Stage 3 to Stage 4 in a year - My Story

Genes · New User Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

My dad was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Sept 2006 at age 51. He went on for a surgery to remove the ascending colon in SGH. It was stage 3. After that, he was treated with Xeloda, an oral chemo drug because it has the least side effect. He did receive the conventional treatment because my dad has ITP which is an auto-immune response on the platelets, resulting in low platelet levels. His ITP was discovered 7-years ago and the haematologist happily gave him Prednisolone (a steroid). One of the side effects is low immunity. We blame the long-term usage of the drug for the cause of his cancer, since he doesn't smoke and drink and leads a very healthy lifestyle - exercises regularly in the army and eat healthily.

In October 2007, my dad went for a colonscopy and they found a polyp at the joining part. A biopsy was taken but a week later, my dad had lots of internal bleeding, probably because while taking the bipsy, the area didn't heal properly at the site. My dad felt faint and was sent to CGH. It was a nightmare for my dad. The bleeding areas were stapled and he was sent home. He felt fine. My dad was scheduled for another surgery in December 2007 to remove the polyps.

During the surgery, the surgery team found mestasis. Apparently the tumour had grown so large until it cannot be removed (on the other side of the colon), and had mestasized to i do not know where. The doctors did not say specifically where. And they did 2 by-passes and inserted a stent into the urether. That was the beginning of months of suffering. Not only was the tumour not removed but the by-passes caused my dad to lose so much weight. He couldn't eat and had fever, which resulted in another stay in the hospital, and was treated for infection.

My dad then went on to proceed with 3 rounds of chemotherapy, the conventional kind which include 5-FU. It was intensive treatment where-by he had to stay in hospital for 5 days, but because of his blood disorder, he has to be given platelets 1 day in advance to bring the platelets up. The aftermath of the first treatment made him nauseous and he kept on vomitting and feeling tired. But he started drinking this product called Grassiq, as we were prepared to try everything and anything. We were on a vegetarian and organic diet most of the time. He did not suffer much side effects from the 2nd treatment. But on the 3rd treatment, it was bad. He did not even want to drink Grassiq anymore because everytime he sees the bottle he would feel nauseous.

On top of that, my dad had began to experience abdominal discomfort, if i'm not wrong, after the 1st session. He said it felt like wind in the stomach. It got more painful as the weeks flew by and yesterday was unbearable. We sent him to SGH A&E at 830pm, but was only treated at 930pm. He was left under observation in excruciating pain as the doctors thought there was nothing really wrong given that all tests done were ok. Until he was warded when they realised there was a blockage in the bowels. I do not know what causes the blockage but he gave the pain a solid 10 out of 10. Given that he has a high pain threshold and his pain after surgery was only 4, i think he was really suffering. Just the week before, my dad has been recommended to do peritonectomy with chemotherapy. This surgery is only done by Prof Soo and is the removal of the stomach lining and then putting in chemo drugs at the site to remove any other diseased cells too small to the naked eye. On top of that, the diseased part of the colon will be removed and the spleen removed to solve the ITP problem. This is a major surgery which will last for 12 hours. Out of the 50+ operations he did, there was 1 mortality. And he is the only one who does it in Singapore.

My mum's apprehensive of the surgery, seeing what the by-pass had already done to my dad. My dad, in his hope of a recovery, agreed to the surgery. I've seen images of the surgery and the cut is really big. It will take around 2 weeks to recover. Right now we have to solve the bowel obstruction to ease his discomfort first.

DulcimerGal · Regular Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Virginia

Genes,

Thanks for posting your story. It sounds like your whole family have been through a lot here with your Dad. You must have an incredible family though, to care so much for your Dad and to be with him now as he makes these really tough decisions. How are you doing?

Are you all in Singapore?

I will pray for you and your family tonight, that the bowel obstruction problem will be taken care of.
It sounds like you have a great team of Doctors who are not afraid to try treatments for your Dad. I am glad of that for you. Ten years ago, I went back to England to be with my Dad who had cancer (I live in the US) and I always felt like they were not agressive enough with his treatments.

Your Dad feels like most of us with cancer do - that you have to keep fighting and FIGHT HARD.

Please keep posting and let us know how things are going.
DulcimerGal

brainman

Genes, I am so very sorry about your father's cancer. It does sound like he and all of your family have been through so much. You and your father are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Genes · New User Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

Thanks guys. Yup, we are residing in Singapore. My mum, younger sis and I are all fighting hard with my dad. Though it has always been a battle of the unknown, we will continue to fight hard and never give up.

I still remember the time when dad just completed his 2nd surgery, in hope that the operation which was supposed to remove his polyps would wipe the cancer out of him and so be able to continue taking care of the family, we were full of hope that the operation would be successful. We least expected a mestasis. When we learnt the outcome and the awful by-passes done, we broke down. We did not know how to break the news to dad. If we do, will it affect his recovery from the operation? We only told him on the 3rd day when he started becoming more alert. I saw tears streaming from dad's eyes down his cheeks. Here I have a father who agreed to go for another painful surgery and endure the sufferings hoping to keep his cancer at bay, so that he can continue being a dutiful father who takes care of the family. My heart aches. He is just so great, so responsible. And he is my father.

DulcimerGal · Regular Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Virginia

Hey Genes -

Please make sure you tell your Dad all the wonderful things you wrote here - he would want to know what you think of him, and he will really appreciate it. You are so proud of him, and you should tell him so.

Hey - I just watched this great show on cancer here in the US, one doctor talked about visualizing the cancer cells gone and decreasing, I am going to start doing that. I have one friend who talks to his cancer cells every day - putting them on notice that their days are numbered!

I just read your first post again - and had a question - what is this Grassiq drink that you mention? where do you buy it? Has anyone here in the US reading this post ever heard of it?

I am trying to eat carefully, more organic, though not totally yet, and more vegetarian - though I always have tried to eat properly.

I hope things are going well today Genes, and that your father is more comfortable.

DulcimerGal
_________________
Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery planned for June
6 months Chemo to follow

Genes · New User Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

My dad went for an emergency operation this evening as the pain was getting more frequent and intense. After around 2 hours, the surgery was over. It was bad news. The pain was caused by a tumour blocking the intestine. And the disease has spreaded to the small intestines. It was so bad that they could not even reach some parts of the intestines and there were many tumour sites, each measuring less than 1cm, hence couldn't be seen by the CT scan results. We were devastated. The doctor gave a "a few months" to my dad. The team couldn't do much but to create a by-pass round the blocked site, so that my dad could still eat. What do we do now? The chemotherapy wasn't effective. Instead the disease continued to flourish. The cancer in him is really aggressive. The oncologist said they will be trying a different drug this time round, to prolong his life a little. I guess it's really up to fate now.

DulcimerGal · Regular Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Virginia

Genes,

I am so sorry to hear about your father and the rapid spread of the cancer he has. You and your family will rally around him and help him be as comfortable as he can be during this difficult time. Make sure you talk with the Doctors about pain relief for him. In my fathers last days, I was very happy that he was in no pain. The doctors gave him morphine and made him as comfortable as possible.

I am sure you and your family are so very upset with this news, you will also need to comfort each other. It sounds like you are very close, and you will help support each other through this.

Everyone on this site will be thinking of you.
You can see by how many folks view the posts that a lot of people read the posts and are also looking to hear how things are going. Sometimes people just don't know what to say, so they don't post (we call them lurkers...!!!) I've lurked myself for a while!
But all of us will keep you in our prayers.
Please keep posting and let us know how you are doing.

DulcimerGal
_________________
Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery planned for June
6 months Chemo to follow

REB

Your dad has a tough decision. At 51, he should keep fighting if there is a chance they can beat it. If there is no chance, and they are just trying to extend his life by a few months, then that is a difficult choice.

After just completing 6 months of Chemo, I can tell you I would not go through chemo just to extend my life a few months. It’s not worth it if you spend most of that time feeling sick from the chemo.

Whatever happens, please respect whatever decision he makes. If he chooses not to do more chemo, please respect that. I can understand. Chemo is not fun.

Prayers that he and you can find peace and comfort.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor and Temporary Colostomy
Started Chemotherapy 11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil) and leucovorin, oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
Last Chemo treatment 04-09-08, Colostomy Reversal 04-28-08 Age:41

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