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New Procedure?
Hey Everyone, this is my first posting. I have been a member of CSN for about a year and a half or longer. I am currently 39 yrs old, and I had stage III rectal cancer resulting from FAP. So, with all the radiation I received and the location of the mass I had they had to remove my entire colon and rectum. I live with a…
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Supplements & Immune Boosters
Hi gang, Now that winter is approaching, does anyone have any hints for fighting off colds and so on. I do get a flu shot every year but that certainly does not cover everything. I have been prone to picking up every bug going around since my first chemo for Hodgkins in 88 and my most recent adventure in chemoland in 2007.…
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end of chemo !!
Well, today they removed my pump from chemo treatment #12 (FOLFOX). I see my Onc. on the the 30th to dicuss whats next. I am sure CT scans will be set up. I am stage 3b, they removed all the tumor in my colon with surgery, 3 out of 42 lymph nodes were positive. No bag, no radiation. I am not doing the happy dance 100% just…
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Weight loss
Hello everyone, I weighted 127 lbs before the cancer, June 2007 and now I weight 107. Kind of weird because lots of people are trying to loose the weight. During the chemo I have not appetite at all. I can only stand soups and light fruits like watermelon. Any word of advise or comment with be grately appreciated. Much…
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really short of breath and update
Hi Everyone, I hope you're all doing well. I am having a problem with being really short of breath, even after walking only a few steps. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this. I have been off chemo, camptosar, xeloda and avastin, for about 3 weeks due to nasty side effects that landed me in the hospital for a…
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Radiaion will not get it all
Hi all, I have had some to settle down from my last post...... We saw the radiologist last week, he said that Bill has a 2-3 inch tumor near his tailbone. this has just shown up since hs last surgery in March 2008. Since he has had 3 major surgeries in 2 years, they say that further surgery is not a option. They want to…
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Must Learn To Check Mailbox
Hehehe... I am sooo bad with going down to the lobby of my apartment building and checking my mailbox. Most everything I need to do, such as paying bills, etc., I do online... if they don't already come out monthly from my chequing account. So there's really nothing off too much importance that I'm going to have to check…
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Abnormalities in the lungs
Hi there! Well, chemo is all done, and i'm still dealing with the post treatment scans. Apparently the radiologist found something on my lung that she described as a slow growing lesion. My oncologist did a HUGE song and dance explaining to me the workings of a CT scan and how it only shows 3mm at a time, or something, and…
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How long onFulfuri
Hi, Just wondering if anyone on Fulfori (5FU, Leucavorin, Camptosar)for more than 12 treatments, if so how long? I failed the K-ras test but Fulfori seems to be keeping my CEA from rising any further (21) so MD wants to stay the course. Any info appreciated:)Thanks
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e-mail
Hi Everyone, Help! Since I am not very computer literate I cannot figure out how to e-mail anyone on the message board. I would appreciate it if someone would give me instructions. I have a feeling its probably right in front of me, but I haven't been able to figure it out. Thank You, Jamie
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October 15, 2003
Five years ago today, cancer was removed from my body, and after chemo therapy and a few bumps in the road, I remain cancer free. I have changed, grown, and am, hopefully, a better, kinder, and more compassionate friend and person because of my experience. Five years is a milestone in the world of cancer, but it has never…
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Abdominal Aches and Pains
Hi Semi-Colons, After reading a number of posts and so on in regard to gas courtesy of limey I wondered if there are other issues involved with abdominal discomfort. I had my surgery done with a laparoscope and I know they puff up the abdomen with a gas in order to see what they are doing. My understanding is that it takes…
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hair loss
My mom's hair is rapidly falling out. I'm wondering how many of you have lost your hair due to folfiri treatments? SHe didn't lose it all with folfox, just thinned a bit but it seems to be coming out by the handfull. She is really depressed about it too. I keep trying to remind her that it's only hair, we'll get a wig but…
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'What next?'...my long-term testing...
OK, just venting for a minute, I'm a true whinner at heart...lol! As I posted, I just got the 'all clear' on a colonoscopy, and breast cancer exam showed nothing new...BUT... Something naggy was in the back of my thoughts...so I went to a site that listed follow-up treatment (scans, etc) for colorectal cancer. To my…
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done with chemo
Hi all I finished my 12 chemo treatments wenesday for stage 4 colon cancer with mets to ovaries,my pets scans were good sofar just a little left in 1 Lymphnode I will have another pet scan on friday.I just found myself very depressed today,I'm thinking more about death today then I ever have,why would I do that I have…
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New Port
My husband is experiencing an extreme amount of pain from the port he had put in on Friday, more pain than I think he should be having. He is unable to change his shirt by himself, he can't put his socks and shoes on, and he walks all hunched over cradling his arm. He says when he presses on the top part of his collar bone…
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HAPPY DAY CHERYL
Just thinkng of you today at your Celebration of Life; if I wasn't way in Cincinnati, I would be there too. Have a wonderful time and fill us in on the details later. I visited Vacouver years ago and remember a fantastic bike ride I took in the beautiful park there.
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I have the k-ras mutation & have questions & am upset
Hi, I had posted on another thread asking questions about who had been tested for the k-ras genetic mutation. Well, I've now been tested & just found out today that I do have the mutation, after all. This means that Erbitux won't be an option for me. Unfortunately, I'm finding this out after my oncologist (who never had me…
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This one is for the guys only (sorry ladies)
I am on 5 day plan with 5fu via an infusium pump. I have completed three weeks so far. My question is regarding sex with my wife. Doctor told me to use a condom because there will be traces of chemo in my semen. (My wife is fixed). Since I have been on 5fu everytime I ejaculate it burns. Is this normal? It kind of ruins…
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anyone had this happen
I am almost 3 years out of stage III rectal T3N1MO. Last week I had my CT scan done and it read lungs, kidneys, abdomen no sign of residual disease. 6mm on liver suspicious suggest redo CT scan with contrast. I have not been having the injected contrast because of "borderline" kidney function I'm 62 and have had 8+ CT…
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swollen lymph node
I'm three years out from chemo.All my scans have been clean but four days ago I noticed a swollen lymph node in my groin, about one centimeter big. It is painless and moves freely. Funny thing is about a year ago i had this same node swell up without pain and after about two weeks it went away.My ocologist didn't seem…
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Completed 3 weeks.....
Good morning to all, My dad has completed 3 weeks of rad. and chem (Xeloda) for rectum cancer. So far he is doing well. The only promblem he is having is during the night is getting up frequently to urinated. He says he gets up 3 times a nite and is getting annoyed. Hes almost 83. I tell him to try to rest longer in the…
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Getting Scared Again
It just seems like, I get comfortable with the way things are going and then POW! something else happens. My husband was doing really well, we went away and had a great time. Then he started Chemo - he did well tolerating it, no side effects while he was having it and even now I don't think he's having any. He did have his…
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Update
Job update: Still looking for a new career. Had my 6 month CT Scan and bloodwork and according to my doctor's office all is good and clear. I have not received the reports yet. I am still dancing with NED :) , but right now I am not in the mood to dance or celebrate, but I am thankful to God that all is clear. I prayer for…
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In memory of my brother, Mark
My brother, Mark passed away on September 10th after a long hard fight with this cancer. I knew it, but it did not come to me until afterwards what a good strong man he truly was. To me, he was my little brother who struggled in school and who was my inspiration for becoming an elementary school teacher. Mark celebrated…
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kras genetic testing
Hi, How many of you are familiar with getting tested for a kras gene mutation? After emailing my liver surgeon on Friday about another issue on a recent scan and mentioning the chemo my oncologist has me on (Erbitux/Camptosar/Avastin), he asked me, "On a side note, have you been genetically tested to determine if you have…
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NED Yippie Ki Yay!!!!!
Hello Everyone! I was stage 4 colon cancer with mets to liver. I completed my 12th and final chemo on the 13th of October. Pet and Ct scan on the 13th showed NED. I am truly, truly, amazed. Prayer is the best solution, I had many prayer chains going. Miracles do happen!!!!!!!! I am living proof and I vowed that I would not…
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severe pain from gas
Hi wondering if anyone has had this type of issue. I am stage IV, tumors in my colon and in the perotenium muscles outside the colon. I have sever pain associated with gas that is bringing me to my knees. This goes on 20 hours per day and some days is so bad, I have had trouble getting out of bed. has anyone had this kind…
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Finished first treatment
Ok, so my husband just finished his first chemo treatment. they admitted him to the hospital just to make sure he didn't have any major reactions from it. I and the oncologist think that he handled the chemo quite well. His only complaint was that his arm hurt from the IV. When he was finished his chemo he was scheduled to…
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Assessing How You feel
Happy Friday Semi-Colons, I woke up this morning and was feeling quite fatigued. Each time that happens I get the willies because I relate that symptom to cancer. (for those that don't know- year and 6 months out from last chemo- currently NED) I have found as I go through this journey that symptoms abound that I think…