stage 4 colon cacer

nossacrs · Regular Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 20

hi, i just have a question
is it realistic to hope that with constant therapys that i could survive this illness for years

rlee · Site Admin Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 245

Looking at the studies involving chemotherapy for metastatic colon cancer, the median survival is reaching 16-20months and maybe more. These are just statistics and each individual case is different, but it does allow for a range of expectations.
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RLee, MD

Any information provided is NOT intended to provide specific medical advice to users but rather to provide users with information to help them better understand their health condition and related care. All readers are strongly encouraged to consult with a qualified physician for answers to their personal medical questions.

cptmac · Regular Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 37

I was diagnosed in July of '04. Told I could die at any moment. That I had 18 months tops with treatment. I researched and went to a top hospital. Had my colon and liver resected. Signed up for a Stage II clinical trial and stopped all treatment in June of '05.

I have no evidence of disease. To quote Stephen Wright "I intend to live forever. So far, so good. Wink

dpr · New User Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 2

[quote="cptmac"]I was diagnosed in July of '04. Told I could die at any moment. That I had 18 months tops with treatment. I researched and went to a top hospital. Had my colon and liver resected. Signed up for a Stage II clinical trial and stopped all treatment in June of '05.

I have no evidence of disease. To quote Stephen Wright "I intend to live forever. So far, so good. Wink

[/quote]

Hi - My mom is fighting Stage 4 colon cancer metasticized to lung previously, which was operated on 2 yrs ago, and did not return to lung. It did go to her adrenal glands of both kidneys, which she has been fighting for about 1.5 yrs now.

cptmac - Would you mind telling me what hospital you went to? My mom's dr's won't do anymore surgeries on her, and it feels like we're on a time bomb just waiting, kind of helpless other than the chemo.

cptmac · Regular Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 37

I went to the University of Minnesota. Every year US news and World report makes a list of top hospitals. The U of M isn't near the top, but Dr. Rothenburger is a top colon dr. He is quoted in a lot of articles I've read. He also helped author the colorectal cancer book put out by the ACS.

My oncologist is Dr. Greeno, he helped author some of the chapters in this book, along with a surgeon who I only met while I was in La La land in the OR. He used a special instrument to staple my colon together.

Also, Dr. Nancy Baxter was a researcher there at the time and discovered it was important to take out 1 minimum of 16 lymph nodes, because the cancer could spread in any one of those. Most hospitals take out around 6 or 9.

Here is a web site for the top hospitals.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/tophosp.htm

Here is my oncologists scheduling number

612-625-5411
or
800-688-5252
Ask for the Masonic Cancer Clinic

I have read that Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis is great with Kidney Disease. I've toured the hospital but never been a patient there.

Let me know if I can be of more help.

dpr · New User Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 2

cptmac - Thanks for sharing so much info. I really appreciate it. I'll be checking my area to see if we can find different treatment options. Again, thank you.

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