I will have to try swimming. The Sudocrem worked wonders overnight...I have maybe 3 whiteheads a day compared to 25+! Lots of people blog about it taking care of their acne in one app too. That is great news about the scan! I am really praying my first scan in 2 weeks gives me excellent news like yours.

Good to hear that Irinotecan and Erbitux work on lung mets. Fortunately, he has the right kind of KRAS mutation...I hope it works well for my husband. He's been taking B-6 with the Xeloda and using Eucerin cream on hands and feet for 3 years... no problems. He has lingering neuropathy from the oxali..but bearable. Anyone doing a clinical trial? When do you consider that? When all standard therapy is done?

I really appreciate the responses and suggestions for handling the upcoming side effects.

Hi, I too am dealing with Stage IV colon cancer, mets to lung. Four years ago I had 6 months of the folfox regime after mets to lung and thought "that was that". However, 3 months ago scans showed a nodule on my left lung (three were on my right lung 4 years ago). So I had surgery to remove the one nodule, and my oncologist plus another I saw for second opinion recommended 6 months of chemo again. Both oncologists told me this was a chronic problem, and would probably come back. Two weeks ago I had my first treatment of Folfiri, similar to Folfox but no oxaliplatin since that had left me with some neuropathy. Anyway, the treatment left me sick, weak and nauseous for the whole past two weeks. I am prepared to go in tomorrow (which would be for second treatment) and tell my oncologist that I am not going to continue. It is not worth feeling so sick and depleted. The way I look at it I am now cancer free. The chemo is just to take care of any cancer cells that may still be hanging around. But how do we know that there are still cancer cells there, and if they are there, there is no way of knowing if the chemo is getting rid of them. I have decided to fight this without the chemo this time. I am changing my diet and listening to visualization tapes. I also am joining a weekly visualization group. Have you heard of Dr. Bernie Seigle? He has given me such inspiration. His books describe his work with what he calls "exceptional cancer patients". I am somewhat afraid of what my oncologist will say to me tomorrow, and that she may try to convince me to continue. But honestly, the side effects are just too awful. I would love to have support as I fight this cancer.

This message is for Annie53
I completely understand how you feel and I am doing the same right now. If you would like to call me I would love to chat with you, 760 946-0671. I have every Bernie Siegel book he has written and he also inspired me. I was lucky to be able to go see him 2 times before he retired.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth

I would like to reinforce the importance of the Kras Gene. If you have a mutated Kras gene, Erbitux WILL NOT HELP YOU! When my oncologist was going to put me on Erbitux I ask for a few days to check it out and came upon the Kras situation. I requested to be tested, very simple blood test, and guess what, I had a mutated Kras gene. Please please anyone being given Erbitux request to have the Kras gene test.
Elizabeth

For Elizabeth. Thank you for your reply. Have you done a lot of visualization? My oncologist asked me to take one more week to decide on forgoing the chemo and to see her next Monday. She said she wants me to have a week of feeling better before I make my final decision. But I know what my decision will be. I will try giving you a call in the near future.