Stage 4 bowel cancer

Given · New User Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 9

Hello,

I would like to share regarding the bowel/colon cancer, yesterday i was told that my father (47 yrs old) had stage 4 bowel cancer and the cancer has reach the liver. Im a 21 year old eldest son, i was very shocked and afraid because of this. I kept on searching on the internet to find information about this cancer, to be honest i felt that there are only small chances left to cure the cancer. Right now im very confused, stressed and afraid. Right now the only thing left on my mind is how im going to replace my father as the head of the family in case the worst happen and pray for my father health. Any help or suggestion?

thank you

kelvin

sheila · Senior User Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 480

Hi Given-glad you found the forum (everyone needs support at one time or another)-dont overwhelm yourself by over reading and over thinking . You need to calm down and wait untill the doctors do all their tests and scans before they can determine the extent of the cancer, There are several options of treatment. (If your into finding things out-look up the things his doctor is discussing so you have a better understanding on his specific type,) your info will then be more accurate and you will have something to work with. all is not lost keep posting and updating us as yu and your father take this journey. Stay as positive and supportive as you can. You and your father will discuss things with your doctors and come to an agreedment on treatment, healing thoughts and prayers to you both.

Given · New User Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 9

Hi Sheila,

Thanks for replying, tomorrow the test result will be determined and steps will be taken. I will keep on updating this thread regarding my father health and i will ask several more questions since i only has a little knowledge in cancer.

Thank you for your concern.

sheila · Senior User Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 480

I was thinking about what you said about worrying how you would replace your father-you are thinking too far ahead.
first of all your father has just as much of a fighting chance as anyone here. and second of allItts not your burden alone to replace anyone-the family as a whole should help him fight this battle together with patience understanding love and support from all of you just do your part tpo the best of your ability and what truly comes from your heart-thats all you need to do-if your sincere that wont be hard. prayers for the best results that can be expected in his situation.

star · Senior User Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 308 Location: Ohio

HI Given,

Cancer is not an automatic death sentence, so many who where told the news that they had months to live have gone on to live and still living years after.
You, your Father, and your family have joined the journey of millions, and right away a huge part of the healing process is been Positive and been focused on the journey ahead, yes it will be a rough one ..with set backs plus good news. they go hand in hand on the journey,

The medical profession have made so many advances now cancer does not have to be a horrible scary word...Did you know 1 in 3 americans will get cancer,,, thats not ood news, but it means you are not alone in the battle..

When You Father gets his tests etc, you can also get a report of every thing he goes through, so do not forget to ask for them.

We are all here for you all,, supporting, and praying...

God Bless Your Father and Grant Him Healing,...

Rob

Given · New User Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 9

Hi Rob,

Thanks for supporting my family. I just got the news that the operation went well and my father condition is getting better. Now the next step is to get a chemo for my father and thank GOD the dr said there is a good chance that the cancer can be treated. Now i was very curious about chemo, many people say that chemo is bad for the health but the doctor says it is the only way to cure cancer.

star · Senior User Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 308 Location: Ohio

HI GIVEN,

So happy op went good for your Father, chemo is ugh and it does have the side effects, but with positive attitude and right diet and lots of Prayer.. and good support ...HE can get through it all.. Many peopla on this forum can testify to that.. Your Father is on a long journey with millions of others and he can do it, be the best cheer leaders that you can and help him as much as you can, .. He can do this .. and we are all here to help if you have any questions.. as many of us have been through all this for many years ...

God Bless You All...........Best Wishes ...Rob

Given · New User Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 9

Hello everyone,

Its been a long time since i updated my thread..
My family has come to a decision to treat my father cancer in Osaka-Japan where we has several good Japanese doctors.
On the 18th of December my father had a liver surgery because the it has already spread to the liver.
The operation target is to resect 40% of his liver volume in order to remove the cancer, unfortunately there are two tiny tumor spots on his liver which cant be removed by surgery which is very risky the doctor said so we decided to took a chemotherapy.

On the 18 of January 2010 my father had his first chemotherapy, so far the side effects are nausea(not severe), cold and numbness on the finger tip(only felt during the chemotherapy and couple of hours after the chemotherapy) and lost of appetite.

Sorry if my English is not good because i don't speak english as first language.

PS: If anyone or one of your relative is still considering where the place to treat cancer, I must say that Osaka-Japan is a good place to go. I will help for your accommodation, hospital registration, Japanese-English translator and etc.

Does anyone has any idea whats 7 out 13 lymph nodes are affected?

thanks and GOD bless

bruce henderson · Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 12:05 pm Post subject: Re: Stage 4 bowel cancer

hello given...i ain't too good with english either! i have mestastic colrectal cancer. it was a year after my colon resection that it was determined to be in my liver. tests were carried out during the year but since it {cancer] had not penetrated the colon wall and did not show up in any lympth nodes{body's blood filters] the doctors felt all the cancer was removed during colon surgery. by the time it was found a single small spot on my liver had turned into 5 spots. i was accepted at a university hospital with a research team that specialized in my type disease. three rounds of killr chemo post liver surgery knocked it down to the stage they felt confortable with and i had hepatectomy resection. too much cancer to be removed surgically so a section on the left of my liver was removed along with 3 of the smaller tumors contained in that section. two remaining tumors were too large and would not leave me enough liver to survive if they were cut out. these were ablated while i was on the operating table. 8 days and out of hospital. full round of chemo and made it 2 years before another tumor showed up in liver. opened back up but too large and too much scar tissue for surgical removal so thermal r.f.ablation and 4 days later i'm back home. no chemo in the last three years but i have had two more liver tumors about a year apart laprcoptically ablated and was doing fine until a tumor showed up in a bone in my hip. ablation was performed on the bone almost three months ago and did not go well. they got the tumor but i am still recovering. sorry about the length of this reply but i felt it might give you an idea of treatment options and survival times. i am 67 years old. hope this is some help....bruce

Given · New User Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 9

Hello Bruce,

Yes, i think you has a quite long journey in treating your cancer and yes sometimes if the operation is too dangerous or near the important tissues etc the doctor may not recommend it to us.

Can i ask a general question? How often usually you CT/PET scan your body up?

I hope everything goes well in your journey and you may recover well.

Ill pray for you Bruce.

May GOD bless and hear our prayers.

bruce henderson · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:51 am Post subject: Re: Stage 4 bowel cancer

hello given...thanks for your kind words. cat scan at least every 90 days. pet only when something looks suspicious.or following rfa procedure to be sure all tumor was killed. not unusual to have "tune up" laproscopic rf ablation to zap the stubborn ones but so far i have avoided this. hope all goes well for your family.......regards bruce

REB · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 12:37 pm Post subject: Re: Stage 4 bowel cancer

Hi Given.

Fortunately we have a large arsenal when fighting cancer. And every year they are coming up with new stuff.

My cancer came back after a year of it being gone. What ended up beating it this second time was a drug that wasn't around during my first battle with it.

So don't give up and tell your dad to keep fighting.
_________________
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

topazil · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: Stage 4 bowel cancer

Your father and you are in my thoughts and prayers, it sounds like the surgery went well and chemo, well chemo is chemo and there will be at least some side effects, I pray that they will not be too harsh on him. I hope things continue to get better for your father.
_________________
Total hysterectomy July 23 2008, mass in colon.
Colonoscopy Aug 2008
Rigid Sigmoidoscopy with a laparoscopic-assisted partial colectemy with en bloc small bowel resection Sep 2008
Diagnosed: Stage IV Colon Cancer mets to lungs and liver. (T3,N2,M1,G2) KRAS Mutation
Started chemotherapy: 09/14/09 Folfox-6 with Avastin then Avastin alone.
Next treatment 03/22/10 Camptosar with Avastin every 2 weeks for 3 months then PET scan
Most recent CEA Level: 03/08/10 79.4 down from 240 on 03/01/10

Given · New User Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Posts: 9

Thanks REB and Topazil for the reply.

I have some question regarding Chemotherapy, do the patient of Chemotherapy feel the worse side effects during the early cycle or in the late cycle(does the side effects kicks in harder during the early cycle or it gets worse and worsen on the next cycle)?

Thanks

sheila · Senior User Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 480

judging from my moms chemo-it seems she starts the side effects right off but it gradually worsens as it gets to the half way mark , then she kindof stays the same for awhile and as they wean her off it the symptoms somewhat subside-after the treatment for the next several weeks she still has symptoms but it slowly gets out of her.-I guess it would eventually work out completely, but since april 06 mom hasnt had a chance to find out-she just starts feeling ok and has had to start them again...but thats just in her case. Im sure everyones different ...it also depends on the type of treatment itself and the dosage.

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