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Hi Sherri, so sorry to read of your loved one’s difficulties. JeffG gave some valuable info and I agree that the findings of the drs can be conflicting…surgeons will have a different view than the medical oncologists. It’s interesting that your stepfather was put on chemo after surgery—my husband’s drs said to wait on chemo, only try it again if scans show another flare up. We don’t know what the chemo options are; so far we’ve been told that systemic cancers are hard to treat with chemo, but then that is not true for everybody. As reading through these discussions will show. IMHO the best thing to aim for is get the person stabilized and comfortable. What will make him feel good NOW and ease acute symptoms so that you all can then devote a little time to investigating the longer term implications. It sounds like that’s what you’re already doing…just keep at it. Sorry I don’t have much of a definite direction to offer but just wanted you to know you have support and encouragement at this forum and my thoughts are with you.

Sarah

Dear Sherri, I’m sorry to hear all that you are going through. The first thing I would do is ask questions. If it was originally DX as CC then I find it odd that they did not mention that this type of cancer more than likely is systemic (in your blood stream) and that even with clear margins during resection doesn’t mean a cure. My understanding is the if you make it passed the 5 year mark without recurrence then your in good shape. The fact that it was found in his lymph nodes tells me it is systemic and that is why he was started on chemotherapy. The reason for stopping chemo could be due to his overall health and low counts on his blood test. His platelets, white blood cells, nuetrophils have to stay above certain levels or he could develope other complications. I’ve been doing Chemo for about two and half years now and had to stop treatments several times and allow my blood levels to climb back up to a safe levels. He should be having blood work done weekly while doing chemo. Also they do stop one regimen of chemo for a while to try a different regimen of chemo that may prove more positive results. Being dx with cc and having chemo can get to be very complicated and you need to ask questions to keep yourself well informed. To my knowledge there currently is no cure for CC but there is treatments to slow it down and in some cases stablize it. For how long depends on how advanced the cc is and wheter it has mets to other parts of the body and how effective the chemo regimen is. It could be 1,3,5,8,10 years living with this disgusting disease. No one can put a time on it as it is so individualized. I had left lobe of liver resected and gall bladder 8 years a go and still fighting the battle. Like your step dad mine recurred to the kiver and mets to both lungs. So Sherri ask questions and get second opinions and tell the doctors you want them to tell it like it is. Of course your Step Dad has to give consent for that to happen due to a federal law called HIPPA. It’s a need to know only privacy of information of medical records law. If anyone on this site agrees, disagrees, or can add more to this rambling please do so. Sherri I wrote this based on the infor you shared; I’m sure there are more what if’s. I wish you all the best during this journey of uncertainy. Please take time to read as many posts and blogs as you can on this site. I ‘m sure it will give you a firm insight of what cc is all about.
Jeff G.