Emerald
New User
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:28 pm Post subject: Doctor's disappointment with first 4 Chemo treatments :( |
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Hello,
Last year, my Father was diagnosed with Stage II colon cancer. His surgery was performed, and a light chemotherapy given (Xeloda) as a preventative for 6 months. This year, the cancer has come back in his liver, and the doctor is saying that they messed up, and actually last year it should have been diagnosed as Stage IV. He began treatment 5 weeks after we found out that that he had mets to the liver, so that we could get his PET Scan and Biopsy done. His treatment includes Avastin, Leucovarin, Oxiplaitan and 5FU, and he recieves treatment twice a month, with a pump for 46 hours.
After 4 treatments were completed, he had CT scans done, and the doctor is really disappointed with the results. He has said that there was very little shrinkage, and he thinks that there might be new tumors growing on the liver, but he isn't sure because the Radiologist who did the scan seems to have scanned more areas of the liver this time then he did the last time - over all, he wasn't very pleased. However, my Dad's current CEA level after 3 treatments (we haven't gotten the 4th treatment blood report back yet) is 61.4 down from 387 initially. Even though the treatments weren't as effective as the doctor would like, he still wants to continue with the same treatment for at least 4 more. He told us that my Dad might have to be on chemotherapy for the rest of his life, and his tumors would probably never shrink down or go away...he told my Dad that he was in real "trouble". I have so many questions..
1) Is the CEA level dropping a good sign? How good of a sign is it? The doctor said they sometimes don't correlate.
2) Could the tumors on the liver be dying, but not have shrunk yet? The Radiologist did mention signs of neucrosis in the tumors themselves.
3) Could it be that the new little ones sprung up in between the 5 weeks that we weren't doing chemo? Or could the ones already there have gotten bigger during that 5 weeks of no treatment, etc.?
4) *IF* there are new ones on the liver, could it be spreading to other organs like the lungs, etc.? This thought scares me the most.
I would appreciate any help you all could offer me. This is causing me a lot of sleepless nights and tears..I really value and adore my parents...much like most of us do! If someone could email me at: green_emeraldz@yahoo.com. Thanks. |
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leo
Site Admin
Joined: 23 Sep 2004
Posts: 1574
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| Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:41 am Post subject: Re: Doctor's disappointment with first 4 Chemo treatments :( |
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Hello
When we see new lesions during treatment we have to think that the treatment is not working. So even if the CEA is down, if we see more lesions it is not good. Seems luge your father is getting a chemotherapy regimen known as FOLFOX, which is the standard of care at the present time. He is also on Avastin, which is also a good addition. The other regimen that is also very good is known as FOLFIRI, which substitutes the oxaliplatin for irinotecan. Let his doctor talk to him about this, and see how that goes. Regardless, there could be new lesions in other parts of the body, bot just in the liver.
best regards,
Leo
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. |
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