be having liver resection sometime after the first of the year - most likely March depending on the number of rounds of chemo. I have been using Folfox and Avastin.

MissKim
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Postby MissKim » Mon Dec 11, 2006 12:59 am

Wendy,

I loved the article that you posted on Stereotactic Radiation Therapy. The oncologists mentioned in the article were from Canada. Is this medical technology only used in Canada right now? It sounds very promising.

Miss Kim

Wendy
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SRT and Liver Resection...

Postby Wendy » Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:27 am

I have a blog set up on my website www.wendysbattle.com which outlines my journey since I was diagnosed Jan 06. If you have any questons, let me know. I too was on Folfox and Avastin...with great results.

SRT - As with everything - I googled it and found many articles from the US - here is one http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 082032.htm
I highly doubt that Canada is doing anything that the US is not already doing!

Wendy

Andrea
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Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 9:47 pm
Location: Poquoson, VA

Postby Andrea » Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:15 pm

Thank you all for your wonderful responses. I met with a radiologist and radiation oncologist in Fairfax earlier this week. They want me to get a PET scan so they can tell what is active tumor and dead tumor. There is some hypertension in my portal vein which means it may be blocked. If so I won't be able to have SIR-spheres. I still need the angiogram and MAA scan to tell whether it is a no-go or not. I will keep you all updated.
Merry Christmas!
Andrea

janb
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Postby janb » Fri Dec 22, 2006 6:30 pm

Hoping for the best Andrea. Have a very Merry Christmas.
Jan
Together....we can make a difference!
www.whereintheworldisgregkelley.com

jack02
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Re:Best Hospitals for treatment of Colon Cancer

Postby jack02 » Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:31 pm

My friend as long as Iknow Mayo Clinic is a world leader in the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer. Mayo physicians have extensive experience treating all forms, including rare genetic cancers such as FAP (familial adenomatous polyposis), HNPCC (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer) and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
Is premarin good for us?

sean
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Location: Vienna Virginia

Postby sean » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:33 pm

I'm in Vienna & Inova Fairfax is right near where I do my chemo . My surgeon from the resection has told me that there are some excellent liver specialists in this area. Also, my aunt's neighbor, who lives just outside Philly, is an oncologist and has kindly had an open door for me. I refer to him as my advising oncologist (AO). He is a single practitioner, but I know he is very familiar with Fox Chase.


Anyway, if I can be of help feel free to send me a private message and I'll be glad to find out what I can from my AO. I am planning on giving him a call early next week to give him an update on how I was doing, so it wouldn't be any inconvenience.


My surgeon was Dr Robert Ahmed. I found out after my resection that a large number of surgeons in his practice are recognized in Washingtonian's annual top physicians survey (a survey of who local doctors think are the best in the area). Dr Ahmed is outstanding as a person, is enthusiastic about his profession, and has great credentials.

My surgery was at Inova Fair Oaks, but I know Dr Ahmed & most of the surgeons in his office (Virginia Surgery Associates) have privileges at Fairfax too. I'd be surprised if one of them specializes in spheres, but I'd be equally surprised if they didn't know the best local surgeons who do. If you are still looking for references or information I'd recommend checking with them.

Best of luck to you.
42 - dx Jan 3 2007 stage IIA colon
9 FOLFOX4, 3 5-FU completed Sep 24 2007
Blockage symptoms, Negative Colonoscopy, Positive PET Oct 2009
2nd Resection Oct 2009 - Suspected Local Recurrence was Negative


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