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The Big Talk Is Tomorrow
I am headed to SC tomorrow to meet with my oncologist to discuss mopup chemo and where I go from here. What a ride this has been. It has definitely made me think twice about how quick life can change on the spin of a dime. I was going to leave on Saturday but woke up having horrible pain and knew I could never make the…
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Therapist strongly suggested Hospice
Needless to say, I'm blown away and it's not helping me to climb out of the black hole that my Oncologist put me in with his harsh portrayal of my situation. No one can tell me that he could not have sounded so negative and dire. He crushed my spirit. I have felt like giving up and just way more physically sick since I saw…
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Ostomy bag covers
Has anyone made their own? I'm going to try it. I got a pattern off of the internet and I'll see if it works or is not worth it. If anyone has any tips for making these I'd really appreciate it! Maybe I'm better off just buying a few that are premade, I'll see. Thanks! Jan
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Looking for answers
I don't mean to be a damper on anyone else's battle with colorectal cancer, but I've just lost my wife to it and I'm looking for support groups... and answers. She was diagnosed stage IV in July 2017. It was a "right-sided" cancer, with the primary tumor in her transverse colon. By July 2018 they stopped trying to treat…
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CA19-9
has anyone had this tumor marker test done? For some reason my husband’s oncologist ran it, came back fine at 20 under 34 or maybe it was 37 is normal. it has not been tested before so I have nothing to gauge it against. He doesn’t see her for a month so he won’t ask her until then, maybe it’s because the bile duct tumor…
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Swimming with Ostomy bag
Hi Friends, I will have a little vacation in Cancun in May. I wonder if anybody has suggestions that had a good swim suits to cover Ostomy bag. I am nervous and cover Ostomy bag completely. Thank you for sharing your experience. Thanks Kadir
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Stage 3 Colon Cancer removed, finished chemo but CEA went up.
My husband was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer last June. Ended up with emergency surgury, removed mass, 12 lyph nodes 4 of which tested positive, and some fatty tissue. Ended up with a colostomy. His CT scans at the time were clear for the lungs and liver. Did 12 rounds of 5FU/Oxyplatin. Had his first after chemo CT…
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Off Topic - Your Screen Name
Just to lighten things up and not talk about anything cancer, how did you get your screen name. Some are your names and others have a meaning. Mine was my Grandmother's name and joining on another site (game site) it told me that name Annabelle was taken so my age was 41 at the time so figured I'd add the 41 to it but…
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Still waiting
So my initial diagnosis was over a month ago, and I'm still waiting for the staging to be done. Colonoscopy was 2/12, 0.9cm polyp removed from rectum near sigmoid. "The talk" with my GI was 2/19. CT scan (good news there) was 2/20. Initial consult with surgeon was scheduled for 2/27 but went completely sideways when I got…
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How to Motivate Someone to Get Better?
My husband has been fantastic through all of this cancer crap I've gone through. He's taken care of me like a parent does when I've been bedridden or unable to leave the house. He's never been good about making meals because he and I eat very differently. There are some things we agree on but he likes spicy and fattening…
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Ostomy help
Richard is recovering well from the surgery! I am learning and trying my best with changing the bag. i Am worried I am doing this all wrong and going to cause him more issues. today there was redness. It looks like the pouch is not sticking to the skin. His stomach is more inward. I looked in our goody bag from the…
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Chronic diaherra
I am six years out from surgery for colo rectal cancer. Have had chronic diaherra every since. Some days are worse than others. I have a kidney nephrostomy tube in my right kidney as my right urerter has a large stricture in it from radiation. This keeps me from swimming which is what I was doing before the tube. Now I…
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In remission or false hope
My wife is stage IV colon cancer with 2 suspected metastasize lymph nodes by the aorta. After 8 chemo cycle with 1 additional cycle thrown in, her 4th Pet scan last Wednesday (in 10 months) finally showed no convincing evidence of FDG-avid malignancy or metastatic disease. She was praying and hoping for this. Her…
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Ostomy Bag and Gas
I've had my illeostomy for just over 5 years now. I've never had a problem with gas or noises. I've had the odd time where it's made a noise or filled with gas but it's been few and far between. Suddenly, in the past two weeks it's really noisy and makes some very clear fart noises several times a day. And gurgling noises…
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Newly diagnosed
Hello all, I am a 42 year old female who was diagnosed a month ago with colorectal cancer. I had been having rectal bleeding for quite some time, but I chalked it up to hemerrhoids since I had other symptoms (itching, burning) and I'm overweight and my diet isn't the best. When I finaly went in to see my primary care…
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Extramural Venous Invasion
Hello everyone. I had my first colonoscopy since turning 50 and the doctor found what he suspected was a very early cancer (he did not remove it at the time but a biopsy confirmed cancer cells). I recently had surgery to remove my sigmoid colon. The pathology report came back as Stage 1. Seventeen lymph nodes were all…
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High Bilirubin
Hello Friends, My total bilirubin came out 2.0 and Indirect Bilirubin is 1.0(normal is less tha 0.9), direct bilirubin is also high little bit. I wonder anybody has similar or almost the same bilirubin level. Would you suggest any suplement or food to lower the numbers. My sclera on eyes little bit yellowish now but skin…
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Knee Replacement and Mop Up Chemo
Husband had knee replacement 9 years ago and is now going through mop up chemo. Currently 3 days on chemo with 11 day grace period. Just completed second treatment yesterday and he tells me today leg that had knee replacement is bothering him. Wondering if anyone out there has had similar issues. Thanks, Kate
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Try to read the tech
Am I the only one who tries to "read" the tech when they help you out of the scan machine. I know they can't read the results like a radiologist or doctor, but still, every time, I am looking for every look of pity or smile as if they saw or didn't see something on my scan. Yesterday was another pet scan to see if those…
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Question about maintenance therapy
Has anyone ever been offered or have used Strivarga as a maintenance drug?? im not doing well on xeloda; hand and foot really bad. We’re currently lowering the dose to see how it goes. If my condition doesnt improve my options are to go back on the pump for 5 FU. Strivarga was also suggested, but honestly i thought that…
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Mutations vs no mutations
So while I have been dealing with rectal cancer since May 2016, I have never understood the whole mutation thing. I know that sounds crazy but I just never focused on it. My oncologist told me that my tumor that was removed from my lung was rectal cancer but not the mutated kind. And that was all he said. To be honest, i…
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What date is YOUR Birthday?
OK, let me try again. My old thread got hijacked by JanJan's well wishers . If you would like to share your birthdate on this thread, I will make sure you are celebrated when your birthday comes along. I have taken note of the ones who shared their date on the hijacked thread, and thank them. Alright guys, go at it - and…
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Happy Birthday JanJan
- I know you got allot of Birthday wishes on my Birthday thread, but you get a thread all of your own - Thinking of you today, and hoping it is filled with all of the good things in life. Family, friends, Food and life. Tru
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CT Scan results, 2 months after last Y90 very bad
Saw my Oncologist yesterday, he brought the hammer down! He was grim and tried to take every last bit of my hope. My scan results were bad indeed. I have spots all in my lungs now, I only had a couple of tiny ones before. There was a lot of new dark areas in my liver. The doctor actually told me that the two Y90 treatments…
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Spouse Diagnosed - 31
Hello everyone, My husband has recently been diagnosed with colorectal cancer at the age of 31. It's been a huge shock, not just for him, but for myself as well. 3 weeks ago, we took him the ER due to vomiting, severe constipation, and pain in his abdomen. He had been having on and off symptoms of IBS since December 2018.…
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Liver Resection Pain
Hey guys. First I will say I am grateful to be healing. Of course I want the fast track approach but that ain't happening no matter what I do, lol. I wanted to throw this out there and see if any of you dealt with it. I am able to move and adjust in bed much better with the soreness. The big kicker for me is these random…
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17 Years Later!
17 Years Later! Hello CSN Family, Just wanted to share hope and inspiration to anyone starting this journey. Brief History: March 20, 2002 I had my surgery for Rectal Cancer at age 40. Stage 3C with 10 positive Lymph Nodes Had follow up Chemo and Chemo/ Radiation Combo No Recurrences So on this beautiful sunny day and the…
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Travel Tips
My friend is taking my daughter and I to Arizona next month. I haven't crossed the border since my diagnosis so I have some possibly stupid questions. What's the best way to get my prescription meds across? Just take them in their bottles and only the amount I'll need? And they should be in a carry on, right? Will they…
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APR Bladder question
Richard had the APR last Tuesday. He the catheter was removed Saturda. He was unable to go after 6 hours so the cathed him again. They also started flomax. the catheter was removed this morning at midnight. He was able to go little around 10:30am. an ultrasound showed he still had a lot of urine in the bladder. So he is…
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Birthday celebration
This forum is a wonderful place. A place of information, advice, sorrow and joy. If anyone is interested in sharing their birthdate with me, I will try my best to post a celebration thread. When I was diagnosed, and all seemed dark, I wondered if I would reach my next birthday; so I decided to celebrate my birthday every…