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Home from the hospital
Hi everyone! Well the VATS procedure was uneventful. It went just as anticipated. Textbook, I guess you could call it. There was a LOT of discomfort, mainly from the drains, just as I had been told. I have to say that I would not have volunteered for this experience, but if it was necessary, I am very glad that it was at…
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A great Letter from Dr. Cummings about treatments for Stage 4
Gang, I have a great letter for you to read. I'd written to Dr. Cummings in 2009 to tell him that a certain drug combo, carbo-taxol-xeloda seems to have cleaned out my liver. I did need the APR in the end, but who cares, my liver is still good. PLEASE POST TO ANY SQUAMOUS CELL CANCER SITES LIKE THIS ONE. I also can be a…
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Intro New Member
HI I am Bill...Had minor rectal bleeding ..colonoscopy..tumor...the dreaded phone call..the whirlwind DX process and the final word...tumor on your sphincter,6 weeks combo 5FU/radiation followed by a couple weeks rest and the surgery to remove my rectum,insert a stoma for my colostomy bag ( permanent) and to make me…
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JDuke
Hi Joanne, I just wanted you to know I'm thinking about you, and hoping that you are recovering well from your vats procedure. Lori
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Happy Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there and those who have gone on before us. May it be a sweet day for most and one of memories in the making. My thoughts are also with all those for whom this may be a difficult day. Blessed be. Priscilla
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Pet-Ct results
The oncologist called and said overall the pet-ct looked good. He said there was anal activity where the cancer was and asked if I had been examined recently, which on 3-4 I had a biopsy and he said that explains it. He also mentioned a less than a cm pulmonary spot on my lung, in which he said is common and probably due…
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Follow up appointments and tests and new doctors - or maybe this should be two threads
Hi, all- It is that time - the time to see if 2 years after the PET scan that showed NED (no evidence of disease), I still have NED.... Most of you know what this is like and you newbies will quite soon... know that nervousness before "they" look again. Thanks to this board and what I think I remember my old medical…
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Stage 4 - Doctors statments... etc
So, my mother was dianosed with Anal Cancer. I am only assuming it is stage 4 (they have not actually said what stage it is). I have taken her to all of her appointments. The Dr's have basically said that she is terminal, and that they are only doing treatment to sustain life as long as the treatment is slowing down the…
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Living With Cancer Conference - ACS sponsored conference for cancer survivors and care givers
We had the 32nd Annual Living With Cancer Conference here in Augusta, Maine, yesterday. I gather it is the oldest in the country... I guess we got something going up here! See if your local chapter of ACS has one near you. Ours is a wonderful thing which I discovered two months after the end of my treatment and been to…
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Back to back infections!
Hello, I am wondering if anyone else has gotten back to back infections. I have been on some sort of antibotic since February 24. It seems that once I finish them within 5 to 6 days I have got my cellulites back and it comes back in different spots? Butt, viginia and upper butt checks. I am getting very frustrated with…
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Hi, all. Nothing new here.
I just wanted to say "hello." I assume I am not the first to come here, not find new posts, and feel disappointed. Nice day here on the west coast. Hope yours is nice too. But I think there are some tornadoes elsewhere in the country. Fingers crossed for everyone. Winnie
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Week 1 - Chemo and Radiation inflict a double whammy
Made it through Week 1. Radiation on Monday – Friday. Then the Mitomycin Chemo on Day 1 and the 5FU Chemo drip through the week. I really struggled with bathing/showering. Ended up washing my hair at the kitchen sink, and then just took a bath for the body portion of the equation. I just couldn’t figure out how to do a…
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bleeding (rectal) after 4 months of remmission
Is this "normal?" It is not heavy but regular as rain. some pain assoiated with it. E.R. doc sugggessts visit with my surgeon. Will do this but wonder if anyone can give me their own experience.
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anal cancer questions and dicussions
I wish to chat/connect with someone in my fight against cancer. Please email @mommakes3@yahoo.com or phone 7709053773
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Latest results and plan
I spent the weekend at my best friend's home on the Suwanee River. It was wonderful medicine. Needed some time to absorb the latest developements and also took advantage of lots of distracting activity, so it was a good balance. I had a PET scan Thursday. Funny thing prior to it, I had a complete meltdown and was very…
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CAT Scan results
Got the results of the CAT scan taken Monday to show the effectiveness of the stereotactic radiation to my liver met. Scan showed shrinkage. RadOnc was happy. Said it was just what she was expecting and that it will continue to shrink for the next 4-5 months. Well that was the good news. Unfortunately, that was followed up…
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First Use of Port after surgery to place it - YIKES
Thanks to everyone who responded to the Port vs PICC line posting. As I mentioned there the port was installed on Thursday, and it wasn't bad at all. However, I am nervous about the first use tomorrow, since it is still very tender. The steri strips are still in place and I'm thinking I need to get them off, otherwise the…
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Week 5
Hi Everyone! Well i'm starting my 5th week. Just got back my friend the chemo bag! Oh how I did not miss it! I'm pretty burned but hope to finish this weeks rad treatments, then I get next week off and the following week boosts? anyone have these? After that done with treatments! If not for all of you I would not have…
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Coconut Macaroons
A thread on the colo-rectal board made me think to post this. They thread was regarding the dreaded diarrhea so many of us experience with the chemo-rad treatment. I remembered that one of my oncology nurses suggested that I get some coconut macaroons and eat two a day. There is supposedly something about the coconut oil…
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Radiation results Wednesday
I had a CAT scan Monday to find out how effective the radiation was for the liver met. I have appointments with the MedOnc and the RadOnc Wednesday for results. I am optimistic that we achieved the goal of blasting the **** out of it. Still feeling a little anxious, but as all can relate, that is just the norm. Also wanted…
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Liver Met Update 2 chris37
Just wanted to let everyone know that I saw the Onco Dr today and he thinks that the tumors are not cancer because they did not light up on the Pet Scan and nothing else showed on the Pet either. Their was three doctors that reviewed the scan I guess it looks a little confusing but because my liver tumors didnt glow and…
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Liver Met Update CMJ37
Just wanted to let everyone know that I had the Pet Scan done on Tuesday. They called yesterday and said that nothing lit up on the scan, not even my liver tumors. The onco Dr. is thinking they are the rare hormonal tumors and not cancer since my blood work and the scan was all normal. I have an appt with the onco Dr.…
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Made it through 1st week
well, I made it through the first week of rad. & chemo!! Very interesrting process. Thanks to all of you for answering my questions and supporting me. Sure does tire one out doesnt it. only 3 more weeks of chemo and 5 of rad. Hope ya'll are doing ok. Any suggestion for this horaible sore throat and foul taste in the mouth?…
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Stomach feeding tube
Hey guys, still hanging in threre. Now they want to put a feeding tube into my stomach(called it a non-stereil) tube??? Any with any experience with this. My mouth is still tore up and Im losing about 5 lbs a week now. You gals are soo much tuffer than me I have had enoughh!!! Steve (feeeling sorry for himself)
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Liver met
Hi everyone, Im new to this and was wondering if anyone could provide any information. I had an abdominal ultrasound in which the tech found areas on my liver and said that I needed an MRI to get a clearer picture of the liver. When I had the MRI done (and contrast was used) report came back that I have in numberable…
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Cellulitis
Has anyone else had cellulitis? I understand this is not unusual for cancer survivors. My first experience with it was 5 months after treatment ended in March '08. I have had 2 other bouts since then. Is this coincidence or another unexpected kind of side effect?
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Happy Easter
Hi, I just found this network today. I want to wish all survivors a Happy Easter. I had my surgery, radiation, and chemo in late 2007. I just had a PET scan that shows everything is still cancer free!!! It's still hard not to worry before each 6 month PET scan. My new theme song is "I'm Alive" by Kenny Chesney and Dave…
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First Week
Hi friends! Well I made it thru the first week! I was so happy to get my friend the chemo bag off!Thanks to all of you for helping me thru it. Weird thing , my toung is real funky any suggestions? I know I can't get rid of this metal taste but it feels so weird, like it's to big? Well tomorrow starts week 2...............…
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Chemo bag
Hi everyone, I just got the chemo bag that I will be wearing for this week. Problem is it's bulky and have not figured out how to wear it. As a "fannypack" is it better to have the tubing going under my shirt or over my shirt? I am working tomorrow and will be bending and moving around any suggestions?
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Follow-up Appointments Post Treatment
What is the protocal for follow-up appointments after the completion of surgery, chemo and radiation? I was diagnosed in July 2009 and I finished everything in October 2009. I had a pet scan in August 2009 after surgery, but before chemo and radiation. I had another pet scan in December 2009. Everything looks good at this…