44 Dad with Stage 3C Colon Cancer

gwilliamhouse · New User Joined: 07 May 2009 Posts: 7

Here is my story, I will try to be brief.
I am 44, father of 4 and last last year (October) started to have some symptoms that I looked up online and it led me to colon cancer. Symptoms included pain in my bottom, bleeding when I would pass stools, and the one that really got me to seek more info was narrow stools looking like a ribbon. I decided to get a colonoscopy but my insurance wouldn't let me get it because of my age, and I had NO risk factors at all, and no family history of cancer. So I had to go the route of seeing a family practitioner first, and then if he deemed necessary he would refer me up the chain. I wasn't able to see him until mid Jan and since he couldn't explain my symptoms after a series of blood tests and exams, he referred me to the gastro specialist. He then couldn't find anything wrong, so he recommended a colonoscopy. That happened end of Feb. He wanted to talk to my wife and I even before I left the recovery room from my colonoscopy. He said he found something that wasn't good and is probably cancer and he was going to refer me to the cancer center.

Anyhow, finally the referral happened and after an MRI, CT Scan and PET Scan, it was determined that I had about a golf ball sized tumor that had spread into surrounding lymph nodes. They staged it at 3C (due to the spreading). The course of action was 28 days of radiation in conjunction with 5FU being given 24/7 through my port that was put in. The hope was to shrink the tumor and stop the growth before surgery to make the surgery easier.

The chemo wasn't really too bad. Towards the last two weeks I did start to get the numbness in my fingers and toes, I took daily naps, and didn't eat as much but I pretty much led a "normal" daily routine going to stores, going to work etc. It was a pain with the pump taking a shower, but that's another story! The radiation was great except for the last 2 weeks. It was very very painful when I had to pass stools, and my skin was red and the pain was so bad.

But finally all that was over, and now looking back, it seems like it wasn't all that bad. That was over a month ago (Radiation/chemo ended June 23) and I feel better now than I ever have in the past year! No pain, no bleeding, normal body movements, I don't even feel sick at all!

Yesterday was my follow up CT Scan to see what happened inside me and today was meeting with the surgeon to go over the results. It was a little depressing. The diagnosis is that the tumor actually grew by several millimeters since the previous CT Scan (in March) and the lymph nodes also have grown, some were 13 mm x 15 mm and are now 19 x 20. Strange. So did the chemo/radiation even do anything? Did it help? Should they have just done surgery first and then do chemo/radiation? All those questions are water under the bridge and nothing can be done about them, but they did flash through my mind.

Something did happen because there is no more tumor bleeding, and no pain at all, but just strange that they would still be growing. In addition, they can see some signs of Portal Hypertension. The main conclusion of the latest CT scan is "Suspected Overall Progression of Carcinoma"

So the next step now is surgery on Aug 11, with an ileostomy (which I am NOT looking forward to) and then Folfox for 4 months after that.

So that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Keith Friend

William,

I read your post and just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Keith, 42 years old and was diagnosed last June 18 with stage IV colorectal cancer with mets to my liver and extensive lymph involvement. I've been through much of what you will be going through. I also have a good friend up here at work who just finished his chemo for stage III colon cancer. I'm happy to make myself available if I can help in any way; compare notes, answer questions, talk about side effects or just vent. I'm including all my contact information so please feel free to call or write anytime.

I also am keeping a journal at CaringBridge and I highly reccomend it for anyone going through this type of journey.

From your post, it sounds like you have a good attitude and are prepared for the fight. This is a good thing. Medicine has come a long way in the past 10+ years so the prognosis of colon cancer is nothing like it used to be.

Please let me know if I can help.

Best Regards.

God Bless,

Keith
_________________
Keith Friend
keith@friendfamily.net
www.caringbridge.org/visit/keithfriend
(214) 793-0519 Cell
(817) 424-3395 Home
(972) 906-3928 Work
Diagnosed at 41 years old with stage IV colorectal cancer with extensive lymph involvement and liver mets on 6/18/08.
Primary Resection on 7/3/08
Finished last of 12 rounds of Eloxatin, Leucoverin, 5FU and Avastin Jan. of '09
On bi-weekly maintenance chemo of Avastin now.
Cancer Free as of 6/5/09

mamaof4 · Regular Joined: 10 May 2009 Posts: 14

My husband, also 44, was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer. We also have 4 kids.(9,8,6,&2) Our story is almost alike. He was diagnosed Jan. 16th and same as you, the tumor was the size of a golf ball. The difference is along with radiation and 5FU, he also received leucovorin. At the time of surgery the tumor was a quarter of the size it was. He didn't have to have a bag because there was a good clean margin so they took out the complete rectum saving his anus. Looking back I think a bag would have been better because he has very, very little control of bm's. My husband's surgery was done lap and was out of the hospital on the 5th day. In June he started the folfox which is 5FU, leucovorin, and Eloxatin. You feel the effects of the Eloxatin quick, can't drink anything cold. After 2 months his blood counts are very low so he is getting neulasta shots and chemo has been cut down. What I don't understand is with your age why are they only doing 4 months? My husband's dr said because of his age and the stage he would have to have 6 months of treatments. Our dr said with 6 months of treatments he has a 25 to 35% of it coming back. I wish it could be 0%. Please ask your dr about 6 months of folfox just to be on the safe side.
One thing we did not have to go through was the wait for a colonoscopy. He started bleeding pretty bad so I went to a GI dr. He had it done a week later.
My husband hasn't worked since Jan. The radiation and chemo got him down. He tried to go back 3 weeks ago but his boss wouldn't let him. Working at the police dept you never know what people have and just the high volume of people in and out is not good.His boss has had cancer twice so he knows what it is like. The city has been great to us. He still gets a check and we still have insurance. After all is said and done, God is so good to us and keeps blessing us every day if we just take the time to look. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

REB

I don't know why it would grow. At least you will get rid of the tumor with the surgery.

Is the tumor contained inside the colon, or did it make it through the wall?
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor & Temporary Colostomy
11-07-07 - 04-09-08 FOLFOX regimen and Avastin.
04-28-08 Colostomy Reversal
06-02-09 3 Tumors in the adipose tissue.
06-23-09 Start FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
10-26-09 Tumors gone.
11-25-09 Finish FOLFIRI, continue ERBITUX
01-27-10 Tumors in Liver and Adrenal Gland
01-28-10 start FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
Age Diagnosed 40. Current Age:43

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