We keep in touch with a network of people who have either survived PMP (the umbrella disease Kevin has (see Mom's questions about PMP blog posting) via a list serve and a Web site. The following thread excerpts report that some are having great success with one of the chemo drugs Kevin is on. I hope you find it as encouraging as I do.
If you'd like to check out the Web site, the URL is at the very end.
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Author
Subject: My Dad Was Just De-Bulked...
Jeff
Posted At 14:20:11 01/02/2004
Hi Everyone,
Glad I found this web site. The first part of August my Dad went in for a colonoscopy after having some discomfort on his left side. The colonoscopy revealed a tumor up by the right colon.
Surgery was scheduled for the next week. When the surgeon opened him up he discovered cancer was throughout the abdominal area and closed him back up - saying he couldn't remove anything. Basically told us to bring him home to die.
Luckily the internist contacted a very good oncologist. My Dad went through 7 sessions of chemo consisting 5FU, oxaliplatin and leucovorin.
During this time the oncologist was trying to find a surgeon in the area that had experience with de-bulking.
After a cat scan the middle of November showed the main tumor had not grown any the oncologist decided it was time for the de-bulking.
So on December 12th my Dad had his right colon, transverse colon, appendix and omentum removed. Or as some have said "The Mother of All Surgeries!"
During the surgery it was discovered that more than likely it was appendix cancer. Signet - Ring Cell type. [What Kevin has along with PMP] They were able to get all visible signs of it with the exception of some that was sitting on the outside of the small intestine around the blood supply.
Remarkably the pathology reports came back that the cancer was dead. They could not even find enough living cancer to send out for chemo sensitivity testing. The oncologist is giving praise to the some what new chemo oxaliplatin [Kevin has his second round of this drug, which is infused on Monday. He will then have a month of rest from chemo prior to surgery and resume oxaliplatin treatments after he has sufficiently recovered from the operation.]
Once he is recovered he will begin another 6 sessions of the chemos that he was on before surgery.
As with most of you he had no symptoms. The left side discomfort was actually diverticulitis. His blood was good with the exception of being slightly anemic. He had not lost appetite or lost any weight.
This has been some journey! He went from feeling fine - to - you have terminal cancer with weeks to live - to - we think we can control it - to - we think we can remove it - to - we removed it and it is dead and with treatment we think you probably have years to live...
Jeff
Bridget
Re: My Dad Was Just De-Bulked... (Currently 1 replies)
Posted At 15:21:37 01/02/2004
WOW!! Great news! My husband, Tom, is going thru this same thing. Appendix cancer, signet-ring, spreading etc. He has been taking the same chemo treatment as your Dad and we are going to see Dr Sugarbaker Jan 12th to try and get surgery. We are so excited to hear the cells were dead. Oxyplatnim is so new maybe they are just finding out it can kill this!! Who was your Doctor? Give your Dad and hug for us. This news gives us lots of hope!!
Thanks!
Bridget
d
Re: My Dad Was Just De-Bulked... (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 20:57:54 01/03/2004
we have a friend in town who had colon cancer and was given 12 mo. to live. he had surgery and is now taking oxilplatin chemo with another , not sure what, and the ct scans show the tumors in his liver are almost gone. the dr.s are amazed. dr. zeh, who works with dr. bartlett in pittsburg, was thinking of using oxilplatin instead of the standard mitomicin c during the heated chemo during surgery. interesting......God bless and take care.d
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Message board portion of the site: http://www.cyberhideaway.com/forums/cancersupport/
Main page with lots of good links: http://cyberhideaway.com/BriansStory/
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