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Follow up
I would like to hear from anyone with Stage 3B Colon Cancer what their follow up protocol was after completing chemotherapy. My Oncologist plans to see me 30 days after completing chemo, and not again for 6 months. I am worried that this may not be soon enough. He also mentioned that he usually just does lab work at 6…
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thank you & caretaker response
I can't say thank you enough for those of you who are willing to share your story with the rest of us. You all know about far more than just drug combos, side effects, etc. You have the street credentials for dealing with life's curve balls and I'm very glad you share so much. It really eases my mind to read about those of…
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Eugenics
Hello All, This morning Today Show featured a BBC story, which I discovered was old news after a little research, about a couple who utilized genetic testing of embryos to avoid giving birth to a child with the BRAC 1 and BRAC 2 gene mutation (predisposition for breast cancer, similar to HNPCC or FAP). Apparently the…
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Another question
My mom passed away from ovarian cancer. The surgeon did remove my ovaries during my 1st surgery, but I still have my uterus. Is there anyone out there with the same issues and what are the concerns/risk factors from the radiation/chemo? I still have my port and I don't know if I should have it removed. Thanks for any help,…
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Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to me :) I turn 44 today (30 June) and feel GREAT! I have been NED for two years!! When I turned 40, I considered birthdays over. Not because I was 40 or felt old, but because I had everything I wanted in my life, a GREAT HUSBAND and LOVING SON and felt no need to celebrate, but after being DX with colcn…
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1st Follow up
Hi everyone, I am going for my 1st follow up after my ileostomy reversal (stage 3 colon cancer). Any suggestions on questions I should be asking? I'd really appreciate any feedback. Thanks, Pearl
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Friday Riddle Answer
RIDDLE: I am the black child of a white father, a wingless bird, flying even to the clouds of heaven. I give birth to tears of mourning in pupils that meet me, even though there is no cause for grief, and at once on my birth I am dissolved into air. What am I? ANSWER: Smoke
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Dave Berry on getting a colonoscopy
On a light note, get ready for a great laugh!!! Dave Barry's Colonoscopy Journal ... I called my friend Andy Sable, a gastroenterologist, to make an appointment for a colonoscopy. A few days later, in his office, Andy showed me a color diagram of the colon, a lengthy organ that appears to go all over the place, at one…
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How do you take care of the caregiver?
Have this on my blog, hoping to get some new ideas 1. Make sure they get plenty of rest. 2. Guide them so they allow time for themselves. 3. It's the small things in life that count: A. Send a 'Thinking of you' card B. A promise of a "vacation day" away from you C. A hug D. Appreciate, Appreciate, Appreciate E. A simple…
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Great Book!
After receiving my 4th copy of Lance Armstrong's book from well meaning pals, I was completely over "cancer books." BUT! I just found an awesome book that I think any woman and/or gay man will LOVE. Its called Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips by Kris Carr. Funny, uplifting, and very practical. I about spit water out my nose when I…
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pet scan results
My husband recently had his first 6 month pet scan (every 3 months for 2 years) it still seems to light up due to inflammation in rectal area. He has had several biopsies all have been negative. He has had a lesion show up on his liver but the MRI came back clear. Also an infection in his parotid gland still lights up…
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Results from recent CTscan
On wed, June 25th, I had a CTscan. Today we found out the results. A little background -- orginally dx in 5/06 with rectal cancer. chemo/radiation, rectal resection, then folfox regimine. cancer came back in my lung and liver 7/07. started folfiri, had ablation of met on liver, lung surgery to remove met, then finished…
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new question
Thank you everyone for all your responses to my questions up to this point. I now have another one and hope that all with the prior experience can help. I went through chemo/rad, then had surgery 1 week ago. I now have an ileostomy. My surgeon told me he will check in 4 weeks to see if it is healed and can at that point…
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Good CT scan for a stage 4 guy
Even though I sometimes feel guilty writing this with so many people suffering. I did get my 3 month CT scan yesterday at Stanford and there remains NED. This now makes it 9 clean months after my lung lobectomy in 11/07 which is a small step but it feels good. It makes it amost 1.5 years with a clean liver which is pretty…
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Friday Riddle
RIDDLE: I am the black child of a white father, a wingless bird, flying even to the clouds of heaven. I give birth to tears of mourning in pupils that meet me, even though there is no cause for grief, and at once on my birth I am dissolved into air. What am I?
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Surgery went well - thanks
Thanks to all for your warm words, prayers and best wishes for my surgery on Tuesday. It went really, really well. The surgeon was able to do a wedge (lung) using VATS (like laproscopy). I am feeling GOOD and I might be going home today -- if not, tomorrow. Yea!! I 'm looking forward to starting walking again but also have…
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5 years WOOOHOOOO
5 years ago today I was drinking fleet phosphosoda as a prep for my surgery the next day. I was so scared and so sick from the prep. I was vomiting and had such diarrhea. It probably didn't help that I had a couple of beers as part of my prep. They are clear liquids, aren't they? We had to drive an hour to the hotel where…
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ct results etc...
My mom recently had her 1st ct after 12 rounds of folfox + avastin. Scan shows no new mets, and no disease progression. She had nodules on her liver before surgery, but doc says again no disease progression. Why wouldn't he be more concerned with nods on liver? He also mentioned that you can't rely on just one test. DX in…
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My Check-up
Hello all, I just had my second Onc check-up since chemo (8 months ago). The doctor said blood work was great and I talked him into not coming back for 6 months! He said usually he sees patients every 4 months (for 2 years) but if I promised to call him (if anything is wrong) then he'd go 6 months! (plus I will have had a…
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Neuropathy from Chemo in hands and feet
I have colorectal cancer and the chemo damaged nerves and I now have neuropathy in my hands and feet/ankles. I read one of the reponses about pineapple juice, I'll try anything. I am on Lyrica currently which does give me some relief, but my quality of life has been greatly impacted. Does anyone have any other suggestions?…
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Tingling & Numbness on hands and Feet
Any word on how to deal with neuropathy. Someone suggested drinking pineapple juice and it has helped a bit. My onc told they are working on some meds for this, but it still on trial. Thanks much for your help. Love, Maritza
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A Big Week
Hi All, Just checking in. This past week was quite big for me. It was exactly a year ago that I finished up chemo for stage III rectal cancer. Our counties Relay for Life was last Saturday. I was interviewed on the radio and on the front page of the paper sharing my story. My mother is a very talented watercolor artist and…
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Just a scare
I wrote a couple of weeks ago about lymphadenopathy discovered at my 3.5 yr follow-up visit. I had more blood work and a CT last week, and just back from seeing the onc again. Everything came back clear--NED, so he's not concerned. Whew!!! Howard
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1st Ct scan after chemo
My father (stage 4) is getting his first Ct scan done after having done 6 rounds of Xeloda (at 50% strength). We know the colon tumor shrank because the doctor that removed his hemoroids over a months ago took a look with the scope - and called the tumor a "residual growth". We have no idea what shape the spread on liver…
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SPONGEBOB
Okay I know I can't this years gathering in San Fransico, but if by chance, could we try really, really, hard, with sugar on top, to have it back on the Eastern portion of the US next year, 2009? PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Another Newbie
I am usually the type that just reads what others have to say and don't "join in" and especially do not start anything. But after reading all the responses to the other posts I decided I might want in on this "family". I was diagnosed with rectal cancer the fist part of May - first thought it was a Stage 1, gonna have the…
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Howdy
Hi to All. It's been a while since I've been on this site, and I just wanted to see how everyone is doing. Has anyone heard how Tara's surgery went yesterday? Personally, I continue to gain weight and now resemble the Michelin balloon that terrorized everyone in "Ghostbusters." I can't seem to stop eating since I quit…
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Life; Strange but Fun :)
To all friends, HELLO and to the newbies, WELCOME. I was DX in July 2006 with Stage II colon cancer with no nodes involved and no spreading of the cancer. Also had my tumor genetically tested and that too came back clear. I was receiving 3 months check-ups (CT scans & bloodwork) for the first two years, now my Onc Doc…
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hepatic arterial pump
Has anyone had experience with the pump? My husband is deciding between 2 surgeons for liver resection due to a rectal metastasis. One, at Sloan Kettering, wants him to have the pump along with systemic chemo as well. The other, at Lahey Clinic, says they don't believe in the pump and will only administer systemic chemo…
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Friday Riddle / Teaser - ANSWER
CONGRATS to Betsydoglover which is this weeks winner :) :) RIDDLE: Adam, God made out of dust But thought it best to make me first, So I was made before man To answer God's most Holy plan. A living being I became And Adam gave to me my name. I from his presence then withdrew And more of Adam never knew. I did my Maker's…