Stage 4 Colon Cancer

Posted by barbgunter67 @barbgunter67, Apr 16, 2023

I was diagnosed in Oct 2022. Had removal of sigmoid colon, currently have ostomy which has been functioning. Cancer was found in stomach lining as well.

About 3 weeks ago I started vomiting everything up. I was sent for a new scan last Wednesday and it shows spread of the cancer in stomach. Now I have a Gtube to relieve pressure.

I had 8 rounds of oxaliplatin, leucovorin and 5FU but nothing orally. My last CEA on 4/9 was 2.1.

I am scared, devastated and searching for anything encouraging or suggestions on treatment options. We do not have the income to go to a foreign country.

When I was first diagnosed, I did have my records sent to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion and they said it would be the same treatment and there were no clinical trials I would qualify for at the time.

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

I'm sorry for what you are going through. I was diagnosed with anal cancer, stage 2 in April.2022. The cancer is gone for now after chemo and radiation. But I am beginning to see that this isn't going to be as easy as I thought. I had a PET scan that lit up in my scrum. Turns out it is a fracture not cancer. But reading others posts I guess I'm just waiting for it to show up somewhere else. I really hate this.

REPLY

Thank you for replying. The waiting game is awful. I feel so alone even tho I am not. I have a wonderful family that supports me and my husband has been a Godsend. He has had to learn so much and doesn’t bat an eye when something new is thrown his way.

That’s good news for you it is only a fracture. The relief you felt had to be immense. I too have the same thoughts every day. The stress is very prominent but I try like hell to not let it get to me.

REPLY
@barbgunter67

Thank you for replying. The waiting game is awful. I feel so alone even tho I am not. I have a wonderful family that supports me and my husband has been a Godsend. He has had to learn so much and doesn’t bat an eye when something new is thrown his way.

That’s good news for you it is only a fracture. The relief you felt had to be immense. I too have the same thoughts every day. The stress is very prominent but I try like hell to not let it get to me.

Jump to this post

My husband had also been very helpful. He had cancer 20 years ago so knows what I'm going through. We own our own business and has been having to do his and my jobs. I knows i have to take it easy, especially with the fracture but is really hard. The stress is unbelievable.

REPLY

Hang in there, my husband has stage 4 colon cancer since 2020 and he is doing good. Yes, it pops up, but with the chemo and radiation we are kicking its butt, not cancer kicking ours. Trust in the Lord and feel his peace and all will be well. What ever the outcome is.

REPLY
@kodithedog2

Hang in there, my husband has stage 4 colon cancer since 2020 and he is doing good. Yes, it pops up, but with the chemo and radiation we are kicking its butt, not cancer kicking ours. Trust in the Lord and feel his peace and all will be well. What ever the outcome is.

Jump to this post

Would you mind sharing what treatment protocol he is on?

REPLY

He has had part of his colon removed and was on a bag for about 6 month, they reconnected his colon and all was good. He had 12 treatment of chemo and then they found it after a break in his liver. He had part of his liver removed a lymph nodes and Gall Badder and then Another round of chemo, all looked good but now it has moved into his lungs . He has several spots but just one aggressive right now so he has decided to do radiation and hold off on the chemo for now.

REPLY
@kodithedog2

He has had part of his colon removed and was on a bag for about 6 month, they reconnected his colon and all was good. He had 12 treatment of chemo and then they found it after a break in his liver. He had part of his liver removed a lymph nodes and Gall Badder and then Another round of chemo, all looked good but now it has moved into his lungs . He has several spots but just one aggressive right now so he has decided to do radiation and hold off on the chemo for now.

Jump to this post

I appreciate your attitude….my husband has had a similar situation, with an ileostomy bag, chemo, surgery along with reversal of the bag. He did well for awhile, then has had more chemo as it had shown up in a couple other places. He finished chemo a couple months ago, but will still need more treatment, as it has spread in his pelvic area. It is such a difficult process to go thru, and I appreciate the words of encouragement found here. Peace and prayers to all.

REPLY

I read so much about so many people having chemo after a cancer discovery or a surgery such as a colon resection.
And after months of chemo, more cancer is found or returns in other areas and organs resulting in (Surprise Surprise !!) more chemo !
So how do you justify all of this ?
The chemo was not effective or the cancer was way too aggressive ?
And to add more misery to this scenario, you are also dealing with the chemo side effects that can be severe.
I am not seeing where the suffering of more cancer =equals more chemo =equals sacrificing quality of life can be a good decision.
Maybe we are choosing more pain and suffering to prolong life and where death is inevitable anyway ?
I think that my day of saying yes or no to chemo is coming and I know that I am reluctant to say yes.

REPLY
@paul28

I read so much about so many people having chemo after a cancer discovery or a surgery such as a colon resection.
And after months of chemo, more cancer is found or returns in other areas and organs resulting in (Surprise Surprise !!) more chemo !
So how do you justify all of this ?
The chemo was not effective or the cancer was way too aggressive ?
And to add more misery to this scenario, you are also dealing with the chemo side effects that can be severe.
I am not seeing where the suffering of more cancer =equals more chemo =equals sacrificing quality of life can be a good decision.
Maybe we are choosing more pain and suffering to prolong life and where death is inevitable anyway ?
I think that my day of saying yes or no to chemo is coming and I know that I am reluctant to say yes.

Jump to this post

I have been thinking the same. Thank you for sharing.

REPLY

My husband has stage 4 colon. Originally had surgery in 2016. Now it is back and in his lungs. Will have his 12th chemo tuesday and another PET scan. Then he will be taking a chemo break. Side effects have been terrible. Lost 51 pounds. .

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.