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Official pathology report
Its been an emotional day. I cried and hugged my surgeon. Got staples out of my abdomen. Pathology report states: clear margins, stage IIIB. I now have 4 months of folfox to go. Its the last sprint in this marathon to beat cancer!
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8 Years NED Today - Oh the Joy
To All Oh the joy! Each year this is my favorite thing to do. It was 8 years ago today, Jan 31, that I was NED from Stage 3b signet cell colon cancer - it's another birthday for me. To all on these posts - thanks for always supporting and providing encouragement. I hope I have been able to help when I could. PM me if you…
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Second CT Scan Clear-NED
Yesterday was the second CT scan following my husbands Colon Cancer journey. He had surgery and then 3 months of Chemo. He had a baseline scan directly at the end of his Chemo and now yesterday. Everything was clear/NED-no evidence of disease!! Bloodwork was perfect as well. Oh happy happy day. I did not know that I was…
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MikeNH
When I started my journey, he was posting his enitre journey through this. I got a lot of valuable information that helped me from those discussions. THe past few days, I have been wondering if anyone heard from him. My hope is that he had success, and is putting all this behind him.
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Our friend Butt
Hello all, I noticed that Butt has been missing from the forum, so I sent a DM, I was told that I could share the response with all of you... I am on a trail from MD Anderson. No results yet. My recent visit there was very problematic. They made some mistakes. They were denying everything abd failed to control a strong…
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Scanxiety
It is so real. I am, was, even so confident that my results will show everything stable at the very least, and hopefully shrinking for the win. Nonetheless, the closer it gets to results day, the more my subconscious is freaking out. I realized once I started to feel like I was going to cry while binge watching a very…
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Exercise helps with everything
More support for my saying that "exercise helps with everything." https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231719314636 Accumulating convincing evidences show that exercise reduces cancer progression and recurrence mainly in colon and breast cancer patients. Interestingly, the positive effects of exercise on…
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Reliability of PET for diagnosis
Hi. Had stage III-A colon cancer and finished chemo in mid-2017. December CT showed a 2x2.5cm mass in spleen which doubled in size since previous December. Have PET scan on Tuesday. a) is that considered rapid growth? If not, what is? b) any info on false positives/negatives on cancer diagnosis using PET scan? Did some…
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Severe Allergic reaction to Oxaliplatin - I almost died!
Yep, I almost died last Monday! I had what was to be the second of four treatments, I started feeling mucus going down the back of my throat and started coughing. I called one of the kids to bring me some cough drops to the cancer center. I also had sudden low back pain. By the time my son got there, my chest began which…
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So tired of hearing a positive outlook is healing
No matter how positive one is during this illness, thinking isn't going to kill the cancer cells. I am getting so tired of hearing the comment, it is so good you have a positive outlook, the brain is healing. From now on, I will respond, "how do thoughts kill cancer cells." The problem is, that statement is like saying…
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cologuard test is positive
So I am quite nervous, I had a cologuard test that was positive. At my most recent check up for my 51st, my bloodwork was fine all in normal range and ideal according to my Dr. But this hits home, my father died at 60 of colon cancer 20 years ago. That being said he was a heavy smoker, ate horrible and showed syptoms for…
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Hubby update
So, another 3 months has passed and last week Richard flew down to MD Anderson for his scans. Since the APR in March 2019 his scans were clean. However, not so lucky this round. The CT showed two spots on the liver. 1 spot is in the location where his liver ablation was completed in WV back in 2017 when first diagnosed.…
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This is relevant to chemo brain as well
i know that I’m getting older but it also made me think of the dreaded chemo brain
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APR repair for butt hernia
Good Morning I am looking for suggestions/ people that have gone thru this. I have stage 3 colorectal cancer and had a APR with colostomy done Now I am having issues with butt hernia and the plan is to take muscle from my thigh and put it in my butt to repair (at this pont they will not use mesh) It is called a APR repair…
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How is mop up chemo different
They say to do mop up chemo to kill any errant microscopic cancer cells. This would make it seem that chemo can get rid of the cancer. But then, they also say that chemo alone cannot cure cancer. Why is it that if there are microscopic cancer cells in the bloodstream or wherever, mop up chemo can kill them and prevent a…
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Hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer (article)
This topic has been much discussed lately and I thought this article might be useful and hopeful. Abstract follows, with full-text link at the end for those who are interested. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in the world. About two third of patients with CRC will develop distant recurrence at…
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another anniversary
G'day all, been a while since I have been on. This month I finish year 22 ex stage 3c colon cancer, still cancer free. The past year has not been fun. Australia continues in severe drought and in september it caught fire. Over twenty people have died and an estimated billion native animals have perished. The fires are…
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Waiting and wondering
So now me and my dad are waiting to go to ann arbor for his second surgery . But after the pathalogy report I still have alot of questions . Like one of things in the pathalogy report is that my dad's cancer is grade 1 tissue . Does anyone know what that means if its grade 1 tissue ? Also one of things the doctor said is…
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CEA is lower!
I know not to place much merit into CEA counts but we did get an encouraging number today. 26! I know that is still high, but what's made me so thrilled is in July when were were given the doomsday news Jim's count was 611. Opdivo is doing it's job THANK HEAVENS. I really am surprised though, since he is on it with…
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Seeking new doctors
Hi Everyone, I'm new here. I think I accidentally posted this on another thread. My apologies. I am currenttly waiting on results to see if my stage 3 colon cancer has returned after 3 years and spread to my liver & spleen. I live in the greater Philadelphia area and originally went with the Crozer system. My site had a…
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Is it wrong
Is it wrong to be annoyed that the only services I find concerning cancer support programs in my area are all specific to breast cancer patients and survivors? I do not begrudge anyone the services, they certainly are in need, I just wonder where are the programs for others? ugh I hate that I said that out loud and also…
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Managing bowel symptoms during survivorship
I am 3 years in remission for colorectal cancer. I was diagnosed at the age of 39. I continue to have intestinal cramping, urgency and frequent bowel movements. I have changed my diet to gluten free and that has helped some. Do any of you have any suggestions to Regulate bowel movements and manage symptoms.
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Oncology case manager
I was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and I got a letter in the mail offering the free services of an "oncology case manager"- she works for my insurance company, of course. I am wondering if anyone has had one of these and if they found them useful or if they basically are just there to keep costs down for the…
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Are we having fun yet?
Our family doesn't do anything by halves. After 7 cycles of Folfiri/Avastin where my major side effect was fatigue, this last round (12/31-1/2) left me with severe ongoing bowel pain and diarrhea (pain still ongoing.) We reached the point where my onc sent me for an emergency CT yesterday to ensure that there was nothing…
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to many test
I had radiation and chemo in oct 2018 finishing dec 31,surgery was to be when I was stronger. I had a surgeon this whole time.. every time I go its more test. finally he told be what he would do in surgery but wanted me to go to a gyn..to check if the tumor in colon had went into that area,with what radition and scar…
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Thin hair
My hair thinned quite a lot from chemo. It's a year since I stopped and it's still thin and seems to be getting thinner. Does anyone else have this problem? I know it's vanity but it's yet another thing that this cancer has taken from me. My husband and I are going to celebrate our 25 year anniversary. We wanted to take…
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HAVING SERIOUS ISSUES WITH TREATMENT
HI, I am 67 and was was diagnosed with colorectal cancer about 2 months ago and now undergoin treatment. It was stage 3 but didn't touch the muscle. They started me on a Chemo pill called Xeloda and radiation at the same time. I was doing fine until about 4 days ago. I now am in day 16 of 30 treatments. They had to…
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Surgery getting real close
I wish all of you could be at the hospital with me when I have surgery! You all know how it is suppose to be and how things are suppose to look and feel. Ya, I'm super nervous. Never had surgery before so this one is first and hopefully last!
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Nervous Pending Labwork *The Wait*
After 2 years of abdominal pain, painful BM, severe bloat, and some off/on bleeding finally got in for endoscopy and colonoscopy. Dr removed and biopsied 25mm polyp in sigmoid colon but was unable to remove a "large, lobulate, partial obstruction, friable mass found in recto-sigmoid". Approx 6cm x 3.5cm. Took several…
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My mother passed away - thank you all for your support
Dear all, I wanted to let you know that my mother passed away on December 8th at home, peacefully in our arms, surounded by love. Her name was Loukia which means light and that's what she has been in the lives of so many. She was 72. She fought this disease (along with stroke) with an exemplary passion and strength - she…