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(11,093 posts)
3. Are you completely cured?
Sat Oct 27, 2012, 06:23 PM
Oct 2012

Are you completely cured? I suspect not.

I have Stage IV colon cancer, with mets to the lungs. I'm on indefinite chemo. Even if it looks like it's tamped down, it might not be.

Is lack of nausea an indicator? I would say not. Most chemo treatments now are pretty good at keeping nausea down. I have practically none, even though I've been doing this second round for 8 months.

Is gaining weight an indicator? Not necessarily. I've gained a little. Some of what you get, depending on your regimen (e.g.: FOLFOX or FOLFIRI), may actually increase weight. For instance, although we've been adjusting it, my FOLFIRI regimen includes steroids (which can make you bloated/puffy) and meds delivered in glucose.

In one month? I hesitate to say no, because everyone's different, but I would be highly dubious that Stage IV lung cancer would look clear after only 30 days. That said, maybe you had a very aggressive treatment. So it might be clear for now, but I wouldn't expect that you were "cured". At best in remission.

I wish you the best, I really do. I'll turn 50 in a few weeks. I hope I make it to 57.

You can PM me if you want to talk privately.

- t

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