My Mom has colon cancer in 2004, surgery, told everything good. Cancer reappeared 2006, more surgery and did some kind of pill form of chemo that she took at home. That seem to go well. Then about a year ago she was told that she had a bone marrow disorder (mylordesplysia (spelling) where her bone marrow had pretty much stop producing. She has shots to help increase her red and while blood cell counts and has had a few blood transfusion. In March she had two tumors that actually burst through her skin. Malignant. PET scan done, shows cancer in colon, upper part of right lung and under chest wall on left side Is told that chemo not a treatment option due to her already low immune system, but they do radiation on the tumors. 17 Treatments. Now a lump has shown up on her neck neck, and a new MRI shows that the cancer has gone to her pelvic area and at least into the bones and soft tissues of her left leg. The will do ten treatments of radiation to try to help with pain in legs, as she is barely able to move. They say palliative care is all they can provide, what they are not telling us is how long they thing she can live with all this disease. I know it’s an unknown, but would like thoughts and or opinions on what others think. Thanks for your replies. I am currently provided care for her. Thinking about looking into hospice so that I can get some help, but is it too early for that?

My mother had Stage 3 Uterine Cancer, which she had a total hysterectomy and all organs were removed in October, and she finished her last chemo on April 29th, but just this week was back in hospital for partial lower bowel obstruction and fluid build up in abdomen, especially around liver.

The good thing is they drained the fluid and the obstruction was not large, but I was wondering if all this could be a way her body is trying to rid itself of toxins from radiation and chemo. She is feeling weak, so I was wondering about any good regimens for helping her to cleanse her system and detox to get stronger and get rid of the toxins?

I already found out about Milk Thistle and Dandelion for the liver, so if any other remedies are known please share!!

Thanks so much.

My dad is going through chemo (again)…he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer last september…Hes had chemo/radiation then surgery a few weeks ago…then they say he needs more chemo for another 6 months….Last time he had it it made him really tired/sick and he was sort of depressed….He started treatment this week and already i can tell hes not in a good mood. Anyone who knows what im talking about i could really use some advice. I love him to death and i hate seeing him like that. Im always the one who makes jokes and tries to lighten the mood but i just need some help to keep his spirits up..Thank You

My father in his early 50′s got diagnosed with Colon cancer stage 3. Had surgery about 7 weeks ago. VERY little has spread past his colon wall to his lymph nodes (less than 3)

His chemo is about to start in 4 days through a PICC line. The medicine in the chemotherapy is Oxaliplatin, Leucovotin, 5-Fluorouracil insfusion.

He’ll be in chemo for 2 months, the radiation with chemo and then chemo… Is this kind of treatment good for this stage of colon cancer? More information on the drugs?? Could he possibly find another treatment? What is the best thing for him to do right now?

Doctors have been trying to find out why my son is having stomach pain. He is 11 years old and has gone through many of tests. The last test was a small bowel series where he drank the barium and pictures were taken. The results came back that he has a obstruction on the intestinal wall. So now the doctors are debating on how to take a better look. Option 1 is too do another small bowel series with and with out contrast. Option 2 is a pill cam The problem with the pill cam is that it could get caught up with the obstruction and cause more problems meaning surgery. Then there is concern of to much exposure to radiation if he has another small bowel series done. If anybody has experienced this please give your input

My mother was diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer in Sept. 2007. She since has had chemo and radiation, colostomy bag, and liver resection. She has been in remission since January 2009. She gets her blood checked every 3 months and a PET scan every 6. So far everything has been fine. As of a month ago, her white blood cells have been really low (neutropenia). She has been dealing with a tooth ache as well as plantar faciitis. She was given antibiotics and her blood drawn 2 weeks later to see if that was the problem.

Well, the WBC are still low and they are going to do a bone marrow biopsy to rule out that the cancer has not spread to her bone marrow.

Has anyone ever encountered this?? The oncologists exact words were "it was damn near impossible for her type of cancer to spread to her bone marrow" but I guess they want to rule it out.

My mother is now in panic mode and constantly crying thinking the worst and in all honesty, so am I.

Any info anyone can provide would be appreciated.

Thanks!!

my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer around 9/2009 and was told to go on leave ASAP for treatments such as IV chemo and radiation. After the treatments he had an operation to remove the cancer around 02/2010 and the surgeon had attached a temporary colostomy. A few weeks after he was back to chemo pills for weeks. he has been very weak throughout his treatments and can barely walk. Around 09/2010, he had his 2nd operation to remove the colostomy. He had an open wound. I change his dressing twice a day. I’m still changing his dressing til now. He has been updating work with everything paperworks he comes up with from his surgeon or when HR needed information. Last week, he receives a letter from work stating that he had already exhausted all of his options and that they can no longer accomodate him. My dad had told me that from what the letter says, they want him back to work in 2weeks or they’re going to have to terminate him at the date of the letter. He had called HR, he was told that someone from HR will give him a call today but never did. Is that possible? Is that fair?
He’s on disability at this time and was asked to recertify so it’s pending. He’s also in process of apply for LTD as well as Social Security. Everything is pending at this time. I’m not quite sure yet if my dad still has PTO with the company, would it matter?

working mom with disabled husband has been stricken with pancreatic cancer that has spread to colon. she has no sick days from work – husband gets ssi and is not able to work. she has no health benefits from her job but is receiving Cobra – which is not enough for her chemo and radiation. please if someone knows of a means of help, please answer.

since then, after the radiation, I have had 2 major surgerys to my lower body, abdomen, and rectal area. this pain in my legs, jumps back and forth, from one leg to the next, and almost always, ends up solely, in the left leg, and around the knee cap, above the knee, down in the calf of my leg, and the upper thigh. This pain wakes me at night, and unless I stay on pain meds, I cannot get thru a day to good. The doctors, do not know what is causing it, I have had scans, MRI, xrays, ect. Now , they are telling me, I must have Chronic Nerve damage, possible coming from the pevic area. They want to send me to a pain managemant clinc. I am not sure what a pain management clinic can do? This has been going on now for 2 years. anyone have any input, that may help me? Thanks in advance…… Munchkin

How long does it take the chemo to start working ?

Should you show improvement on the first treatment ?

Are you given a scan after every treatment to see

if the chemo and radiation are working ?

Will a scan show that the cancer is gone from the lymph nodes ?

I will have half of my colon removed just because it is long and cause constipation and obstructions. Does any one know what this procedure is called. Three years ago I had surgery to turn my stomach over because it was flipped over and lying on my liver. Also my dad was expose to radiation 3 times by the time he was 21. Could this also be the cause of my odd insides? He was 29 when I was born. I have no known diseases.

I have done some research on this subject and it is very unfair in my opinion. This is what i would like to hear from you and that is your opinion. I have a friend who did 21 years of active duty military service and retired from the air force at the age of 41. He has been employed in the construction industry as metal building erector since his retirement. Three years after retirement his wife wanted and was granted a divorce along with 49% of his military retirement. He was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Sept.07 and has underwent pre surgery radiation and chemo and had the surgery in Feb 08. He is now having post surgery chemo to help prevent the cancer from returning. This man has spent all his savings on medical treatment and other care and here is the big one.He has been denied any type of government assistanc except for ten dollars a month in food stamps and is about to be evicted from his home. What is wrong with the system or do i just not understand?

My mom was diagnosed w/ stage 4 colon cancer in May 2007 she went though 2 yrs of chemo and just recently under went radiation to a tumor that has broke through her skin. It is located in her abdomen and is coming out of her navel. Please tell me with your best guess how much time we have left with her. Her liver and lungs are clear no signs of cancer there. Thank you

While undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, his esophagus was burned. CT scans show that the tumor cells have diminished, but he developed an atonic mega colon as a result of the chemotherapy. He also has tranverse myelitis and Multiple Sclerosis. He won’t eat and is being fed intraveneously in the hospital with nutrients, vitamins and minerals that provide him with 3000 calories per day. He cannot feed himself and when we feed him, he never takes more than 3 – 4 bites of food per day. He barely moves and we are lucky if he chooses to sit in a chair for fifteen minutes. His speech is often slurred. The only alternative that we have is to get him strong enough for surgery for the atonic mega colon but he often refuses the physical therapy as it is too much work for him and he is worn out afterwards. We fear that the MS is really kicking in from his lack of movement. He has been in the hospital for 3 weeks and nearly bedridden for 60 days. Is there any hope that he will recover?

My dad was diagnosed in 2005 with stage 3 cancer that had spread to half the lymph nodes in the area. After a resection (no colostomy), radiation and chemo, he held steady for a year. Then, his doctors found it had metastisized to his liver and the sacral tissue between the rectum and sacral vertebrae. He began another round of chemo which was highly effective but too toxic – he had to stop after 3 rounds. He starts back on a reduced dosage on Nov 4th.

My question is this – he is using chemo as a palliative solution at this point. The chemo is shrinking and slowing the growth of the inoperable tumor in the sacral tissue. At some point, he will be in severe pain again. Has anyone had experience with this sort of cancer and are there any palliative treatments available? He is already taking regular doses of morphine. Thank you!

I mean did they have like chemo or radiation and did it still come back or stay away.And does colorectal come back in the same place again?

Is there a doctor out there who could give me some information about colorectal cancer, or anyone who may have had it already? My 35 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with this, and the entire family is stunned. None of us can believe it. She begins her treatment on the 19th… chemo will be a constant infusion except on weekends, and the radiation will be 5 days a week. This will go on for 5 weeks in order to shrink the tumor, and then they will do surgery and remove it. She was told that her lymph nodes in her abdomen are enlarged too, so she will receive radiation to that area as well. She already can’t have kids, and has no children, so compromising her fertility is not an issue. We just are scared silly at this point, and I am searching for answers or for someone who has been through it to "shine a light" for me. Any help at all would be appreciated. Thank you.

Could it possibly be a genetic for someone to have colon cancer and needs a partial coloectomy and they dont need no treatment at this time such as, radiation or chemotherapy? Will this young person to have normal bowels again? Do doctors really recommend the person to be on a special diet? Does that means they have to wear a bag through their skin?

My best friend has stage 4 colon cancer. She’s only 24 years old. She told me that they are going to start radiation, what does that mean? I read about how they do it, but how bad does it have to be before they do radiation?

I would appreciate any help. Hoping for others who have had the same problem tell me what helped them or anyone with any ideas. Alternative treatments would be greatly appreciated but would consider others. Thanks.
The details are that I need to have bowel movements several times a day and may not have good digestion (therefore, the supplements I take may not be working as well as they should be.). Which also causes raw tissue from excessive wiping. Sorry if this is too explicit.
I have radiation colitis.

Xeloda tablets are taken twice daily and Avastin 2xmonth intervenous. How effective is this as a primary treatment for colon cancer that has matastized to the liver. The cancer is inoperable and also harsher chem/radiation regimens are not possible due to poor health and severe renal problems. The cancer was operated on some time back so it is not present in the colon. Just the liver.

Thanks for helping

Xeloda tablets daily and Avastin 2xmonth intervenous. How effective is this as a primary treatment for colon cancer that has matastized to the liver. Cancer is inoperable and also harsher chem/radiation regimens are not possible due to poor health and severe renal problems. Cancer was operated on some time back so it is not present in the colon. Just the liver.