I've been reading, wanted to say "hi"
I was diagnosed Stave IV with mets to my liver. They said my liver was 75% full of tumors, and were shocked that I was not jaundice. As of my scan this past Monday my lymph nodes are just about normal in size and the liver tumors have shrunk 50% in size. Still the same number of tumors, but shrunk. My primary tumor is more rectal, it sits at valve 1, can be reached with a finger. I've had no surgery or radiation, but I think I want it. Yesterday was the first day of my 8th cycle of chemo. I go 3 weeks on, 1 week off, that makes 21 sessions of chemo. I tolerate it pretty well. Have not lost my hair, have only had a problem with nausea the last 4 weeks, and have minimal hand/feet tingling from the Oxalyplatin. I've signed on with a Naturopath, starting tomorrow. She wants to work hand in hand with my onc.
I have a 21 month old little girl, Andi Jane. She is my sunshine. Her wonderful little smile and laugh makes me want to fight every day. When that sweet little voice says "wuv you" I melt. Also makes me cry when I think of leaving her.
Oh, my name is eightpawz because of my dogs -- Sampson and Yoshi. Sam was a German Shepherd and Yoshi is an Akita. I lost Sam last year, but I can't bear to part with the eightpawz. I have 8-PAWZ on my license plate.
-Dawn
Comments
-
First of all welcome to the board! you got a big reason to fight
for and that always help !.
It seems chemo is working very well so are you sure not candidate for resection? .Did you ask more than one surgeon ?.
Hope things continue shrinking and become a candidate! I think you are not that far!
Hugs Dawn.
Pepe.Barcelona.0 -
Welcome Aboard:)
Hi Dawn
Nice to meet you. I'm hoping that you will become a surgical candidate. CyberKnife, which is an intense form of radiation might be in order to help some as well.
Since you've read us, you know what we're about, so when concerns arise, just open a post and we'll try and answer any questions that we can.
We had a golden retriever for 13 years and lost him to cancer - we went a couple of years, but now have a new one (Harley) - he's 4paws full of trouble at all times - he knows which buttons to push, he's almost 18 months now.
Glad you finally came out of the woodwork:)
-Craig0 -
Hi!Sundanceh said:Welcome Aboard:)
Hi Dawn
Nice to meet you. I'm hoping that you will become a surgical candidate. CyberKnife, which is an intense form of radiation might be in order to help some as well.
Since you've read us, you know what we're about, so when concerns arise, just open a post and we'll try and answer any questions that we can.
We had a golden retriever for 13 years and lost him to cancer - we went a couple of years, but now have a new one (Harley) - he's 4paws full of trouble at all times - he knows which buttons to push, he's almost 18 months now.
Glad you finally came out of the woodwork:)
-Craig
You will find great support here. I'm new and asking lots of questions and getting valuable info. I'm on the same meds as you are, pretty much same dx. I just started chemo. Great for you and the results you are getting with very little problem. (My husband is my nurse...sort of). We don't have pets, but he melts like ice when he sees a golden retriever. One day...one day.0 -
Welcome Dawn
Hi Dawn,
I'm glad you finally decided to say hello to us! That's wonderful that you seem to be responding well to the chemo and that your side effects have been more on the minimal side. I'm imagining your sweet little girl saying "wuv you". Awww, that's just so heartwarming! I understand about the eightpawz too- I'm a little dog person- I have two shih tzus- but I love them so much and they bring joy into my life.
I do hope that you will be a candidate for surgery on the liver once you finish chemo. If not surgery, possibly cyberknife. Surgery is certainly a bigger deal, but is considered the "gold standard" if you qualify.
I'd love to keep hearing from you and hearing about your progress.
Hugs to you!
Lisa0 -
Dearest Dawnlisa42 said:Welcome Dawn
Hi Dawn,
I'm glad you finally decided to say hello to us! That's wonderful that you seem to be responding well to the chemo and that your side effects have been more on the minimal side. I'm imagining your sweet little girl saying "wuv you". Awww, that's just so heartwarming! I understand about the eightpawz too- I'm a little dog person- I have two shih tzus- but I love them so much and they bring joy into my life.
I do hope that you will be a candidate for surgery on the liver once you finish chemo. If not surgery, possibly cyberknife. Surgery is certainly a bigger deal, but is considered the "gold standard" if you qualify.
I'd love to keep hearing from you and hearing about your progress.
Hugs to you!
Lisa
I too am so happy you decided to check in.....so nice to meet you and pepe is right.....one little girl is one big reason for fighting on.
how very well you have done on the dreaded oxy.....good girl
I like to think of myself as the old girl of liver mets with 2 bouts and 2 resections.....
it can be done Dawn....stay in touch....
maggie0 -
Hi Dawn, I am fairly newmaglets said:Dearest Dawn
I too am so happy you decided to check in.....so nice to meet you and pepe is right.....one little girl is one big reason for fighting on.
how very well you have done on the dreaded oxy.....good girl
I like to think of myself as the old girl of liver mets with 2 bouts and 2 resections.....
it can be done Dawn....stay in touch....
maggie
Hi Dawn, I am fairly new here and can tell you, you have come to the right place.
I have mets to the liver and am facing my second resection on the 24th. People look at me very strange, when i tell them how grateful I am to be able to have this second surgery.
It is so much easier here, everyone "gets it".
Good luck to ya, sending prayers your way,
Judy0 -
Welcome
I too haven't been on here very long. My husband is dealing with a tumor in his rectum and numerous mets to his liver similar to yours, however sounds like the treatment you are doing is different and you are much younger. You will find the people on here are definately a breath of fresh air very understanding and as you already know a wealth of information. Love and prayers to you and yours. Kim (Rogina is a german sheperd I lost to heart disease, I currently have 2 german sheperds reggie and ranger 4 and 2 years old)0 -
Hi Dawn...rogina2336 said:Welcome
I too haven't been on here very long. My husband is dealing with a tumor in his rectum and numerous mets to his liver similar to yours, however sounds like the treatment you are doing is different and you are much younger. You will find the people on here are definately a breath of fresh air very understanding and as you already know a wealth of information. Love and prayers to you and yours. Kim (Rogina is a german sheperd I lost to heart disease, I currently have 2 german sheperds reggie and ranger 4 and 2 years old)
Just wanted to say "Hey" Can't type a lot right now as I am hitting the pot every 15 minutes or more....preping for colonoscopy tomorrow!!! YAY..big fun...LOL... so I will hit ya back later.. Take care
Jennie0 -
They're telling me a checmopepebcn said:First of all welcome to the board! you got a big reason to fight
for and that always help !.
It seems chemo is working very well so are you sure not candidate for resection? .Did you ask more than one surgeon ?.
Hope things continue shrinking and become a candidate! I think you are not that far!
Hugs Dawn.
Pepe.Barcelona.
They're telling me a checmo lifer. Honestly, I'm looking for someone who wants me to get better, and not just "maintain." I'll probably start reaching out to other doctors. I did have a meeting with Dana Farber when this all started and they agreed with this as my treatment. They said I'd be a surgical candidate if the tumors in my liver shrunk 75%.
I've also met with Mass General about their SIRT program, with is targeted radiation. Funny (weird not ha-ha funny) it turns out that my boss's family paid for the research behind SIRT and laser beam. She's told me that if I need it and can't get an appointment to let her know, she'll take care of it.
-Dawn0 -
I'd like to thank everyone
I'd like to thank everyone for their welcoming words and thoughts, I very much appreciate it.
I'm lucky to have a strong support system, they are wonderful. But, in the end they don't "truly" understand my situation. You folks do. Thank you for being here.
-Dawn0 -
Dawn -eightpawz said:They're telling me a checmo
They're telling me a checmo lifer. Honestly, I'm looking for someone who wants me to get better, and not just "maintain." I'll probably start reaching out to other doctors. I did have a meeting with Dana Farber when this all started and they agreed with this as my treatment. They said I'd be a surgical candidate if the tumors in my liver shrunk 75%.
I've also met with Mass General about their SIRT program, with is targeted radiation. Funny (weird not ha-ha funny) it turns out that my boss's family paid for the research behind SIRT and laser beam. She's told me that if I need it and can't get an appointment to let her know, she'll take care of it.
-Dawn
Re:
"I've also met with Mass General about their SIRT program"
As long as you're up there, take a peek at the: Cancer Center at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Ma
They worked wonders for my mother.
Best wishes,
John0 -
Welcome
Still new here myself Dawn, but just wanted to say HI and welcome!
Great bunch of folks here, and a wealth of information/experience to draw upon.
And I would have called myself 4-paws up until the first of last month when my little "cancer pup" (she helped me recover last year) come up with 7 puppies, making us a 32-PAW family (at least for a few more weeks). Want another pup? Lab/Shepard/Wolf mix
Again, welcome0 -
Hi Dawn,AncientTiger said:Welcome
Still new here myself Dawn, but just wanted to say HI and welcome!
Great bunch of folks here, and a wealth of information/experience to draw upon.
And I would have called myself 4-paws up until the first of last month when my little "cancer pup" (she helped me recover last year) come up with 7 puppies, making us a 32-PAW family (at least for a few more weeks). Want another pup? Lab/Shepard/Wolf mix
Again, welcome
I'm a big time lurker myself, posting here and there but mostly reading about all the wonderful support and concern this group show for one another. I am a dog lover myself have 2 wonderful spoiled dachshund:) Dogs are great they know how to make me smile when I feel down and out. Anyways, welcome can't wait to read about you some more. -Melissa0 -
So if worked good until now probably next scan muss showeightpawz said:They're telling me a checmo
They're telling me a checmo lifer. Honestly, I'm looking for someone who wants me to get better, and not just "maintain." I'll probably start reaching out to other doctors. I did have a meeting with Dana Farber when this all started and they agreed with this as my treatment. They said I'd be a surgical candidate if the tumors in my liver shrunk 75%.
I've also met with Mass General about their SIRT program, with is targeted radiation. Funny (weird not ha-ha funny) it turns out that my boss's family paid for the research behind SIRT and laser beam. She's told me that if I need it and can't get an appointment to let her know, she'll take care of it.
-Dawn
another remarkable srinkage , what de onc say about?0 -
Sounds good
Hi Dawn I'm Gail. I did the radiation/chemo and had resection with a low rectal tumor . I have one more chemo of the 12 treatments. It sounds like you are going through smoothly, I'm so happy for you. Ask away if you have questions, someone is usually here with an answer.
Gail0 -
Hi Dawn, Welcome to the
Hi Dawn, Welcome to the board, but I'm sorry that you have to be here. There are a lot of great people here who will be able to help you through all of this. Btw, I believe that I've seen your license plate around town since I remember thinking it was cute - by any chance do you live in Southern NH?? Take care, Cynthia0 -
just hang on a bit, say andi jane 21st
welcome to the board, i am so sorry you had to be hear.
their is no better place for support on the planet then right here!!!!!!!!!!!1
i have two dogs as well, toby and moby standard poddle crosses with aussie sheapard.
my kids smile and laug has had me the desparate alternative and pushy western medical patient i am today.
don't blame me, its my beautiful kids fault.
did you know your greatest support person is andi jane. its a lovelly name.
i am in hospital right now for stoma reversal and other bits and pieces.
I have the most lovelly get well soon card from my daughter melanie 9. the 5 year old boy keith well just lovelly hugs.
you are really welcome here. we want to hear the good, the bad and ugly of your journey.
thanks for sharing the great news about your tumour shrinking.
hugs to you and yours,
Pete0
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