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Has anyone had problems with their new port?
I just had the port put in at the beginning of January. I've only had 1 round of chemo. The first round took almost all day, because the port was "clogged" with some kind of "growth" on the inside. They finally got it cleaned out and could access my blood. I receive my chemo every two weeks and Wednesday I went in to get…
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lower spine pain from radiation
Hi Everyone, I'm wondering how many of you have experienced pain in your lower spine/sacral/hip bones because of or following radiation and/or chemo? I just requested to have both my neck and my pelvic bones area x-rayed today. The neck wasn't as a result of chemo or radiation- I fell last week & it's been hurting ever…
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CT Results
After completing 4 rounds of FOLFOX the lesions in my liver (4) have all decreased on all dimensions by between 30 and 50%. The largest went from 6.2 by 4.2 cm to 3.6 by 2.6. The smallest went from 1.2 by 1.2 to "sub-centimeter." The colon tumor also had a 50% decrease since my original colonscopy and CT scan. Since the…
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WHAT A SURPRISE
The CSN Staff contacted us today asking our permission to feature HOP on the Home page. Permission given, so I'm hoping they'll print a wee bit of his happy ending to give someone inspiratio and HOPE. Howz 'bout that..... Marygale
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New to site
Hello- I am new to the site. My mom was diagnosed the Friday before Thanksgiving 08 with a 3 X 2 leison- ulcerative obstruction with resection that following Monday. She spent a week in the hospital. Her surgeon diagnosed Stage 3 with no lymph node involvement. She had her port placed that next Friday. Her oncologist…
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My 1st Oncology Appt
So, I went to my first oncology appt, and met my doctor who I found very kind and sweet, pretty young, but seemed very smart who specializes in the colon..she actually wanted me to do some clinical trials with the drugs Bevacizumab(Avastin)and Cetuximab which are 2 FDA Approved drugs, to mix in with the standard chemo that…
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Husband back in the hospital
He was admitted last nite for severe pain and vomiting may have a blockage again he was just released on monday problems started tuesday. Will no more today, I am mad he should not of been released. and they just operated for the blockage. something is not right but i will find out beleave that.He is in so much pain they…
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Answer to Prayers
My husband of almost 40 years has stage 4 colorectal cancer which metastised to the liver. He had a colostomy done in 2006 and has been undergoing chemo since then. They have tried it all but nothing has stopped to cancer in the liver from growing. So in Dec. his oncologist told us there was nothing left to do or try. The…
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You know what?
I'm actually going to go to work tomorrow. I miss everyone there so much, and while I still have energy, I want to help out the therapists. I talk to my supervisor last night on the phone and she said they know their options was, was that they didn't want to lose me, and are willing to work around me, that was so sweet and…
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Relief!
Two years ago I came to this website frightened and miserable, waiting for my cancer diagnosis to be confirmed. I got so much support and am ashamed that I am not a more frequent visitor, as I think my experience might give encouragement to those just embarking on this road that no one seeks ... Today I got the results of…
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***** A THANK YOU FROM CAPTAIN HOP *****
FROM HOP TO ALL MY INTERNET FRIENDS: It's been 2 weeks since I had surgery. It took about a week to get out from under the drugs from it all. Reality was a little vague sometimes, so I thought I would wait to respond to all of you 'till I had a clear head. I can sound stupid without the help of drugs. I've been trying to…
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Back in the Saddle
Hi All..You can't keep a good man down.......Power went out at 8 Tuesday and we got it back last night at 2 am...No phone..No computer...I missed all of ya'll and Thanks to all for the concern. I have a 300' driveway and it was completely covered in fallen trees. We are fine though. I live next door to my mom and sis and…
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Update from Vanderbilt
My husband saw the lung surgeon today at Vanderbilt...He had the PET scan results, the lung function test, the CT scan, the cardiolite test, stress test etc. The nodule in Frank's right lung lite up this time on the PET scan and also a lymph node near the lung. They are almost positive it is lung caner. They said if it is…
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urgent response please!!!
Hello everyone. This is Valerie; stage 3 colon cancer; 1 node positive out of 18. Completed chemo in on Dec. 4th. Had cat scan and bloodwork done and got results back Jan. 13. All the results were very good. Dr. said that I could get port taken out. Well, this is my dilema. Had a colonoscopy on Jan 27th, one polop removed,…
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Surgery aborted
Hello! Quick recap: Diagnosed stage IIIb rectal cancer in August 07 at age 38, chemoradiation for six/seven weeks, resection surgery in January 08 with temporary loop ileostomy, then six months folfox which ended in August 08. I was scheduled to finally have the ostomy reversed last Friday. They got me in, got me prepped,…
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CEA confusion
Background-Diag rectal cancer 4/08, surgery 5/08 lower anterior bowel resection, illeostomy & gall bladder removal, 12 rounds of Folfox (8 with the Oxliplatin), reversal surgery 12/17/08. CEA level at time of diagnosis was 5.0 CEA at end of chemo was 4.6. Went to oncologist last week and CEA is 4.7. When they took it, I…
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New here
I found out I had rectal cancer on 12-17-08 just started treatment 1-20-09 the tumor is 2.6 cm and stage 2 cancer close to stage 3 having chemo and radiation treatment for 6 weeks then heal fore 5 weeks then the DR's will take out the tumor then another 5 weeks healing by shrinking the tumor I have a 50/50 chance of not…
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Path report
Hi Everyone, The internet went out at the hospital Saturday night. I can't believe how dependent I have become on you. I feel like you are the ones who get it. **** has had a hard time at the hospital.. He had 75% of his colon removed Tuesday and he is still in the hospital. Things are starting to move very slowly. He…
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Update
Well, after a sleepless night preceding the surgery, and a very long day--I am happy to report that the thyroid cancer is removed from my mom's body. The surgeon said surgery went very well. He removed a few lymph nodes beneath her thyroid and said that something was going on beside her esophagus but he was able to remove…
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Robert Schimmell...
Has anyone seen this comedians show on Showtime? he may be kind of lewd and raunchy (I do have a warped sense of humor) but this guy has had colon cancer for 8 years, and his prognosis was like 2 years.. he performs onstage and even has the crowd laughing at what he's been through, he had me cracking up, he wasn't trying…
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Day Off
I am taking a day off from worrying about my CT tomorrow. *Jorie runs in and yells "GO STEELERS!!!" and runs out!!!*
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pain pump
Husband coming home soon will have pain pump put into abdomen and live what ever time he has. michelle
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Hi, I'm new
I found out I had stage 3 colon cancer in May of 2008,I had surgery and started my chemo in June and finished in Dec. I will get my first catscan in May and am very nervous about it. I also have neuropathy it is severe.
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Let the Radiation Begin.
I start tommorow with 28 daily radiation treatments in combination with daily Xeloda. It has been nice to be off any drugs for the last week. I feel great for the moment. Wish me luck with the radiation, I am uncertain what side effects will come my way. It is a necessary evil on the way to a cure. Mike
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metastisized rectal cancer
Hello, I need some advice. In 2002 I was diagnosed with rectal cancer. I went through treatments and surgery. Everything went ok but in 2005 they found 2 pulmonary nodules in my left lung. It turned out to be metastisized rectal cancer. Once again I went through treatments and surgery.Everything has been ok. But last year…
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Ascites and Abdominal Pain
Hello: My dad is currently suffering from ascites. He is on fluid pills but they are no longer working very well. He complains of pains in his stomach sometimes once a day, sometimes twice a day or not at all. I am trying to figure out if ascites can cause abdominal pain or if this is just the cancer. Any thoughts??…
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OK, I have another weird question
The side effects I tried to prepare for after I began chemo have not been that bad, but I'm getting weird side effects. My scalp is very tender, can't sleep on my back or brush my hair. I get headaches and what feels like pressure on the left side of my head where my brain tumor was located. My eyes are puffy like I've…
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Fuzzy Brain
Has anyone had problems with their memory? I had a resection recently in October of 2007 with chemo and radiation and a cancerous gallbladder removed in February of 2008. My memory has literally been shot to pieces since. I don't know if it's the anesthesia from the surgery, a reaction to the chemo or a combo of both. I…
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MY CAPTAIN IS HOME
Hello Folks: My luv is back home with me once again. Surgeon releAsed him at noon today. Also, the Path. Labs were back and it showed about 20 lymph nodes around the large tumor, but none had any cancer cells....the tumor had not broken thru the wall...they took the port out due to all this good news. We go to see an…
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Next Colonpalooza?
Anyone know if there's a date and place set for the next Colonpalooza gathering? Looks like the most recent was San Francisco in November 2008. Thanks, Webwoman