Hi - I'm new here

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marqimark
marqimark Member Posts: 242 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
I was diagnosed with type IIIc colon cancer March of last year. Had one third of my colon removed (small intestine on up). Now I have a semi-colon.

I started Chemo in April. Reacted harshly to the treatments, onc said I was having side effects that patients exhibit after eight treatments when I had only had two. Had all the side effects that were possible, except hair loss, which is funny since I already suffer from MPB (male pattern baldness LOL).

Lost fifty plus pounds, not a diet plan I would suggest for anyone.

The surgery removed all visible cancer, and the Chemo is supposed to change my survival ratio from 40/60 to 60/40. I am going to go with 100% cured as I am going to be really P O'd if I am not!!

My current issues are financial, anxiety about the future and severe neuropathy.
I have an appointment for tests on 6/23 and plan to ask about for relief for the pain.

I came here to whine, already had the cheese thank you, and ask for any advice cocerning neuropathy :)

Thanks for listening

Mark

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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #2
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    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • plh4gail
    plh4gail Member Posts: 1,238 Member
    #3
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    Hi Mark I just finished
    Hi Mark I just finished chemo and am trying to figure out how to manage this neuropathy also. My Dr started me on Lyrica...first 50mg at bedtime and increased to twice a day. Also I did a search on the internet for neuropathy vitamins and supplements and found several. I went out and bought them all. I'm going to try anything to improve this annoying side effect of treatment.

    My neuropathy actually got worse after the onc took me off the oxy in Feb and started me on irinotecan. Sometimes I think I can tell the smallest of tiny of a difference in my feet. Hmmmm.....I'll be whooping it up the day I know for sure and you will all know too.

    Love, Gail
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #4
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    Welcome
    Glad you found us, but sorry you had to. Sounds like you have been through the initial part of this disease and are now struggling with the after effects like you mentioned, the financial part, etc. I'm taking Gabapentin for the neuropathy. It does help, but doesn't take it completely away. Warm climate also helps so now that the summer is here, mine doesn't seem so bad. You should ask your oncologist about this and what their advice would be also. Once again, welcome to the board.

    Kim
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #5
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    welcome to the board
    dear mark,

    sorry you had to find us.

    crc sux and this is the place to whine and get support.

    just search on neuropathy, you'll see we have had lots of discussions on its

    impacts, symptoms and pssible remedies using conventional treatment and supplements.

    i was 3 c as well.

    hugs,
    pete
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #6
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    Hi Mark
    Welcome to our home. I was dx at stage 3 c 6/13 nodes back in 1998. Surgery + a year of chemo and I have been ca free since. Go for 100%,best wishes Ron.
  • marqimark
    marqimark Member Posts: 242 Member
    #7
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    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Yes Oxi and 5FU.
    Thanks to all for the warm welcome



    Oxi and 5FU with leucovorin.

    Sat around the clinic for a few hours every other Wednesday (except when the white cell count then the platlet counts were too low) with IVs hooked up to my port. After the IVs were done I had a pump attached for another 48 hours, my homework:)

    Because of my poor reactions to the Chemo, they cut back on the dosages. I eventually ended up having only eleven of the twelve scheduled treatments.
  • marqimark
    marqimark Member Posts: 242 Member
    #8
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    plh4gail said:

    Hi Mark I just finished
    Hi Mark I just finished chemo and am trying to figure out how to manage this neuropathy also. My Dr started me on Lyrica...first 50mg at bedtime and increased to twice a day. Also I did a search on the internet for neuropathy vitamins and supplements and found several. I went out and bought them all. I'm going to try anything to improve this annoying side effect of treatment.

    My neuropathy actually got worse after the onc took me off the oxy in Feb and started me on irinotecan. Sometimes I think I can tell the smallest of tiny of a difference in my feet. Hmmmm.....I'll be whooping it up the day I know for sure and you will all know too.

    Love, Gail

    Neuro
    I am going to ask about Gabapentin (SP)

    The onc seemed to not realize how bad the Neuro can sometimes be.
    He said there were treatments for the symptoms, but they have their own side effects.

    Tuesday the 'flare up' was so bad my co-workers were very concerned for me.
    I always have symtoms but sometimes they are more uncomfortable than usually.

    Mark

    PS the young lady is my daughter, 13
  • marqimark
    marqimark Member Posts: 242 Member
    #9
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    Annabelle41415 said:

    Welcome
    Glad you found us, but sorry you had to. Sounds like you have been through the initial part of this disease and are now struggling with the after effects like you mentioned, the financial part, etc. I'm taking Gabapentin for the neuropathy. It does help, but doesn't take it completely away. Warm climate also helps so now that the summer is here, mine doesn't seem so bad. You should ask your oncologist about this and what their advice would be also. Once again, welcome to the board.

    Kim

    Gabapentin
    Now I will definitely ask about gabapentin, thanks.

    Did/do you have side effects from the Gabapentin.

    Thanks

    Mark
  • marqimark
    marqimark Member Posts: 242 Member
    #10
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    pete43lost_at_sea said:

    welcome to the board
    dear mark,

    sorry you had to find us.

    crc sux and this is the place to whine and get support.

    just search on neuropathy, you'll see we have had lots of discussions on its

    impacts, symptoms and pssible remedies using conventional treatment and supplements.

    i was 3 c as well.

    hugs,
    pete

    Thanks
    Thanks for the warm welcome

    Mark
  • marqimark
    marqimark Member Posts: 242 Member
    #11
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    ron50 said:

    Hi Mark
    Welcome to our home. I was dx at stage 3 c 6/13 nodes back in 1998. Surgery + a year of chemo and I have been ca free since. Go for 100%,best wishes Ron.

    Thanks
    Thanks for the warm welcome

    Sounds like you've been crc free for a long time :)

    I only had four out of thirty-three nodes affected.
    I only had to do six months of Chemo.
    Lucky me.
  • marqimark
    marqimark Member Posts: 242 Member
    #12
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    PS
    PS

    The young lady is my daughter - 13.

    I lost my mother to CRC and that was my motivation to get checked out.
    I put the exam off for a year and a half. I can be really dumb sometimes.

    My dad passed the same year as my mom from leukemia.
    I am going to be really upset if I inherit that too LOL
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #13
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    marqimark said:

    Thanks
    Thanks for the warm welcome

    Sounds like you've been crc free for a long time :)

    I only had four out of thirty-three nodes affected.
    I only had to do six months of Chemo.
    Lucky me.

    Whatsup?????...
    Welcome to our world....... marqimark huh? ..... great name!!!!! Just wanted to holler at ya! Peace!

    Jennie
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #14
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    marqimark said:

    PS
    PS

    The young lady is my daughter - 13.

    I lost my mother to CRC and that was my motivation to get checked out.
    I put the exam off for a year and a half. I can be really dumb sometimes.

    My dad passed the same year as my mom from leukemia.
    I am going to be really upset if I inherit that too LOL

    Welcome and hang in there.
    Welcome and hang in there. Suffering from oxy and 5FU too. Feel like an old lady~
  • AncientTiger
    AncientTiger Member Posts: 130
    #15
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    marqimark said:

    Yes Oxi and 5FU.
    Thanks to all for the warm welcome



    Oxi and 5FU with leucovorin.

    Sat around the clinic for a few hours every other Wednesday (except when the white cell count then the platlet counts were too low) with IVs hooked up to my port. After the IVs were done I had a pump attached for another 48 hours, my homework:)

    Because of my poor reactions to the Chemo, they cut back on the dosages. I eventually ended up having only eleven of the twelve scheduled treatments.

    Sounds familiar
    Welcome to our little corner of the web.... you've EARNED the right to ****, piss and moan to your hearts content... you're a cancer survivor :D

    Had the exact same treatment last year, from June to November. STILL have some issues with neuropathy, but not nearly as bad as it was back in March of this year, and nowhere NEAR as bad as it was in December of last year. My oncologist advised that it can take six to eight months to start seeing any improvement, and I've heard as much as a year.

    So... on the bright side... it might just get BETTER over time. But even if it doesn't... take a long hard look at the alternative ;) heh heh
  • belindahill
    belindahill Member Posts: 144
    #16
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    marqimark said:

    PS
    PS

    The young lady is my daughter - 13.

    I lost my mother to CRC and that was my motivation to get checked out.
    I put the exam off for a year and a half. I can be really dumb sometimes.

    My dad passed the same year as my mom from leukemia.
    I am going to be really upset if I inherit that too LOL

    Wecome
    Hi, my husband was dx last aug, stage 3c 10 nodes poss, also 6mths chemo, he is doing very well so far, keeping positive and active has helped, hardest at the moment is the follow up, so very worrying just before scans, what follow up have you been having. Anything you want to ask will try and help all I can. Take care.
  • johnnybegood
    johnnybegood Member Posts: 1,117 Member
    #17
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    belindahill said:

    Wecome
    Hi, my husband was dx last aug, stage 3c 10 nodes poss, also 6mths chemo, he is doing very well so far, keeping positive and active has helped, hardest at the moment is the follow up, so very worrying just before scans, what follow up have you been having. Anything you want to ask will try and help all I can. Take care.

    wecome
    i too had the same treatment as you only i was stopped at 10.i now take gabatin i dont take the dosage on the bottle because that would make me sleep all day.i just take 1 pill a day.it doesnt go away but it makes the pain better ....Godbless....johnnybegood
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #18
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    marqimark said:

    Gabapentin
    Now I will definitely ask about gabapentin, thanks.

    Did/do you have side effects from the Gabapentin.

    Thanks

    Mark

    No
    I've not experienced any side affects. When it's cold and miss a dose then it gets worse, but once I'm back on schedule it relieves the pain and numbness. Good luck.

    Kim
  • luvmum
    luvmum Member Posts: 457 Member
    #19
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    Dear Mark
    I'm so sorry for you! I'm also quite new here... and am a caregiver. My mum was dx last year in Oct with liver met. This board has been giving me a lot of support and advice.

    My mum is also suffering from neuropathy from Oxi and 5-Fu... =(

    Best wishes to you and your family.
    Dora

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