Hi, stage 4 colorectal cancer here

Posted by wifemom3 @wifemom3, Apr 23, 2022

Hi. I am new to the group. My name is Michele and I am located in Florida. I was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer on January 19th 2022.
I am currently on my 7th round of chemo. Is anyone else newly diagnosed with stage 4? Looking for a little support.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Colorectal Cancer Support Group.

@colleenyoung

Hi @tplante1970, welcome. I moved your message to this new discussion that @wifemom3 (Michelle) started only yesterday. She also has stage 4 colon cancer that has metasticized to the lungs. Your husband's timeline and Michelle's are very similar and you may benefit in connecting with one another.

In this discussion, you'll also connect with @nathan45 @margreet and others who have walked this path before you and can help you create a list of questions to ask the oncologist at your upcoming appointment later this week.

How is your husband's recovery going after the lung surgery? How are YOU doing?

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His recovery was great. No issues and surgeon was impressed with his revovery. Hubby was able to go home after 3 days. I am a mess right now not knowing what this 2nd nodule means and also has swollem bronchial lymph node in CT. We are both very depressed about this.

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My husband was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer with 22 metastatic tumors in his liver in September 2020 after a totally clean, see-you-in-10-years colonoscopy just 22 months before. We thought it was a death sentence. We opted to go to a research-based hospital and cannot recommend that enough! Yes, it’s 4 hours round trip, but those 4 hours compared to the level of local care we received is PRICELESS! Emergency surgery after colon blockage due to the size of his tumor, colostomy for six months, reversal and reconstruction as well as hepatic artery pump for his liver. He has had 39 chemo doses so far with extremely low side effects - he still has all his hair, only very mild nausea at the very beginning and very mild neuropathy after several doses. And the most positive attitude continues to amaze me. The team approach to care is invaluable. I still do my research via other high-level research facilities regarding options they may be exploring. Perhaps you have someone who can do that for you. I am sorry you are on this path…watching someone go through it is so hard because you can’t fix it for them. Lean on others. Accept ANY help offered. You need your energy for fighting this horrid disease! My prayers to you!

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Hello, my father was diagnosed with stage 4 with colon cancer with metastatic in liver and lungs cancer cancer g in 2021 September, he has had 6 chemo sessions oxaliplatin, 5FU and avastin and after 6 sessions the tumor in the colon was completely resolved. The oncologist continues with the same treatment to treat the liver there was 3.4 cm, another one on the right 2 cm and 2.4 cm and in the lungs there was a 4 mm and 7 mm after another 6 sessions chemo the CT scan shows an increase in the liver from 2.4 to 5.4 cm and some of the liver lesions are stable in size the doctor said he can't do a surgery in this case so he replaces avastin chemo with cyramza and research said that it can treat the tumor in liver we are so depressed don't know what to do he started to feel so weak than before chemo is toxic and make him feel so sick can't do anything tired all the time and feeling so sleepy all day all night. Please if anyone get through this can tell me if the treatment is true and it can be cured or it's so hard I'm afraid of my father thank you.

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@wifemom3

Thank you for sharing, Margreet. How encouraging that you are in your 4th year of being cancer free! Having a great care team is really key in going through this. Do you struggle with scanaxiety when going in for scans?

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Anxiety before CT scans ? Yes a little bit every time but know I cannot do much about it or change things . I take it one day at a time and say thank you Lord for another good day and do my part to live healthy and am happy everytime after good reports come out. I must be glowing inside from all the scans.
Margreet

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I live in the Philippines, and had my 1st scan 2 days ago. The results were not good. Stage4 cancer in the tumor, which they said is inoperable due to its proximity to my anus. I wonder if traveling to the Mayo Clinic (Phoenix) might lengthen my life?

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@wifemom3

Yiannis- I am sending so many hugs to you. Thank you for the encouraging words.

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Good morning from Greece where I am still and still in mourning after three and a half months ..it is difficult , however my husband was a deep spiritual soul and during his three years since diagnosis he would write notes about his cancer and I have gathered them together and it was his intent to publish them along with his story he told me everyday..they coincide with some of my theological studies on LOVE as do his notes…
These he wanted to publish and have them translated into Greek so that portions of the proceeds would help children with cancer. You see his spirituality was to share .. how fortunate we are to have these special angels enter and touch our lives. Remember that when you see whomever you are caring for see the sufferings of the Christ, the Apostles, everyone in them. It makes you well balanced to deal with cancer.
People say time…however time only softens the sharpness of our loss.
May you be blest with the healing light of Love from our One Creator. No matter what you believe in.
With all my Love…Agape in Greek,
Yiannis

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@makatak47

I live in the Philippines, and had my 1st scan 2 days ago. The results were not good. Stage4 cancer in the tumor, which they said is inoperable due to its proximity to my anus. I wonder if traveling to the Mayo Clinic (Phoenix) might lengthen my life?

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@makatak47, I don't think that any of us here can respond to your question of whether seeking treatment at Mayo Clinic can lengthen your life. But the expert physicians at Mayo Clinic may be able to answer more knowledgeably. I suggest you contact them. By reviewing your complete medical records, they can tell you if there are options they can offer that currently are not available to you or if you are receiving the same care they would offer. They don't want you to travel if not necessary. Here's how to contact them http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

@wifemom3, Michelle, how are you doing? What brought you a smile today?

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I hope you can see these and help me decide if I need to plan to come to Phoenix, and when. The only place I have to stay there is in the hospice. Please let me know.
James Mackey

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Hi James,
Please note that I removed the images of your medical records to protect your patient privacy. Mayo Clinic Connect is a public forum and not the secure and direct route to uploading your medical history for Mayo experts to review. Sorry if I was not clear. The link I posted in my previous message is not an email address but rather the link to a website with instructions on how to submit an online form or call Mayo to request a second opinion.

Here's what to do:
1. Click this link http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
2. Click "Live outside of the U.S.?"
3. Click "Begin an international request"
Then you will be guided step by step to submit your request and information.

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@yannis

Good morning from Greece where I am still and still in mourning after three and a half months ..it is difficult , however my husband was a deep spiritual soul and during his three years since diagnosis he would write notes about his cancer and I have gathered them together and it was his intent to publish them along with his story he told me everyday..they coincide with some of my theological studies on LOVE as do his notes…
These he wanted to publish and have them translated into Greek so that portions of the proceeds would help children with cancer. You see his spirituality was to share .. how fortunate we are to have these special angels enter and touch our lives. Remember that when you see whomever you are caring for see the sufferings of the Christ, the Apostles, everyone in them. It makes you well balanced to deal with cancer.
People say time…however time only softens the sharpness of our loss.
May you be blest with the healing light of Love from our One Creator. No matter what you believe in.
With all my Love…Agape in Greek,
Yiannis

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How beautiful these thoughts are ! May we all have a deep spiritual connection with God especially at the time of death

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