For all the newbie's including me

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pamness
pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I was diagnosed 3A in January 2007, I am 55 years old, it was quite a shock. One malignant polyp, 2 lymph nodes. Had a colon resection, 8 rounds of folfox (finished 5 of olaxali) but did all the 5FU and 25 days of rads/5FU. I was done in late August of 2007 - I was hospitalized after I was done with severe abdominal pain - and was in the MGH cancer center every week for fluids. I had a hard time. I am currently ned - but it hasn't been until this last week - almost 5 months after treatment ended that I have felt somewhat normal - energy good, bowels things under control and emotionally pretty happy - it take a long time - for those of you where it has happened sooner - I envy you - but for those of you where it is taking a while - it does happen. Don't get discouraged.

Pam

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  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #2
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    Sooner??? REALLY???? Your life has been interrupted, your digestive system replumbed, and, to quote my chemo nurse "We take you to the edge of death and then (get this) hopefully bring you all the way back!"
    5 months is record speed! Pat yourself on the back! I am 3 years, almost to the day, post treatment for stage III rectal cancer. Bowel resection that included my rectum, sig colon, and a total hyster...WHEW!
    And then, one morning, after everything, you just wake up and say "OK, I'm done with cancer...it won't get any more...", smile, and take up living again! I actually just booked a 13-day trip to Turkey...giving their bathrooms only a passing thought (lol...in China, they have these things lovingly called 'squatty potties'...a hole with 2 footpads...can't imagine with my new plumbing doing that...rofl!).
    As you know, 6 months after my rectal cancer, I started treatment for breast cancer. As it turns out, it was known about during the rectal, but they wanted to wait to see if I would survive (!) before treating it....wierd, huh? Not only did I survive both, but after lumpectomy/chemo/rads for the BC, I am officially NED on both for almost 2 years!!!
    I was 49 when I started this journey, and have joined a number of groups, some advocacy, some support, to make sure no one did what I did...I didn't find this site till after my rectal cancer treatment was finished. Alone, it's VERY scary!

    Patience is what is firmly taught during treatment, and recovery. And a very well-used sense of humor...I was told I had 6 months to live....3 years and 6 months ago...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    #3
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    KathiM said:

    Sooner??? REALLY???? Your life has been interrupted, your digestive system replumbed, and, to quote my chemo nurse "We take you to the edge of death and then (get this) hopefully bring you all the way back!"
    5 months is record speed! Pat yourself on the back! I am 3 years, almost to the day, post treatment for stage III rectal cancer. Bowel resection that included my rectum, sig colon, and a total hyster...WHEW!
    And then, one morning, after everything, you just wake up and say "OK, I'm done with cancer...it won't get any more...", smile, and take up living again! I actually just booked a 13-day trip to Turkey...giving their bathrooms only a passing thought (lol...in China, they have these things lovingly called 'squatty potties'...a hole with 2 footpads...can't imagine with my new plumbing doing that...rofl!).
    As you know, 6 months after my rectal cancer, I started treatment for breast cancer. As it turns out, it was known about during the rectal, but they wanted to wait to see if I would survive (!) before treating it....wierd, huh? Not only did I survive both, but after lumpectomy/chemo/rads for the BC, I am officially NED on both for almost 2 years!!!
    I was 49 when I started this journey, and have joined a number of groups, some advocacy, some support, to make sure no one did what I did...I didn't find this site till after my rectal cancer treatment was finished. Alone, it's VERY scary!

    Patience is what is firmly taught during treatment, and recovery. And a very well-used sense of humor...I was told I had 6 months to live....3 years and 6 months ago...

    Hugs, Kathi

    I am blown away and humbled by your story, and thank you so much for the reply. Your response made my day. Hope your day (days ) are going well.

    Pam
  • kristasplace
    kristasplace Member Posts: 957 Member
    #4
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    KathiM said:

    Sooner??? REALLY???? Your life has been interrupted, your digestive system replumbed, and, to quote my chemo nurse "We take you to the edge of death and then (get this) hopefully bring you all the way back!"
    5 months is record speed! Pat yourself on the back! I am 3 years, almost to the day, post treatment for stage III rectal cancer. Bowel resection that included my rectum, sig colon, and a total hyster...WHEW!
    And then, one morning, after everything, you just wake up and say "OK, I'm done with cancer...it won't get any more...", smile, and take up living again! I actually just booked a 13-day trip to Turkey...giving their bathrooms only a passing thought (lol...in China, they have these things lovingly called 'squatty potties'...a hole with 2 footpads...can't imagine with my new plumbing doing that...rofl!).
    As you know, 6 months after my rectal cancer, I started treatment for breast cancer. As it turns out, it was known about during the rectal, but they wanted to wait to see if I would survive (!) before treating it....wierd, huh? Not only did I survive both, but after lumpectomy/chemo/rads for the BC, I am officially NED on both for almost 2 years!!!
    I was 49 when I started this journey, and have joined a number of groups, some advocacy, some support, to make sure no one did what I did...I didn't find this site till after my rectal cancer treatment was finished. Alone, it's VERY scary!

    Patience is what is firmly taught during treatment, and recovery. And a very well-used sense of humor...I was told I had 6 months to live....3 years and 6 months ago...

    Hugs, Kathi

    Kathi, you really crack me up! You have been an inspiration to me ever since i began on this journey eight months ago. You've been through sooooo much, and still have a bright smile! You can find the good in having an ostomy, something i'm finding VERY difficult to do, and mine's only temporary!

    Thank you, and all the other veterans for your support, and strength. I know i am benifitting from it IMMENSELY!

    Pam, i'm going through the same treatment as you, but i'm much further behind. I just started my adjuvant FOLFOX treatments six weeks ago, so i have no clue how long it's going to take me to recover. I took the maximum recovery time after each stage because i needed it, so it may take me longer to recover from this round. We shall see. How long after treatment did you get your ostomy reversal?

    Many hugs,
    Krista
  • hopefulone
    hopefulone Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #5
    Options
    KathiM said:

    Sooner??? REALLY???? Your life has been interrupted, your digestive system replumbed, and, to quote my chemo nurse "We take you to the edge of death and then (get this) hopefully bring you all the way back!"
    5 months is record speed! Pat yourself on the back! I am 3 years, almost to the day, post treatment for stage III rectal cancer. Bowel resection that included my rectum, sig colon, and a total hyster...WHEW!
    And then, one morning, after everything, you just wake up and say "OK, I'm done with cancer...it won't get any more...", smile, and take up living again! I actually just booked a 13-day trip to Turkey...giving their bathrooms only a passing thought (lol...in China, they have these things lovingly called 'squatty potties'...a hole with 2 footpads...can't imagine with my new plumbing doing that...rofl!).
    As you know, 6 months after my rectal cancer, I started treatment for breast cancer. As it turns out, it was known about during the rectal, but they wanted to wait to see if I would survive (!) before treating it....wierd, huh? Not only did I survive both, but after lumpectomy/chemo/rads for the BC, I am officially NED on both for almost 2 years!!!
    I was 49 when I started this journey, and have joined a number of groups, some advocacy, some support, to make sure no one did what I did...I didn't find this site till after my rectal cancer treatment was finished. Alone, it's VERY scary!

    Patience is what is firmly taught during treatment, and recovery. And a very well-used sense of humor...I was told I had 6 months to live....3 years and 6 months ago...

    Hugs, Kathi

    Love it! Enjoy
    Hugs back at ya
    Diane

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