How Soon Can Colon Cancer Spread To The Liver Without Chemotherapy?

Posted on Thu, 5 Mar 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 5 Mar 2015 Answered on

Sat, 28 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : In a colon can patient can lots of liver mets appear in space of 2 months without chemo ?

Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Neoplasm behaves without rules

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

There is no theoretical answer for this. It is called Neoplasm because it does not have rules to spread, no definite time or no definite route to follow. So to answer your question it may happen that way that the colon cancer can spread to liver. There are low chances of it not spreading. To confirm you need to get a PET scan or Liver biopsy and check the pathological features or similar to that of Colon.

Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (58 minutes later)

Its already spread we know that . As was confirmed by a pet scan last year . There was 1 small liver met n now several .

Itinotecan alone was given but i guess that did not work right as liver met grew and and new sub pleural nodule ?

Dec itinotecan stopped and 6,7 liver mets appeared . Does this mean the chemo was having some effect?

Is the cancer chemo resistant ?

Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (26 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Irinotecan prolongs survival in colorectal cancer

Detailed Answer:
Hi again

Since the 6,7 liver mets appeared after stopping irinotecan, it means that chemo was having some effect in suppressing it. It has been shown in many trials that irinotecan has an acceptable tolerability profile and regimens containing irinotecan extend treatment duration due to lesser side effects and improve survival.

We cannot say that cancer is chemo resistant. Combination chemotherapy will be needed. Followup with your oncologist regarding options on chemotherapy.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (47 minutes later)

This is image of january ct scan atached and the report is one of march. But the march ct scan was done by another person who did not have full record .

Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (34 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I see one scan report

Detailed Answer:
The scan says the disease is progressing and there is no benefit by standard treatment. This is what I couild just understand. I do not know how to read the images though.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D