Bowel Cancer My Story of Success so Far

Just an update for those who are in the situation I was in . I remain in remission after 11 months of chemo. The last 5 months I have been just on Avastin, which has caused my liver tumors to further shrink. Some of the smaller tumors are no longer visible in a CAT scan along with the original bowel cancer.My oncologist has suggested I continue on Avastin for another 12 months.  My Surgeon and another oncologist has suggested I consider having radio ablation of the larger liver tumors. I figure I have not annoyed enough people  yet so will have to live for another 20 years to complete this goal !Dunedigger aka Rex

I had a colonoscopy done on Monday . . . all clear. Now just have to have the liver fixed Dunedigger

Hi Louisa,

The garden is doing fine.We had lettuce, tomatoes, caspicans ,basil and on another part of the farm the biggest pumpkin patch. Now potatoes, carrots are in. We have hens but the dam things keep digging everything up.

Congratulations to all the staff involved in the website upgrade

With kind regards,

Rex

Today I had my first PET scan, Previously I have been having CAT scans. Next week I see Professor Morris for Radio Ablation. At least he has agreed to seeing me seeing me. He has some reservations as I have 13 tumors on the liver so I just hope he will treat me.

I am feeling that my liver tumors are on the move again, as I have some pain in that region, and that, combined with my rising CEA, has me worried. The following week I see my oncologist for a review.

It is hard to believe that chemo has knocked out the cancer in the bowel , but the liver tumors are more resistant

Dunedigger

Hi Everyone,

Yep I survived intensive care and now in my private room with views of Botany Bay. I have been told by reliable sources that all my tumors have been dealt with. It seems almost too good to be true. Pathology results will be back in a few days to confirm that the larger tumors were removed cleanly. Pain has been dealt with a little button. I have been up and walking with assistance.

I have escaped the clutches of St George Private hospital and spent the last 2 days in a nearby hospital associated unit. Still very sore but managed to walk about a One Km lunch. It was worth it. I am quite sore tough but managing with Panadol.

I see the Professor in a months time before having radioactive microspheres (SIR-Spheres®) that contain yttrium-90 that emit high energy beta radiation in about 6 weeks time. Go here http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/11/021112075901.htm for more information.

It does involve a overnight stay at StVincents Hospital. This as I understand is just to mop up any tumor tissue that may have been missed, and is a nice once off alternative to precautionary post Operative chemotherapy. I continue to be amassed at the wealth of treatments available once you step out of the Chemotherapy mold.

I feel very privileged to have been treated by Professor Morris, and he has given my family a far greater hope.

I had 11 tumors ( all but 4 mostly small) in my liver and was very lucky that he finally agreed to treat me. Rarely can so many tumors be treated with out significant risks. I guess I had fitness and a determination to beat the 'litle buggers'

So people reading this who have been touched by bowel cancer and metz don't give up, keep fighting, and find cancer specialists who give you the results you want

Enough for now

Dunedigger

Hi Everyone,

I m glad that my ramblings has been an inspiration. I did intend it to be that way some time after I started the thread. Actually, on the old site blogs were not available but it may have been more appropriate to have been a blog, but I'm not going to start now.

I know a lot of people who read this will have just been diagnosed and will take heart at my story along with a lot of other people stories.

When I was first diagnosed with bowel cancer I could ( just ) live with that and the operation ( that would take place. However the following week after my CAT scan showed multiple lesions in my liver my ( our ) world fell apart. I was told there was not much hope. It took 12 months before we started to seek surgical opinions. After this, a new world opened up.

I have since found another site like this in another country, where surgical options for liver cancer are enormous, but we do have them in Australia, but they don't seem to be well known.

I have learn't that many medical professionals don't really know all of the options that are available and remain comfortably in the cocoon of their own world of knowledge. ( This seems to apply especially to Oncologists who just use Chemo, no offense intended to any particular person )

Get out there and ask. If you don't live in the big citys, be prepared to travel to get the treatment you deserve and never stop fighting and asking questions till you get the answer YOU LIKE.

Dunedigger

EDIT 24/7/09 I am booked into St Vincent's for the SIRS, after all day tests on 3 different scanners.

I have also learnt that the professor took about 1/3rd of my liver AND most of it had been killed by Folfox6, Avastin and Vitamin C

We are off to Norfolk Island of a week on 2nd August

Hi Everybody.

I'm back bigger and better than ever, well in my mind anyhow. Norfolk was fabulous. . A bit of a problem getting up before 10 am but anyway . . Ate our selves silly and broke all my ( self imposed ) diet rules.

4 Days after coming back I had the SIRSpheres internal radiation ( SIRT ) done, with out too many problems. I don't feel wonderful but feel a little better each day, nausea being controlled with a little medication.

I will now go back on Avastin and have a CAT scan done in two months. Can't wait for the results. Fingers crossed I'm cancer free. If I am Cancer free, there will be some excited health professionals who have helped me on my way including two Professors.

If you are fighting cancer, keep fighting, keep asking questions, and never say die, There are lots of treatments available that you have to search out, that is past being experimental but has not reached mainstream.

Yours in the fight !

Dunedigger

Well the SIRT has taken it's toll. I have had fatigue and a feeling of illness for the full 6 weeks. Basically I have felt as bad for the last 4 weeks as if I had just had chemo.

However it will be worth it if the radiation mops up the surviving cancer cells. SIRT is so much more powerful than external radiation.

Unfortunately I (I We ) still have a business to run and although we are slowly selling parts of the business, it is hard to plan for the future retirement and traveling, not to mention my love of Endurance ( Horse ) Riding.

However I don't have time for cancer now and a CAT scan will confirm what my Surgeon said while I was in recovery . . . We think we got it all !

Get on with it and get out there !

An update . . .

Fatigue is still an issue even after 4 1/2 months but I think I may be coming out the other end. However I have had a rising CEA

Last Monday I had a CT which showed a small number of tiny tumors in my lungs !. Professor Morris was not worried, he will ablate them if they can't be controlled. We think they grew while I was not having avastin in the period leading up to the liver surgery.

However I have started on a low dose of oral 5FU and after 3 weeks my CEA dropped 10% down to 22. So it is all good news. My liver looks tumor free after the surgery and radiation.

I have a new luxury camper for my 4WD and have been spending time out in the bush, my love is high country rain-forests on the eastern escarpment of NSW, good therapy !

I remain committed that this 'disease' will not get me even though I will have to live with it for the rest of my life.

Dunedigger