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stomach cramps
So I have been on oxy for 8 cycles now. I had 8 previous back in 2007. This last dose was harder on me. The problem was when I left the office I didn't check the hip pack to make sure the pump was working. I always check it before I leave but I didn't this time. So when I got ready for bed that night I noticed the pump…
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“Our Battle Lines are Drawn in the Sand” – A Sundance Introspective
What is the definition of Introspective? By definition: involving, or frequently undertaking, a deep and candid examination of your own thoughts and feelings. From time to time, I like to discuss the various aspects of the Cancer Wars and how they relate to each one of us – how our lives are affected – and what we feel and…
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Loss of hair
Well my husband finished his first cycle of chemo two weeks ago. Ever since that time he's had a few side effects but the worst is the pain from the infection at his resection site has come back. Also for the past three days he has been losing hair in a large quantity. Doctors have told us that it was not supposed to…
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Surgery is over :)
Good news everyone. Surgery went well, Jim had the right lobe removed as they thought, and two spots removed from the left lobe as well as two more micro ablated, they already know one of them was benign. I am elated! Haven't seen him yet. Thank you so much for your prayers and good wishes. I'll write more later. April :)
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To PET or Not to PET
I just got a shock. I was setup to get a PET scan in June. I am on Medicare Advantage. My out of pocket cost was $30 for past scans. This year it is 25% of the total cost. As we live in the boondocks, the local hospital gets a larger Medicare reimbursement then the St. Louis hospitals, so my cost would have been around…
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PET results....
So I got a call from chris onc today... His exact words, I cant believe i am even going to say this but i cant see any signs of cancer!!!!!!!!!!n YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH.... I almost drove off the road.. We are meeting with him end of the week to go over some things.. I am in such SHOCK... thanks to all of you who are always…
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I want to be back to myself
Hello all, Well It has been 9 months since my last chemo, got the reversal and the port out. However this neuropathy SUCKS! I feel good otherwise, but I have noticed I do tire out easier than I did before Cancer. I work for a non profit foundation and this past weekend we had 2 fundraising walks. I cannot believe how much…
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Friday Riddle Answer
RIDDLE: You die and the devil says he'll let you go to heaven if you beat him in a game. The devil sits you down at a perfectly round table. He gives himself and you an infinite pile of quarters. He says "OK, we'll take turns putting one quarter down, no overlapping allowed, and the quarters must rest flat on the table…
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Small update...
Had my appt with doc last Wednesday. He won't restart the oxi. No biggie, I guess. He said when your body starts rejecting it, it's time to quit. So, right now, I'm only on the 5FU and leucovorin. No avastin, nothing else. I'm OK with this. We had a long talk about the oxi. His averages in his office are there is only…
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Offered home hospice not surgery
Stage IV cancer. On February 6th I was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer of the Colon, with mets, to right ovary, right kidney and my liver. No offer of surgery was made, yet it seems that most of you have had surgery. I was offered chemo because my cancer was blocking off my intestine and could no longer process food, food…
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Talent Show!
My Relay for Life team had a talent show tonight as a fundraiser. We raised $995.00!!! That puts us well over our goal of $3500!!! I'm so psyched!! I sang a song called "Baby Mine." It's the song I danced to with my son at his wedding, but this time I dedicated it to the little angels who are with Jesus now, because cancer…
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Pain or discomfort in the upper right quadrant of abdomen
For the past year, I've been having a vague type of pain or discomfort under the lower rib on the right side. I had a resection one year ago and in the following CT scans, including two last month, everything looks fine, but I have to wonder if the cancer has gone to the liver. I’ve mentioned this to my oncologist, and he…
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The Reading Room: Avoiding Surprise Bills With Homework and Negotiation
This article appeared in the NY Times on April 30, 2010. It includes some good background information on "Balance Billing" and gives advice on how to avoid or handle extra medical charges when you have to or choose to go outside of your medical network. Link: NY Times-Avoiding Surprise Bills With Homework and Negotiation…
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growing belly
dear all, Has anybody experienced growing belly during chemo with FOLFIRI +Avastin? My mom has done the fifth cycle last week and since two days ago her belly started to grow and got big!! the Onc said is not a important things...!! he waits for 2 days and then will do the Ultrasound to check. no pain,no…
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blood in urine
Last night my husband & I celebrated his first year anniversary from his surgery date. today we were in the ER all afternoon. Talk about FREAKY. He has a lot of blood in his urine. They released him and gave him a urologist # and told us to call and make an appointment on Monday morning. Told him he would need to have some…
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my first chemo week
well today is the first day i've felt well enough to post here. i've been sick all week. started chemo on tuesday with the following drugs,5-FU, wellcovorin or leucovorin, and oxaliplatin or eloxatin. next time he is adding avastin. i was told to bring a lunch with me for the first day of chemo. i did and i ate most of it.…
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Erbitux
Hey everybody, I'm gonna start taking Erbitux and Irinotecan next week for Stage 4 mets to lungs and a few lymph nodes. I've been through all the drugs for colon cancer the last 3 years including xeloda which I had to stop taking due to severe hand and mouth problems. I'm familiar with Irinotecan but will be new to…
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Two days until liver resection
I know many of you have been through this already and are doing well. Your stories give us hope. Jim's surgery will be Monday morning around 7:30. Removing the right lobe and doing ablation on anything that might be on the left. He has been so tired since the last surgery but I am happy to report he took two bike rides…
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Surgery question/ HIPEC
Hi Everyone, **** just returned from California where he met with Dr. Lenz and the surgeon at USC, Dr. Genyk. As many of you know, **** was diagnosed with cc stage 3c in January 2009. He had surgery and then 12 rounds of Folfox 6 and still a lymph node lit up. Then, 12 rounds of Folfori + Avastin and the lymph node, though…
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The Journey Ends
Today, my beautiful sister, Christina, lost her battle. She was only 40, 39 when dx, and leaves behind her husband and three beautiful children 8, 6, and 4. She fought til the very end. And I mean she fought damn hard. There was not a treatment or cancer hospital she did not seek advice. In the end, her tiny body just…
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back in hospital
We are back in the hospital. Had a follow up this afternoon with the surgeon and ROger's labs came back with high WBC, high potassium, high creatinine He also has spiked a few fevers (101) so all things considered- they want him to have some fluids tonight and get a ct tomorrow. Perhaps an abcess somewhere which can be…
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Damned thing is back!
I just received word today that after 4 months of what felt like a cure, the cancer is back. I had two spots on my liver and the Chemo killed them off. Life was good and getting back to normal. Well today that ended. There are 3 spots on the liver and worst than that one of them is on the opposite side so surgery is not an…