stage 1 to stage 4

[wkj247]

Hi all,
2 years ago I was diagnosed with stage 1 colon cancer, no lymph nodes involved. I had 15ins. of my sigmoid cancer removed and was told I was cured. Fast forward and had trouble breathing in July and my family doctor took a chest x-ray. They discovered a tumor in my right lung. My oncologist was surprised that it was metasized colon cancer, I think he thought it was lung cancer. So now I am two months out from having my right lung removed as well as the entire tumor also no lymph nodes involved and started chemo yesterday! I am so frustrated that all those blood test for tumor markers failed me. My pumonolgist can not believe it went to my lung and not my liver. Just so angry with it all.

[CRguy]

Sorry you've had to join us again, but cancer does not play by the rules.....
Wishing you strength and courage moving ahead with the chemo and healing.

Best wishes
CRguy

[simon031003]

I am so sorry to hear this. Glad you have a plan going forward. I pray for strength for you during the treatment.

[Livelife]

Oh, thats a shocker.... At least now everything is on the table and you know exactly what it is. On and forward - we are all with you

Best wishes and please keep us updated.
Murray

[Gaelen]

Recurrent cancer is always a shock, and stage I recurrent isn't the most common scenario, but unfortunately, it does happen. Yeah, it's got to be frustrating to have not had any indications from the traditional markers that your cancer was developing, but unfortunately sometimes our illness exceeds the science we have available.

It does sound though like your doctors have a plan and are ready to get your treatment aimed at managing the lung mets. So while they're taking care of the physical part of this, remember that it can help you, a lot, to meet with a professional counselor or support group who specializes in people who have recurrent cancers. It can help a lot to speak with someone who can help you process your feelings, someone who has been where you are now.

[Icesk8tr]

I am so sorry to hear your cancer has progressed to stage I V. We are here to help support you through this journey.

Christine

[minolfa]

If you don't mind me asking, how were you diagnosed?
was a polyp removed during colonoscopy?
Then, being the polyp malignant, you went for surgery?
thanks
myrta

[BrownBagger]

Lung mets here, too.

[MonaL]

Dad went from Stage I to Stage IV in a matter of months if I recall correctly. It really sucks. His mets though were to the liver and more easily dealt with than the lung.

Do take care, and I also highly encourage counseling and support groups.

[beth568]

Just...unfair, isn't it? Not that there's any such thing as "fair" where cancer is concerned. We'll be here to talk you through it.

[Deirdre]

So sorry to hear that. Am sure it is a huge shock. Hope you have a good support system around you.
d

[wendy1]

Four yrs ago I was diagnosed with what the doctors thought was stage 3 cc. Before I started chemo my oncologist sent me for a pet scan to put my mind at ease. It did the opposite because some lymph nodes near my kidney lit up but couldn't be biopsied since it was too close to my aorta. After chemo, on my first scan it didn't light up but the next one did. I started to scan more often and every other scan it lit up. Finally it grew enough to have it biopsied but I was told that it most likely wasn't cc since it hadn't spread anywhere else, and it just wasn't acting as if it were cc. My Dr was very surprised to find out it was indeed cc. Halfway thru chemo I had a scan to see if it was shrinking and instead was told that I now have spots on both my lungs. Once again, cc wasn't suspected because cc usually goes to the liver. Well guess what, it is cc and all my Drs were surprised. I have always been told that everyone reacts different, which is very true. Throughout the last 4 yrs I have never seemed to fit any profile, whether it was when I first was diagnosed or when I have side effects from any of the chemo's I've been on!

Nothing seems to surprise me anymore because everyone is different. The statistics for me aren't good but once again I'm going to be different. I'm going to be one of the statistics that makes it!,,

[Jimswife]

Hi was the Tumor in the colon or lower down nearer the rectum ? Ive heard rectal mets to lungs and colon to liver first ? As a rule but I guess cancer dosent always play by the rules , sorry to hear about this .

[Gaelen]

Jimswife - I had a low rectal tumor that at first ONLY mets'd to the liver. I didn't develop lung mets until 7+ years after dx and five years after my liver tumors' resection.

I'm not really sure how or where the idea that colon tumors mets to the liver first where rectal tumors mets first to the lungs, but it's been dead opposite of that for nearly every rectal cancer patient I've known - they have liver mets, not lung mets. Still, I hear that line over an over and I wonder "what patients do THEY know?"

It's a lot closer to what you posted - cancer has no rules. It's like a water leak; it goes to the place of least resistance and most opportunity. Just like a stage I patient experiencing recurrence after seven years...if researchers could understand why cancer is so unpredicatable, we'd all rest a lot easier.

[NWgirl]

I'm not really sure how or where the idea that colon tumors mets to the liver first where rectal tumors mets first to the lungs, but it's been dead opposite of that for nearly every rectal cancer patient I've known - they have liver mets, not lung mets. Still, I hear that line over an over and I wonder "what patients do THEY know?"

I'm a rectal patient w/mets to lungs and not liver. I think Brownbagger is also rectal w/mets to lungs, not liver.