nickysfight's Cancer Blog

February 18, 2008

Last 15 months - Summary

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Looking back on the last 15 months makes it seem more tolerable than it seemed while we were living through it. It makes me realize we can probably make it through the next 15 months at least!

Mom was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic Rectal Cancer (metastasis to the liver) in November 2006. She immediately started treatment in Kerrville, Texas at the Cancer Care Center of South Texas. She received chemotherapy treatment of 5-FU and a series of radiation treatments to shrink the primary tumor prior to surgery. Shortly after the new year 2007, she underwent surgery to remove the primary rectal tumor and at that time Mom received her colostomy. Her tumor was very low so required a permanent colostomy. Dr. Barrington, her oncologist in Kerrville, did not specialize in colorectal cancer so we started looking elsewhere to find one. We felt it was important since Mom’s cancer was so advanced to find someone who dealt with her type of cancer and metastasis on a regular basis.

We initially tried to get into MD Anderson in Houston, Texas because it is known to be the best and it was located fairly close to them. But we didn’t have much luck. They put us on a wait list and the weeks dragged on so we moved to Plan B which included anywhere else. There had just been a new hospital built in Colorado called the University of Colorado Cancer Center, their Anschutz Medical Campus. We found a doctor there, Dr. Madeline Kane, who specialized in metastatic colorectal cancer. And she was accepting patients right away. So long story short, Mom moved to Colorado to receive treatment. She is currently staying in the small 2nd bedroom of her mother’s condo. Thank you Grandma! It has been a tremendous change for both of them but they are taking it very well. As soon as Mom healed from her colostomy surgery, which took MUCH longer than hoped, she began treatment at the new hospital in Colorado.

Mom recently completed 12 treatments (around 7 months) of Folfox, used in conjunction with Avastin. These treatments were given on a 2-week rotation (when Mom’s platelets cooperated, 3-weeks if not). She receives the chemo in the infusion room over a 4-6 hour period as well as wearing a chemotherapy pump for 3 days. She was taken off of the Avastin for a couple of treatments because she was having bleeding problems on the Avastin, which is a common side effect. Her’s were related to her colostomy and even required and emergency room visit and a two-day hospital stay. To try to increase Mom’s blood platelet levels as well as her red and white blood cells (thrombocytopenia), Dr. Kane prescribed Mom Neumega and Neulasta shots. She gets the Neulasta shots after she receives her chemo and receives the Neumega shots every day. Which means she has to go to the hospital EVERY day. Both of these shots cause her a lot bone pain, exhaustion, and weakness.

Mom is now receiving Folfuri in conjunction with the Avastin. These treatments are given on a 2-week rotation similar to her previous treatments of Folfox. After 4 of these treatments, approximately 8 weeks (depending on Mom’s platelets and blood counts) they will take another PetScan. We are hoping for good results! She still receives the Neumega and Neulasta shots regularly and jokes that now the chemo days are the “good days” and the 10 days that she receives the shots are her bad days. Dr. Kane is talking about introducing the radioactive beads into the liver after Mom completes these cycles of treatment. The radioactive beads will help target the lesions on the liver and try to knock them down. The eventual goal is liver resection surgery or remission without surgery!