2 year anniversary!

SueRelays
SueRelays Member Posts: 485
Hi All!

I first joined this group about 3 1/2 years ago when a wonderful woman named Joanne started a board for us anal buddies!! I haven't been on now for awhile...unfortunately have been on the breast cancer boards as I was diagnosed with yet a 3rd primary cancer last year.

But I wanted to say that I celebrated my 2nd year anniversary yesterday. 2 years ago I had a liver resection from anal cancer that spread to my liver. I am not looking for congrats from all, just wanting to provide HOPE to anyone who is faced with this. I was told that anal cancer RARELY spreads to the liver, and as many of you know, that just isn't as rare as they say. My liver surgeon told me to live like it could come back at any time, which I do. He kind of mentioned within 2 years....so that is why I am WOOHOOING!!!! 2 years and NED....in all areas that I previously had cancer. Of course the threat of it returning to my liver has always been my main concern. Just amazing what one can go through and come back from and how much can be done these days to keep us here living life!!

So thankful to have been on this board in that time of need, as I'm sure all of you are. So few places where people actually understand what we're going through. A place where we find comfort, support, humor, love, and at times great sadness. I have met wonderful people here...Joanne, Martha, Kathy P, Sundance, etc, and am forever grateful to have made these connections. I wish all of you the best in your journey and know that there are so many here to guide you through it.

We are so strong even at the times we feel are weakest!
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Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    Hi Sue!
    I really perked up when I saw a post from you! It is so good to hear from you and know that you are doing well! I know you didn't come here for congratulations on your 2-year anniversary, but I am going to congratulate you anyway! You are showing all of us that doctors do not know it all and that this disease can be beaten. I am so thrilled that you have surpassed your doctors' expectations and I hope that will continue on and on. You are awesome and inspiring and I think all of us are the lucky ones for knowing you--someone who has shown us that nothing is impossible. I wish you all the very best, as always, and hope you'll come here from time to time to inspire us with your continuing story of surviving and thriving! Love ya!
  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    Sue
    Hi Sue, I am so glad to see you post. I am so happy your liver is clear and no recurrence. Yes you give me strength as I have also had 2 primaries. The anal and then lung. Right now I am fine, as the lung cancer was caught early due to being scanned for anal cancer follow ups. I had vats on 9-23-10. I realize also that it could come back anytime, but am grateful that I am scanned often to catch it early at the most curable time. I wish you well and I hope everything is going well with your breast cancer tx. Please keep us posted. Lori
  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    Hi Sue
    You probably don't remember me - I started posting right around the time you were diagnosed with breast cancer. I was lurking for quite a while before that, though, and got a lot of information and support from your posts. I want to congratulate you too on your progress. I had been wondering how you were doing. That's SO wonderful, and I wish you continued good health. WOOHOO is right!!!
  • SueRelays
    SueRelays Member Posts: 485
    z said:

    Sue
    Hi Sue, I am so glad to see you post. I am so happy your liver is clear and no recurrence. Yes you give me strength as I have also had 2 primaries. The anal and then lung. Right now I am fine, as the lung cancer was caught early due to being scanned for anal cancer follow ups. I had vats on 9-23-10. I realize also that it could come back anytime, but am grateful that I am scanned often to catch it early at the most curable time. I wish you well and I hope everything is going well with your breast cancer tx. Please keep us posted. Lori

    Oh my gosh Z. They found a
    Oh my gosh Z. They found a secondary lung cancer for me too! Same year as mtg chemo/Rad treatment . Had 1/5 of my lung removed ...You???
  • SueRelays
    SueRelays Member Posts: 485
    RoseC said:

    Hi Sue
    You probably don't remember me - I started posting right around the time you were diagnosed with breast cancer. I was lurking for quite a while before that, though, and got a lot of information and support from your posts. I want to congratulate you too on your progress. I had been wondering how you were doing. That's SO wonderful, and I wish you continued good health. WOOHOO is right!!!

    Thank you Rose! I do
    Thank you Rose! I do remember you!! And all is well for you??
    I am glad my posts helped you! So nice that we can do that for each other!
  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    SueRelays said:

    Oh my gosh Z. They found a
    Oh my gosh Z. They found a secondary lung cancer for me too! Same year as mtg chemo/Rad treatment . Had 1/5 of my lung removed ...You???

    Sue
    Yes, while having follow up scans for the anal cancer. I was a 35 year smoker and quit on 5-4-09, before the anal cancer tx started. I had vats to remove my lower right lobe on 9-23-10. They said it was a primary because there was no HPV in it, whereas, there was HPV in the anal tumor. It was squamous cell (smokers cancer). When it was removed it was 11 mm, so very small. Now I have a ct every 6 months. Recently a 5mm nodule was found in my lower left lobe, in which I will have a scan in 3 months to see if if grew. I feel fortunate to have caught my cancers early. Now its wait and see. I wish you well. Lori
  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    SueRelays said:

    Thank you Rose! I do
    Thank you Rose! I do remember you!! And all is well for you??
    I am glad my posts helped you! So nice that we can do that for each other!

    Hi Sue!
    So good to hear from you and know that you are doing well. We are all so fortunate that Joanne got this site started. So many journeys and the good news is that we are here to talk about it and share with others that are going through it.

    Wishing you well,
    Liz
  • SueRelays
    SueRelays Member Posts: 485
    lizdeli said:

    Hi Sue!
    So good to hear from you and know that you are doing well. We are all so fortunate that Joanne got this site started. So many journeys and the good news is that we are here to talk about it and share with others that are going through it.

    Wishing you well,
    Liz

    Hi Liz!
    Nice to see your

    Hi Liz!
    Nice to see your name! Hope you are doing well!!!!!
  • SueRelays
    SueRelays Member Posts: 485
    z said:

    Sue
    Yes, while having follow up scans for the anal cancer. I was a 35 year smoker and quit on 5-4-09, before the anal cancer tx started. I had vats to remove my lower right lobe on 9-23-10. They said it was a primary because there was no HPV in it, whereas, there was HPV in the anal tumor. It was squamous cell (smokers cancer). When it was removed it was 11 mm, so very small. Now I have a ct every 6 months. Recently a 5mm nodule was found in my lower left lobe, in which I will have a scan in 3 months to see if if grew. I feel fortunate to have caught my cancers early. Now its wait and see. I wish you well. Lori

    I feel.blessed ad well Lori.
    I feel.blessed ad well Lori. If I never had the anal cancer they never would have found my lung cancer. Im a non smoker
    & was devastated to hear I had lung cancer...but like you it was caught early! There is some good in all this!
    Wish you crystal clear scans! i know how hard it is to wait!
  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    SueRelays said:

    Hi Liz!
    Nice to see your

    Hi Liz!
    Nice to see your name! Hope you are doing well!!!!!

    Sue
    I'm doing well thank God. Approaching year 3 and still NED! Next scans first week of March. Scanxiety time, but it is what it is. I just wish someone could come up with something better tasting than barium. Yucky. The thought of it makes me nauseous.....

    I say this all in jest. I'm very grateful and I do whatever I'm told to do. If barium is my biggest problem boy am I blessed!

    Hugs,
    Liz
  • SueRelays
    SueRelays Member Posts: 485
    lizdeli said:

    Sue
    I'm doing well thank God. Approaching year 3 and still NED! Next scans first week of March. Scanxiety time, but it is what it is. I just wish someone could come up with something better tasting than barium. Yucky. The thought of it makes me nauseous.....

    I say this all in jest. I'm very grateful and I do whatever I'm told to do. If barium is my biggest problem boy am I blessed!

    Hugs,
    Liz

    Amen to that!!!

    Amen to that!!!
  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    SueRelays said:

    Thank you Rose! I do
    Thank you Rose! I do remember you!! And all is well for you??
    I am glad my posts helped you! So nice that we can do that for each other!

    Thanks Sue
    Yes, all is well for me. Thanks for asking. Coming up on 3 1/2 years out. I see my oncologist in April and am not expecting any surprises. Stay well! Thanks for posting - we missed you!
  • duckyann
    duckyann Member Posts: 159
    Congrats Sue!
    I don't think

    Congrats Sue!

    I don't think you know me but I do read your posts. You are one brave woman and very much an inspiration to us all! I am so happy to hear that you are NED and I just have a feeling you will stay that way!!!!

    Take care
    Nancy
  • Gulamin
    Gulamin Member Posts: 134
    duckyann said:

    Congrats Sue!
    I don't think

    Congrats Sue!

    I don't think you know me but I do read your posts. You are one brave woman and very much an inspiration to us all! I am so happy to hear that you are NED and I just have a feeling you will stay that way!!!!

    Take care
    Nancy

    congratulations!
    Is absolutely in order!! I am 1 year NED and it gives me so much to hear from all of you!
  • SueRelays
    SueRelays Member Posts: 485
    Gulamin said:

    congratulations!
    Is absolutely in order!! I am 1 year NED and it gives me so much to hear from all of you!

    So MUCH to celebrate!!!!

    So MUCH to celebrate!!!!
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    Sundance Says "Howdy"
    Hi Sue!

    I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for the holiday card that you sent me. I sure appreciate it with all you've had going on...I was saddened to read in the card that you had lung cancer and the major surgery that you had following that. Wow!

    You've sure handled your situation with aplomb:)

    So nice to see you again!

    -Craig
  • SueRelays
    SueRelays Member Posts: 485
    Sundanceh said:

    Sundance Says "Howdy"
    Hi Sue!

    I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for the holiday card that you sent me. I sure appreciate it with all you've had going on...I was saddened to read in the card that you had lung cancer and the major surgery that you had following that. Wow!

    You've sure handled your situation with aplomb:)

    So nice to see you again!

    -Craig

    Hey you!!
    Miss you. I'm

    Hey you!!

    Miss you. I'm sure you have many postings on the colorectal boards....just haven't been on those for awhile. I will have to catch up on YOU! Do I remember seeing something about a book??????
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    SueRelays said:

    Hey you!!
    Miss you. I'm

    Hey you!!

    Miss you. I'm sure you have many postings on the colorectal boards....just haven't been on those for awhile. I will have to catch up on YOU! Do I remember seeing something about a book??????

    Sue :)
    You heard it here first! LOL!

    Yes, I wrote a book about cancer - I talk about the topics of cancer and use my own story as a personal example...and I used many of our friends stories as well to further illustrate the points I was writing about.

    17 chapters long from the moment of diagnosis all the way through to the end of life sceario - with many stops along the way. Should be around 235 pages with 105,097 words, LOL!

    I wrote it in 5 months and started right after my last treatment wrapped. I posted some excerpts on the other board - people seemed to take to it, but they may have just been shucking me:)

    I'm currently trying to secure an agent to represent me to pitch my project to the Big Boy publishers...just got my 1st official rejection email this past Monday. I just moved on to my next prospect...she is "passionate" about medical subjects...likes to do things the old-fashioned way, by snail mail.

    So, I wrote up a proposal, an outline, and the first chapter for review...I should hear back from them in about 8-9 weeks. I've got about 15 more agents to go through.

    I remain hopeful, but know I'm going uphill against insurmountable odds - but, that's nothing new for Sundance, right? LOL!

    I don't know if it will make it, but I'm certainly trying - everything that I am is in those pages...you guys always told me to do it...so, I did. I'm proud of that accomplishment.

    With a core target audience in the millions, the potential for this book is exciting...I just have to find someone to take a chance on me - Mr. Nobody. If this thing pops, we could go straight to the top!

    I've set myself up for a tremendous fall - and won't have anyone to blame but myself if I fail....I'll be letting down a lot of folks who believed in me, but it won't be from lack of trying...I'm committed, or at least I should be:) LOL!

    Have you met my alter-ego cancer fighting partner - Big Billy? He's the "fighting side of me." He's a character I dreamed up when I was on a Folfiri bender and losing hope at one time in last year's fight. He steps in to prop me up in my cancer fights when my body is weary and my mind wavers.

    You'll like him:) You'll get the gag when you read the post....I may put him out there in another week or so....check the board periodically. When you see him, you'll see me:)

    Love, Sue!

    -Craig/Sundance/Big Billy/The Lion

    Just pick one, LOL!
  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    Sundanceh said:

    Sue :)
    You heard it here first! LOL!

    Yes, I wrote a book about cancer - I talk about the topics of cancer and use my own story as a personal example...and I used many of our friends stories as well to further illustrate the points I was writing about.

    17 chapters long from the moment of diagnosis all the way through to the end of life sceario - with many stops along the way. Should be around 235 pages with 105,097 words, LOL!

    I wrote it in 5 months and started right after my last treatment wrapped. I posted some excerpts on the other board - people seemed to take to it, but they may have just been shucking me:)

    I'm currently trying to secure an agent to represent me to pitch my project to the Big Boy publishers...just got my 1st official rejection email this past Monday. I just moved on to my next prospect...she is "passionate" about medical subjects...likes to do things the old-fashioned way, by snail mail.

    So, I wrote up a proposal, an outline, and the first chapter for review...I should hear back from them in about 8-9 weeks. I've got about 15 more agents to go through.

    I remain hopeful, but know I'm going uphill against insurmountable odds - but, that's nothing new for Sundance, right? LOL!

    I don't know if it will make it, but I'm certainly trying - everything that I am is in those pages...you guys always told me to do it...so, I did. I'm proud of that accomplishment.

    With a core target audience in the millions, the potential for this book is exciting...I just have to find someone to take a chance on me - Mr. Nobody. If this thing pops, we could go straight to the top!

    I've set myself up for a tremendous fall - and won't have anyone to blame but myself if I fail....I'll be letting down a lot of folks who believed in me, but it won't be from lack of trying...I'm committed, or at least I should be:) LOL!

    Have you met my alter-ego cancer fighting partner - Big Billy? He's the "fighting side of me." He's a character I dreamed up when I was on a Folfiri bender and losing hope at one time in last year's fight. He steps in to prop me up in my cancer fights when my body is weary and my mind wavers.

    You'll like him:) You'll get the gag when you read the post....I may put him out there in another week or so....check the board periodically. When you see him, you'll see me:)

    Love, Sue!

    -Craig/Sundance/Big Billy/The Lion

    Just pick one, LOL!

    Craig
    Hi Craig
    You probably don't know me, but I do visit the Colorectal board a lot and read the posts and keep up with things. That was the first board I went to after I finished treatment. Then Joanne started this board for those of us who battled anal cancer.

    Anyway, I just read your post to Sue and had to say that there is no way you will fail whether your book is published or not. Of course I'm praying that it will be because I know you have put so much into it. But after all you have been through and the beautiful gift of your book - that my friend is success without any flavor or failure associated with it.

    You won't let anyone down, how could you? You put your heart into the book and finshed it! And with so much going on in your life. Dear Craig you are incredible.

    Just needed to tell you that.

    Hugs,
    Liz
  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    Sundanceh said:

    Sue :)
    You heard it here first! LOL!

    Yes, I wrote a book about cancer - I talk about the topics of cancer and use my own story as a personal example...and I used many of our friends stories as well to further illustrate the points I was writing about.

    17 chapters long from the moment of diagnosis all the way through to the end of life sceario - with many stops along the way. Should be around 235 pages with 105,097 words, LOL!

    I wrote it in 5 months and started right after my last treatment wrapped. I posted some excerpts on the other board - people seemed to take to it, but they may have just been shucking me:)

    I'm currently trying to secure an agent to represent me to pitch my project to the Big Boy publishers...just got my 1st official rejection email this past Monday. I just moved on to my next prospect...she is "passionate" about medical subjects...likes to do things the old-fashioned way, by snail mail.

    So, I wrote up a proposal, an outline, and the first chapter for review...I should hear back from them in about 8-9 weeks. I've got about 15 more agents to go through.

    I remain hopeful, but know I'm going uphill against insurmountable odds - but, that's nothing new for Sundance, right? LOL!

    I don't know if it will make it, but I'm certainly trying - everything that I am is in those pages...you guys always told me to do it...so, I did. I'm proud of that accomplishment.

    With a core target audience in the millions, the potential for this book is exciting...I just have to find someone to take a chance on me - Mr. Nobody. If this thing pops, we could go straight to the top!

    I've set myself up for a tremendous fall - and won't have anyone to blame but myself if I fail....I'll be letting down a lot of folks who believed in me, but it won't be from lack of trying...I'm committed, or at least I should be:) LOL!

    Have you met my alter-ego cancer fighting partner - Big Billy? He's the "fighting side of me." He's a character I dreamed up when I was on a Folfiri bender and losing hope at one time in last year's fight. He steps in to prop me up in my cancer fights when my body is weary and my mind wavers.

    You'll like him:) You'll get the gag when you read the post....I may put him out there in another week or so....check the board periodically. When you see him, you'll see me:)

    Love, Sue!

    -Craig/Sundance/Big Billy/The Lion

    Just pick one, LOL!

    Craig
    Hi Craig
    You probably don't know me, but I do visit the Colorectal board a lot and read the posts and keep up with things. That was the first board I went to after I finished treatment. Then Joanne started this board for those of us who battled anal cancer.

    Anyway, I just read your post to Sue and had to say that there is no way you will fail whether your book is published or not. Of course I'm praying that it will be because I know you have put so much into it. But after all you have been through and the beautiful gift of your book - that my friend is success without any flavor or failure associated with it.

    You won't let anyone down, how could you? You put your heart into the book and finshed it! And with so much going on in your life. Dear Craig you are incredible.

    Just needed to tell you that.

    Hugs,
    Liz