Just an intro, been reading since 9/07, but finally want to talk

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beaumontdave
beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,280 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

I was diagnosed IIIb in 9/07, resected at the sigmoid with 2 of 17 nodes, did folfox and kept working[cold water and 11/2 years of neuropathy the only drawbacks]. The ct at two years showed lesions, biopsy said negative, but year 3 scans lead to liver resec tion, then good until year 5 scan showed a 3.2cm met in sec.8 of the liver. Resection last Labor Day, the six month scan showed a 1cm thing became a 1.1cm thing, but tht cea[ which has been reliable] stays low at 1.6, so I'm not too worried about the pet scan coming up. I find I can't be to scared or too happy about anything. Sixteen months after my diagnosis, my wife caught a grade 4 GBM[ brain tumor], so the last six years have been mostly about that. She's a tough lady[ can use a framing hammer with both hands], but times running out. She's in a hospital bed in the living room, slleeping most of the day, I do the primary care stuff with family help when work calls, and hospice helps as well. I'd hoped to get her to a stem cell trial, but she's so weak, lately. My ninteen yo son has stepped up since the wife went down[ physically only the last six months] and the 14yo granddaughter we raise has been great, as has the rest of the family. With all this going on, I don't have an outlet other than the local watering hole and the friends there. Twice a week, I have 3-4 drinks there, come home to 3-4 more beers and a small[black and mild] cigar before rest or what passes for sleep. No hobbies, no sports, I hate to give up this last outlet, but if I'm risking reoccurances I guess I need to bite the bullet. I take a statin, a baby aspirin, a Centrum, milk thistle, omega 3's, and lots of water. The onc said a couple drinks wouldn't affect cancer reoccurance, and I've read similiar articles suggesting that alcohol can originate some cancers, but may inhibit reaccuring cancers, so I thought I'd see what others thought and heard. Thanks for reading. Dave

Comments

  • TheLadySkye
    TheLadySkye Member Posts: 203 Member
    #2
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    Dave, I'm glad you decided to

    Dave, I'm glad you decided to talk.  This has been an amazing forum for information, venting, or just hanging out with friends.  The support and solidarity and prayers and well wishes here are extremely therapeutic, as is knowing you have a place to go to where folks will just "get it."  So pull up a chair and stay awhile.  You and your wife are very much in my thoughts and prayers.

  • janderson1964
    janderson1964 Member Posts: 2,215 Member
    #3
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    Well that is quite a story

    Well that is quite a story that you told. Heartbreaking to say the least. I have been stave IV ince 05. On a couple of occasions I stopped drinking for a couple of years during the past 9 1/2 years. It wasn't a conscience decision but I guess I just didn't have the urge. For the past couple of years I like to enjoy a few microbrews on occasion when I am not sick from chemo and I dont plan to stop. I do have other outlets like riding my motorcycle and mountain biking, but you need as many outlets as you can. My opinion is keep your outlet is long as you can keep it under control, and look for other outlets/hobbies to help keep your sanity.

  • Easyflip
    Easyflip Member Posts: 588 Member
    #4
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    Don't drive drunk

    but you need your friends. My oncs say 2 drinks a day (moderation)should be ok. I don't know about the cigar. Develop some healthy outlets, maybe exercise, with your friends to kill time and fight cancer. So sorry about your wife, that's tragic, glad to hear your kids are stepping up. It's a rough hand you've been dealt. I feel for you, post here more, virtual friendship helps too.

    Easyflip/Richard

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,280 Member
    #5
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    Thanks, at 200 lbs. with 3-4

    Thanks, at 200 lbs. with 3-4 drinks over 2 hours, I figure I'm solidly under the limit, but one does have to be vigilant. Conversing here is part of an effort to expand my life a bit. With all the hurt and hassle, I've let my world get small. I get some exercise as I'm a contractor, but I'd like to hit the gym again. The surgery left me with a double hernia on the right side, but it doesn't seem to slow me down or limit my movement. I have a binders to wear to help hold things, so I just need to start it up. The other thing is catching up on house maintenance and doing the work my wife did until after Thanksgiving. She found peace in her routine, but I find laundry, and cooking difficult to make an efficient, habitual thing, so this new reality is feeling like a bit of a load. Depression over the last few months had slowed me as well, but I'm ready to tackle things head-on now so I'll do whatever needs doing. Dave

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #6
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    Welcome, Dave

    You story is sad. I am so very sorry to hear that both you and your wife have Cancer; and how sad that she is not doing well. She sounds like a tough person, and you just never know. 

    I would never suggest anyone drink or smoke, but I would never suggest that they stop doing something that brings them a little comfort in a tough life. Each to his own, and if you find a little drinik with friends and a cigar help you de-stress, then go for it. 

    I go out in to the wilds once a week and walk. I walk and talk to God or myslef and watch the birds and trees and that is my healing. Eight hours alone with nature is my way of healing.  We each have to find our own way. 

    Visit us often. Just vent and discuss what you wish. We're here for you. 

    Sue - Trubrit

  • sharpy102
    sharpy102 Member Posts: 368 Member
    #7
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    Trubrit said:

    Welcome, Dave

    You story is sad. I am so very sorry to hear that both you and your wife have Cancer; and how sad that she is not doing well. She sounds like a tough person, and you just never know. 

    I would never suggest anyone drink or smoke, but I would never suggest that they stop doing something that brings them a little comfort in a tough life. Each to his own, and if you find a little drinik with friends and a cigar help you de-stress, then go for it. 

    I go out in to the wilds once a week and walk. I walk and talk to God or myslef and watch the birds and trees and that is my healing. Eight hours alone with nature is my way of healing.  We each have to find our own way. 

    Visit us often. Just vent and discuss what you wish. We're here for you. 

    Sue - Trubrit

    not sure

    I don't know if alcohol does anything to colon cancer (good or bad). I only know how alcohol can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). Alcohol is metabolized into aceteladehyde that activates an enyzme (NOX- in case you want to know) in the liver that activates stellate cells to deposit collagen that then destroys the liver tissue, kills the heaptocytes and lead to reactive oxygen species accumulating that causes mutations and damage to DNA, thus leading to liver cancer. Not sure what alcohol can have on cells that build up the colon. I assume there's no extensive metabolism there, so unless things really "pile up" in the liver can get metabolites that can disrupt the epithelial cells that build up the colon. But again, not sure. To play safe, I would not drink...and definitely no smoking...we all know the effect of that, not for colon, but for lung cancer development. But this is my humble opinion and you have to decide what is worth. Sounds like you do have a hard time, but for the sake your children, you should be there for them for a long period of time. So be there! All the best!

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,280 Member
    #8
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    I don't inhale into my lungs

    I don't inhale into my lungs and these cheap cigars have a plastic tip, so I figure oral cancer would be a small, but real risk. I like your factual approach to alcohol's possible effects, and wish I could read something definitive. I like walks, and would love hiking, but my feet can't take alot of pounding, maybe biking would work, but I can't be away too long. Many can watch my wife for me, but few are able to get her on the toilet. Whatever I decide, I appreciate the input. Dave

  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #9
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    beaumontdave said:

    I don't inhale into my lungs

    I don't inhale into my lungs and these cheap cigars have a plastic tip, so I figure oral cancer would be a small, but real risk. I like your factual approach to alcohol's possible effects, and wish I could read something definitive. I like walks, and would love hiking, but my feet can't take alot of pounding, maybe biking would work, but I can't be away too long. Many can watch my wife for me, but few are able to get her on the toilet. Whatever I decide, I appreciate the input. Dave

    No regrets is my motto

         I don't drink or smoke but that is only because the meds I take discourages the former and I really don't enjoy the latter. Before cancer there were few guarantees in life , after cancer even less. I figure if you enjoy something then do it and be kind to yourself , do it without regrets,life is too short. My best wishes ,Ron.

  • sharpy102
    sharpy102 Member Posts: 368 Member
    #10
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    beaumontdave said:

    I don't inhale into my lungs

    I don't inhale into my lungs and these cheap cigars have a plastic tip, so I figure oral cancer would be a small, but real risk. I like your factual approach to alcohol's possible effects, and wish I could read something definitive. I like walks, and would love hiking, but my feet can't take alot of pounding, maybe biking would work, but I can't be away too long. Many can watch my wife for me, but few are able to get her on the toilet. Whatever I decide, I appreciate the input. Dave

    @Dave: I hope you did not

    @Dave: I hope you did not think I'm insensitive, or blunt. I do care, and I wish you had better choices to choose to relax. I am not saying I understand your situation fully as I do not. Yes, biking sounds like an excellent idea. That prevents your knees get killed off too bad. Or have you thought about just swimming. I don't mean here competitive swimming or anything. But maybe everyday an hour of swim at your own pace. You won't believe how relaxing that can be! I started swimming two years after my depression did not let me get a life, and it helped BIG, I mean BIG, time! It washes your head out so well! And makes you tired in such way that you are just drained to think of all the worries that surround you. To me swimming became a life saver...and although now I'm over my darkest phase of my life, yet I continued on to swim. I dunno...just an idea. I wish I could give you better answer if smoking/drinking is really good/bad, and I certainly cannot tell you what to do. Please, hang in there! Your wife is not doing good at all, and your children need you! All the best, I will keep you in my thoughts!

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,280 Member
    #11
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    I haven't seen insensitivity

    I haven't seen insensitivity on these blogs, and certainly didn't think it of you. I wanted to hear other's thoughts on my level of risk with the two less/unhealthy habits. I am content to stop if it raises my risk of a third reoccurance in the liver, both for myself and my kids. The granddaughter is very resilient, the 20 yo is more affected lately as his mom slips into dementia and greater fragility, he lashed out at his three older sisters today over being with their mom enough. I need to be here for the two especially since they've dealt with the doubts and surgeries of my condition and the long slide of my wife for seven plus years, since they were 8 and 13 respectively. I feel healthy, I would just like to get a good routine going with exercise that doesn't leave me tender when it's time to work. I figure I need clear scans for three years to get past the big risk, so whatever it takes is what I'll learn to do and live with. Dave

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