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Happy Holidays!!
Hi all, just wanted to wish you all Happy Holidays. I found this poem and wanted to share it with you. I have dedicated it to my children from Scott and to anyone who has lost a loved one. I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below, With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow. The sight is…
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working on my second opinions
I have been busy lately taking new PET and CAT scans and working on second opinions. I have been on Erbitux and CPT11 for the past ten weeks and Avastin and CPT11 for twelve weeks before that. Three weeks ago, my oncologist freaked when my CEA went up to 49. She said there is nothing more she can do for me and its not…
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Low Platelets
Hi everybody, It's been a long while since my last post. It gets very busy around here, but I do love following your positive progress. I have a question for you all.. My husband finsihed 12 rounds of FOLFOX with Avastin in August, then went on to have his colon resected. He Had 95% liver involvement and the tumors could…
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Nutrition during chemo
Can anyone suggest a good book on nutrition during chemo? I have heard that certain nutrients can often play an adjunctive role to more aggressive forms of treatment by increasing tumor response and decreasing toxicity. Anybody got any info.
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What now?
After 12 years of NED, my recent blood work was not good. I had an abdominal and liver scan today, now have to wait a week for the results. My CEA has risen to 8 just out of the blue and I have lost 5 kilos without trying. Wish I could loose 20 more, I would feel a lot more healthy. Had a chest x-ray which came back normal…
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return
I've been away for a while, mostly because of Hurricane Rita, which was pretty devastating around here (SE Texas). I feel better than I have for over a year, but I'm back on chemo, not a surprise, it was delayed by the storm. I'll check in frrom time to time to add my two cents to the discussions. Cheers, big_al
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Dad's daily intake of Aspirin and Prescribed Chemo
Hi all, my dad has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer about 3 weeks ago and since then he's been taking one aspirin pill daily. I've read that the side effects are quite undesirable. Does anyone know anything about this? Also, my dad has had an operation and had his tumour removed and now he's having chemo…
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365 Days ago...
I went in for a routine colonoscopy. When I awoke I was given some bad news by my GI guy. He said that he found a tumor in my colon and I should go to the hospital immediatly for tests. I took his advice and went immediately to the hospital. I ended spending the next 14 hours there. I had every test imaginable, blood work,…
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So far so good...
Hi all, I just came from my 1 year follow-up oncologist appointment. This one was preceeded by a CT and colonoscopy, as well as the usual blood work. Everything looked good. No changes on the CT, nothing unusual on the colonoscopy. I do have a small umbilical hernia which I'm having repaired in January. As a reminder, I…
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my PET CT and MRI were clean!!!
Thank you for all your support and wisdom! No explanation for the suspicious CT but the MRI is more sensitive for the liver is what my onco said, so I am happy!!! Your messages meant so much to me! Yes, Emily and LIsa, I will be asking you for more alternative approach advice. I am juicing and gave up red meat and my…
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genetic testing
I went to Dana Farber today for the results of my genetic testing. I do not have the colon cancer gene. I am relieved to know that I will not pass this horrible disease on to my children. Moe
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PET Scan vs Bone Scan
I talked to onolocist yesterday about my tail bone pain. He did not feel it necessary to order a bone scan. His reasons were: 1. He stated that cancer pain is constant, that the pain does not come and go. My tail bone pain is not constant so he's not wholly concerned. I think this is a bit of a strange answer because I…
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fecal incontinence
Hello everyone. I had been operated for colorectal ca last 02/2002 and this left me with fecal incontinence and debilitating stomach cramps after my ileostomy was taken down. Is there a specialized clinic for my condition in the Bay Area in California. I'm seriously thinking of having colostomy or ileostomy done to put an…
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Neon356
Carl, thank you for replying to my post. I will give my brother some space as you suggested. Since my family is new at this, if there is anything you can tell me to help him get through this, I would certainly appreciate it. Thanks, Machel
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Advice for sister of cancer patient
Hello, my brother was diagnosed with colorectal cancer last week. He starts his chemo next week. My question for you guys is this. My brother is dealing with his cancer by joking about it. That is fine with us if that is how he needs to deal with it. But, he doesn't want to find any support groups, doesn't want to talk to…
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re: My friend with cancer is doing better than I am
Maybe this is not the right group to post this but everyone has been so helpful and I've learned so much from visiting. My friend with rectal cancer is nearing the end of his 5 weeks of chemo/radiation. He's just in the last week started to take pain meds (Vicadin) mostly due to the burning sensation from the radiation.…
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anyone treid sandosatin for diarrhea?
i've asked my onc what to try for the severe diarrhea unresponsive to imodium. He doesn't want to use lomotil-says he's never seen someone who wasn't responsive to imodium have any repsonse with lomotil i asked him about levbid. he was unfamiliar with it. i asked about tincture of opium. he said that was a possibility. but…
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Finished chemo!
I have finished chemo! It was a little anti-climatic, as my final round was cancelled, due to low white blood cell counts and generally reaching the toxicity limit (I won't go into all the gory details). But, I completed 11 out of the planned 12 rounds of FOLFOX. I am sending particular best wishes to those on this board…
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Upcoming PET/CT
Hi all - Please wish me well. I have a PET/CT this Friday (following my 6th round of Xeloda / oxaliplatin /Avastin (I was diagnosed Stage IV with one liver met in late May). I was NED on the PET/CT following my second cycle and was totally surprised. I wasn't even nervous for that one because I didn't expect much. But this…
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CEA results-need help
Hi everyone. I haven't posted in quite a while but I'm on the boards frequently checking on you and praying for a cure. We just received the results of my mom's CEA level and the numbers are just impossible to believe. Has anyone ever had a CEA level of almost 3800? This is no mistake. After an emergency CT scan and chest…
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possible liver mets
Hi everyone. Claudia here. I have not been here for a while. I have read a lot but not written. Been in a funky mode. Kind of denial. Feeling good and trying to get away from cancer everything. I had rectal cancer diagnosed May 27 05. age 34. I gave birth April 2. I had radn and chemo with an experimental drug TNFerade…
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So they scanned my cat...
Due to the insurance difficulties I have had in getting my previous PET/CT covered I am now two months behind of my scheduled scans and so we decided to just have a CT done on Friday afternoon. I am still waiting for the results of my bloodwork, but I got the CT results. I think they continue to be good. There is no sign…
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A Courageous Battle
I posted only one other time to this site and that was when my younger brother, Dave, was diagnosed Stage IV colon cancer a year and 1/2 ago. Everyone here has shown great support and concern for each other-- most of you probably have never met one another but share a special bond. After 20 months of surgery/chemo/pain…
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For Rodney
Hi Rodney - You replied to my email but included no subject. Apparently clicking on the subject is the only way to read the mail (clicking on your ID just brings up your web page). So, thanks for responding - I just don't know what you said! Betsy
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Drawing Blood Through Port
I had blood drawn last Friday and the home health nurse drew blood from a vein in my arm instead of through my port--she said that she could draw blood either way, but that the needle used to draw blood from my arm is smaller than the one she'd use to access my port, and it would actually be more comfortable for me to have…
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How Long Can You Stay on Chemo
Seasons Greetings, I hope this e-mail finds evryone feeling well and in the Christmas spirit. My Dad is scheduled for a PET scan this week and the results will determine our next course of action. The oncologist previously talked about stopping the Camptosar and possibly continuing just the Erbitux if the scans show…
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Tailbone Area Pain
Hello, I recieved radiation to treat rectal tumor last summer and then had rectum/colon resected in September. I am now back at work, where I often slump, rolling my pelvis back and sit on my tailbone for long hours. I now am having dull pain back there. I'm unsure if it is just due to my poor sitting habits. But I am…
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I am new here-please help.
Hi I am new here. My father age 62 years old is diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal with liver mets. He went through surgery to resect his colon. 2 weeks after surgery, he is undergoing chemo with oxyliplatin and xeloda. He said he feels knocked down and weak. My question no. 1 is, how long is he going to be knocked down. He…
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Discovering How Cancer Spreads
I've pasted text below of the following Reuters article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10366968/ *****BEGIN TEXT***** LONDON - Scientists have discovered how cancer spreads from a primary site to other places in the body in a finding that could open doors for new ways of treating and preventing advanced disease. Instead of a…
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this can't be me
I wasn't supposed to get cancer. I lived a happy and lucky life. I have always watched my health and lived smartly. Cancer happens to other people, not me. Maybe, we all have something in common and that is why we got this terrible disease. But, what ever it is, it's not that we weren't good people and did not live a…