Please remember that these discussion boards are a public forum, which means open to the public (i.e. non-CSN members) and the content can be found via internet search engines. Members are strongly advised not to share personal identifiers such as real names, email address, telephone number, street address, etc. This information can be used to identify you and link you to the content you provide. Other areas of CSN are restricted to members only and cannot be found by search engines.

Colorectal Cancer

Archives for May 2010

hair loss with folfiri (vs folfox)
Interested in hearing people's experiences regarding hair loss with FOLFIRI, especially as compared with FOLFOX. I had hair thinning with FOLFOX, but not total hair loss. I understand FOLFIRI causes more serious hair loss. Did anyone just have hair thinning with this? I know, I have more important things to think about…
chemo holiday
Has anyone ever gone on a chemo holiday and what did that look like? I've been doing chemo for about 3.5 years. I was on folfox originally for 8 cycles. Then when recurrence happened I went on folfiri + Avastin,(12 cycles) then maintenance of xeloda and avastin for 10 months, then folfox and avastin for 8 cycles and now…
Need Advice on taking Ativan
Hey Everybody! I am going thru a tapering schedule to get me off the Oxycodone. My Onc has added Ativan to the withdrawal procedure but I am confused when I am suppose to take it. EXACTLY...what is it suppose to do??? Maybe then I can figure best time and how often to take it. Onc said it would help get me thru the periods…
Anyone attending the Twin Cities Get Your Rear in Gear 5K this Sunday?
I'm excited to be attending the Get Your Rear in Gear 5K on Sunday. I'll get a chance to meet a survivor from another board, and his wife. My husband and I are walking (neither of us has ever been a runner). I also get to meet David - another survivor who is friends of an old highschool classmate of mine. He started a…
Another update to my husband's colonoscopy
To refresh - my husband had his first colonoscopy in March. They found 3 flat polyps that were removed and the biopsies showed no cancer, but that they were the type that could turn to cancer. They also found two "wierd" things that the doctor wasn't sure about. These were larger. He is pretty famous around here as a great…
Post chemo update
I've been away form the boards for a while, other than one quick check one day while we were gone. I really needed a break from all things "cancer." My husband and I went to our second home in Mexico, and it was just what I needed. My days weren't focused on medical appointments and cancer. They were focused on enjoying…
hey Rob
love the new photo! It is so cute.
doctors response to mucus
Thank you for the responses.My rectum is still in place because although the cancer was low they tried to save the rectum.After 5 years of loose bowel movements and wearing a diaper I gave up and had a colostomy.This radically changed things for the better,but now I have this terrible mucus.My doctor wants to do something…
PET/CT
results is in.Last PET(february,2010) show multiple mets to the liver,pelvic,retroperitoneum and lung(where she had 13 "old").That all come after laser resection of the left lung.After that PET she start with artemisinin and AHCC as supplements.Results of PET/CT(may,2010) are:liver-nothing light-up,lungs-1/3 in size…
Hey Craig............CEA rise?
you said...................as the cancer cells die off, they emit a protein in the blood which can be picked up on the CEA test. can you give me some info
Off to Relay
Hey, guys. Tomorrow evening I'll walk in my third survivor lap at Relay for Life. At this point, our little team has gone past our goal of $3500 and almost reached $5000!! I'm so excited!!! I'll give y'all a report after I recuperate a little. I'll be up all night tomorrow night. *hugs* Gail
Jim is having a hard time
His surgery was on the third and we're still in the hospital. (lots more detailed info on www.caringbridge.org/visit/jameskruse) We went home for one night and have been back ever since. He has some infection somewhere, not sure where. Thought it was a UTI then an abcess on his wrist, possibly staph in his port, now today…
Node Out!
Dear Friends, You are the best. Kim, how kind of you to start the thread about ****. All of you, we have felt your thoughts and prayers all day. **** went into surgery at 10:00. He was in until 1:20. Dr. Genyk came out and said they got the node and margins looked good. As we thought, the node was positive for cancer. He…
Scan Results - Not what I was hoping for
I had my Pet Scan yesterday and got the results from the Pa today. It showed an increase in the size and number of the spots on my lungs. I am still trying to digest this. The spots in my liver were stable and everything else was stable. I started on Folfox in March of 09 and had a great response to that. I have been on…
Cured???
Are there any active members on here that are cured?? I don't mean NED for a year or two. I mean over five years with no reccurence OR treatment. I know Emily is but who else? How long (over five years) and what was your treatment course? What do you credit, your treatment, your will, luck, God, lifestyle, or unknown???…
Puzzling news on CEA rise
I got my monthly results and it went from 4.1 to 18......my last scan was excellent, so much so that 90% or more of the bone mets are gone and no activity, it's odd....what to think ?
Abraxane and avastin
I started Abraxane with avastin this week. I'm taking Abraxane because research shows that it works well on those of us who have the Sparc protein overexpression. I was expecting a larger kick in the nads from it, but it has been fairly tolerable. About 75% of what folfox was. I'm hoping for good things. I spoke with the…
rectal mucus
anyone out there have a colostomy and having a problem everyday with rectal mucus.I have to where a pad it is so bad?
Got a pet? PUGS are the best!!!!
This post started on a different post but it needs it's own post so here it is. PUGS are the best!!!!
This time yesterday a year ago that dreaded phone call came with results of biopsy
After small talk, doctor uttered those three infamous words "you have cancer" and a whole bunch of words followed as my head spun continually like that girl in the Exorcist movie. The only other of the many words he spoke that day that I vividly recall was "colostomy". Well here I am, sitting on my sewn up ****, trusty bag…
It's The Little Things That Bring Joy
With all of the enormous physical and mental changes and challenges we deal with in our day-to-day lives, we have found that it's the little things which bring us joy and happiness. As if a window has opened and the view of life is more vivid. Let's share what "little things" we find in our lives that are uplifting or…
Thinking of you, Kathleen and ****!
Been thinking about you all day. It will be great to say goodbye to that nasty node! Love, Kim
How many chemo regiments for CRC?
I guess what I am asking is, what's next? Pam was diagnosed with CRC w/mets to liver in Dec 08. She was started on Folfox 6 w/Avastin. At first it worked great and the scans revealed shrinking tumors. Then, the Avastin caused an elevated protein level in her urine (and she also had a k-ras mutation?) and she was taken off…
Question of the Day: Genetic Testing Kits. Would you take the test?
Would you take one of these Genetic Testing Kits to see if you were "at risk" for developing cancer or passing on some genetic disorder to your kids? I'm interested to hear what you all think of these. I'll have input later. Thanks -p News Story. There are plenty of related stories on the web, just Google "Genetic Testing…
MD Anderson update on Louann
Well I am 2nd or 3rd on the review list and should hear something by weeks end and I am still trying to raise the money to go and stay for the 8 days they say it will be and my husband lost his job 2 days ago so he thinks God plans for him to go and be with me. It will cost 500 to stay in a motel for a week and food well…
Multi-colored hoofs
Xeloda feet…this time I didn’t have the stinging and burning…just went straight to peeling and cracking. My question is this: Has anyone else had their feet turn nasty looking and multi-colored? I know this sounds strange but my feet are purple/black, grey, red, and green. Please don’t laugh ;) I thought at first that they…
Paranoia..
This sucks for me and I’m sure that some of you are going through the same thing. It’s this crazy paranoia. I had my iliostomy reversal a while ago and now find myself studying my poop. Is it big enough? What’s that strange color thing in it? Is it long enough. Then if I cough I’m wandering if it’s cancer . If my head…
I'm done with my chemo the end of June...
to those of you guys who are finished with chemo, did you guys give a gift to your onc nurses? If you did, what did you give? I'd really like to show them that they have been fabulous to work with and that they'll always be remembered. :)
Ct Scans
Well, just got back from seeing the doctor and getting results from CT scan and labs done on Monday. Well the liver is great, but there is an enlarged necrotic hilar lymph node (chest lymph node) so now I will do a pet scan. I'm not so worried but I got all dressed up and everything just so I could start to celebrate. Darn…
anyone on Vectibix?
Folfox, Avastin and Erbitux have not worked so my onc is starting me on Vectibix on Friday. Has anyone tried Vectibix? Thanks, Ida

Colorectal Cancer

Discussion List