Father with sigmoid colon cancer met to liver, inoperable

mdobson · New User Joined: 06 Nov 2009 Posts: 2

HI, My 57yr old father was diagnosed with cancer to his sigmoid colon in march this year. He had a 4cm tumour and 11 surrounding lymph nodes were affected. He had surgery to remove half of his bowel and the lymph nodes. He went on Folfox chemotherapy for 6 months. On his second last chemotherapy dose he found out his protein levels had suddenly shot up, and after many scans they finally found a spot on his liver in section 8 (the middle of the liver). At the first scan it wasnt visable, two weeks later it was 1 cm in diameter. Another 3 weeks later while waiting for the liver surgeon to perform a biopsy to test the healthiness of the liver and to go in with a camera to see exactly what state his liver was in, the tumer had grown to 2 cms (so in 5 weeks it went from being non existant to 2cm) and another tumour has appeared and this is 1cm in diameter just below the first one. His liver is in bad shape due to the chemotherapy, and so it looks like liver resection is not possible.

The surgeon is talking about chemotherapy and radiation therapy only. I want him to look into the radioactive beads (SIRT microspheres), Radio Frequency Ablation or chemoembolization. Does anyone have any experience with these, or do you know of any other new trials or treatments out there? My Dad lives in Australia, but they seem to be more restricted on what they will do there, so he is willing to travel to get some treatment, but it is hard to find where to go. It is even harder for me as I live in Dublin, Ireland, and so I cant speak to the doctors myself to get the proper information, and ask all the questions I want to ask. I am in the process of moving back over, but if there is better treatment options in Europe or America, then i would rather go there and get him to come over as well....

topazil · Senior User Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Posts: 108

Here is what I found in from the American Cancer society about clinical trials in the US and also you can find some things for different countries, the clinical trial find part you can put in a australia and a few things do come up:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/ETO_6.asp

Later today after Tom goes to work I will try and do more research and see if I can find anything else to help.

You and your Father are in my thoughts and prayers this day.
_________________
Total hysterectomy July 23 2008, mass felt in colon during surgery.
Colonoscopy Aug 2008
Colectomy Sep 2008
Stage IV Colon Cancer metastasized to lungs and liver. (T3,N2,M1,G2)
Started chemotherapy: 09/14/09
Latest chemotherapy session: 11/09/09 - Folfox 6 = Oxaliplatin, 5-FU, Leucovorine with
Avastine.
Started CEA Level when first diagnosed = 10
Highest CEA Level so far 409 on 9/21/09
Most recent CEA Level = 113 on 11/09/09

mdobson · New User Joined: 06 Nov 2009 Posts: 2

Thank you so much for that - i never came across that website in my searches! The doctor hasnt even mentioned any of these, I have no faith at all in his current doctor, he is so slow to do anything and he doesnt suggest anything, not even changing his diet to improve his general health.

I really apprieciate your help!

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