Hello everyone;

I hope someone can help my confusion.  My wife had a small orange size mass removed from her colon a month ago, the pathology came back saying the tumor was cancer (20 of the 24 lymph nodes came back cancerous as well).  The Oncologist stated she has stage 4 cancer and once she heals from her surgery we would start chemo.  His plan was to approach the cancer with very aggressive chemo treatment, which consists of Leucovorin, Fluorouracil and Oxaliplatin and 4 th drug but not sure what it is, sorry.  At the time he stated the cancer most likely has spread to other organs but we will have a better clue once a PET scan is done.  

Before I get to the PET Scan I need to go back to her surgery, the surgeon advised us when she removed the tumor which was located where the Large Intestine meets the small intestine at the caecum, she noticed the following.  One my wife had numerous cysts on her liver but felt they were benign; she had a white lining on her stomach, not sure if it was cancerous and she removed 24 lymph nodes to be tested.  One last thing she felt she got the entire tumor around the intestine.  

Now we have moved up to the Pet Scan, when the results came back the oncologist said it was very positive, it appears her cancer was localized and it did not spread, the liver had 21 cysts and they were all benign, she had to unknown masses one in the upper chest the other in her intestine, the results came back could be cancer or nothing, the PET Scan could determine what they are, the doctor stated most likely nothing.  He stated she still had some cancer in the lining of her intestine and small cancer around her aorta, but felt chemo will handle what she has.  I asked since she received such a great PET Scan, why are you still saying she has stage 4 cancer, He said because the size of her tumor and there is a small patch in her intestine lining.  He said she will still have the same chemo treatment.  Her treatment is every other week for 6 months.  She has had one treatment.  It last about 3 and half hours with 3 different types of drugs, but one of them was more of a steroid.  She also had to wear a fanny pack with a pump which pumped more chemo in her for 48 extra hours.  

Just went to doctor today for follow up and blood work.  My wife had her first treatment last Monday and she has had very little side effects, only minor fatigue.  Her blood today came back with WBC at 15.2, which the DR said not to bad, Neut% was 67.4 and Neut# was 10.3, lymph% was 14.3, mono% was 14.8 and mono# was 2.26.  Now I only listed what came back outside the normal limits.  I do not know what these mean, except the doctor says they are fine and nothing to worry about.  I just wish I knew what these mean and if I should be alarmed. He said she is doing very well and after 6 months she will beat this and will be 100% cancer free.  One, I love his enthusiasm but I do not think any of us know yet, but I hope he is right.  Two what I have read and talking to many people who have been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer it is not as rosy as the oncologist is making this sound.  

Please don't take this wrong I love my wife and I want her around another 30 years ( I forgot to say she is 66 years old) but I just want to make sure we are being told the truth and if there is anything else I need to be looking out for.  Please help me understand what I am looking at and maybe I am not asking the right questions to the Oncologist.  I hate my feelings and I want to get them under control.  I need to work but I do not want to leave her side but I know I will have to.  But some days I am sad and cry, somedays I am mad, others I am depressed, and others I am just worn out.  I think if I had a better understanding I may eliminate some of these feelings.  I hope someone has an answer to help me…