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chemo woes
Ok, I'm on my 3rd day of chemo. The first time around it didn't really seem to effect me much, but this time I'm not doing so well! They have me on anti nausea meds but my tummy is still doing flip flops. Someone told me ginger helps, has anyone tried it? Also the Oxiaplatum is really making it hard to stay hydrated as I…
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Ooops
Forgot to mention my dx. for those who don't know me...dx. May 2006 with Stage IV with "too many to count" mets to liver. 'had surgery with 18 inches of colon removed and then 16 treatments of 5-fu, Oxaliplatin and Avastin. I have been off chemo for almost six month with a PET scan about a month ago showing me NED Oct.…
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A Little Hope for the holidays
Here is a little hope for the Holidays... Last year I was Dx with Stage2 Rectal Cancer on Oct. 31st ...like many of you I've dealt with the Anxiety, 2 surgeries...radiation treatments and months of chemotherapy with associated side effects. But today I am healthy; and because of that I will live for today. I've seen it…
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Encouragement?
I posted last on Nov 20. I was dx on 10-30-07 with St IV colon cancer and referred to an oncologist who was going to see me on Dec 3. When I posted, I was asking about nausea. On the Monday after Thanksgiving I was admitted to the ER because I could not stop vomiting. It turns out that I had an obstruction of the small…
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PET or CTscan followup
Some of you may have read my eariler post about allergies to the contrast for the CTscan. I was wondering about CT vs. PET vs. MRI. I went to see the oncologist this morning and she suggested an MRI this time followed by CTscan in 6 mo. and switch them out so that I didn't have to take so many steriods. As an aside, she is…
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It's Time Again
Well, it's time for my husband's 6 month colonoscopy again. (Dx crc Oct 03, chemo/rad, then surgery, NED since.) We are running 2 months behind this time. My husband's original doctor has moved back to his wife's home in Mississippi. We were told his wife has cancer (not sure what type) and there is nothing that can be…
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NEW update on my MOM
My moms NG tube got blocked in her stomach area, the pain was sooooo bad for her, they finally removed the NG tube and put a new one in,(She decided not to have the surgery...she is scared I guess and the doctor told her he wouldn't perform it on his own mother because of the end result) its been a week since my mom has…
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stress and anxiety
I have always been a bit high strung but the anxiety is kind of hard to deal with at this point. It is hard to sleep or think about anything else. Every little ache or twinge I am thinking oh oh what is that for. It seems as if I am very lucky being at a stage 1 compared to many people who learn they have had cancer. I…
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What a difference a year makes...
Hi All, I wanted to post this especially because there are so many new people on this site. Last year at this time I wasn't sure where I was going to be this year. Although I always stayed positive I was very scared. I had been diagnosed in September with Stage III rectal cancer. I completed six weeks of chemo and…
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non standard treatment
I visited with an oncologist this am. He went over the reports with me from the surgeon who removed a polyp from my rectum two weeks ago. I got mixed news. he said it looks as if I have,(perhaps had), a low grade stage 1 type cancer. He said standard treatment would be to remove the area where the polyp was at which would…
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Friday Riddle / Teaser
A very bright and sunny day The priest did to the verger say: "Last Monday met I strangers three None of which were known to thee. I ask'd them of their age combin'd Which amounted twice to thine! A riddle now will I give thee: Tell me what their ages be!" So the verger ask'd the priest: "Give to me a clue at least!" "Keep…
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We are fortunate
Hi all - In many ways we are so lucky. This site is wonderful, but many cancer survivors won't find much significant support and info on this site. I have a very good friend who was just diagnosed with bladder cancer. We are waiting to find out more and I am supporting him. I wish I could recommend this site, but there is…
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Goldfinch
Mary- where are you...we are all worried..hope you are ok Bev
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follow up with 2nd surgeon
I met with an oncologist a few days ago and he had a different colorecto surgeon talk with me today. He seems to think I should have my rectum and anus removed. The oncologist said monitoring was an option for the time being. It seems as if surgeons are pretty go hung on surgery. I asked about my lab reports and he said…
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attn Musiclover
Hi: Saw that you had been online...hope that Mark and Peter have met in the "great beyond"..thinking about you and hoping you are ok..keep in touch.,,would love to hear from you Bev
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goldfinch--Mary
I haven't heard from Mary in about a week. She sent me an email on 11/24. I emailed her a couple of days ago and havent heard back. I am worried, has anyone heard from her. Maureen
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Chris Erickson has died
December 1. He held on longer than anyone would have ever thought, defied all odds, and amazed us all. He was a strong and loving friend and I already miss him dearly. 03.26.70 - 12.01.07
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Not good news on ct
Went to oncologist today. CT results supposedly show that since my husbands liver resection 7 weeks ago , the mets have returned and doubled in size?? However, the oncologist and surgeon say this is very unusual and there is a possibility that the radiologist is not interpreting the scan correctly. The lesions are in same…
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HELP! Dad still having trouble with chemo.
I've written in the past that my Dad has been having problems with his chemo. The doctor has tried to challenge him 3 time and each time it produces severe pain in his bone that is totally unbareable. He has a very high pain tolerance, so I know it is really bad. They end up having to give him an iv push of morphine and…
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Thinking of you KathiM!
Hope this brings a smile to your faces. KathiM...I have been thinking of you this past week because you encourage us to talk bout our "stools". This past week I have had a regular bowls. It's long and all in one piece! How cool is that? That hasn't happend in so long. I am now 7 weeks out of chemo. Whopee! Feels good. I'm…
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Montel Williams
We're back!!! What a wonderful and memorable experience. The word that colorectal cancer afflicts many age groups and to insist on screening will be out!!!! Manhattan was bustling with holiday shoppers. The Rockefeller Christmas tree was magnificent!!! Most importantly, Montel Williams is a truly caring man. He has the…
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Doctor attachment.....
Hi all, Haven't posted much in a few weeks, but things are going well. Still dealing with the post treatment issues (neuropathy, menopause, wound healing). Overall can't complain. I have a crazy question that my family and friends who have never been through cancer treatment can not understand where I am coming from.…
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Need encouragement/advice
Hello! Do to recent unfavorable test results, my oncologist has decided to begin Xeloda and Oxiaplatum, instead of the 2 cycles of Xeloda only he had originally intended. I will begin treatment tomorrow and will remain on the treatment for 4 monthes. I am very discouraged by this and find myself wishing things were how…
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Starting new chemo - suggestions?
As many of you may know, the Xeloda has stopped working for me and tomorrow I will be switching to Irinotecan, also known as Camptosar. I expect hair loss and loose stools. any suggestions to minimize the side effects? anything else to know? also, did anyone take any pro biotics for the stomach and overall intestinal…
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Dad still NED
Hi everyone, Just want to update you all on my dad's last CAT scan. He continues to be NED 1 year and 3 months after chemo ended. It was two years ago this month that my dad was first diagnosed with stage III and then two months later, stage IV CC with spread to the liver and we weren't sure how long my dad would be…
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PRAYERS PRAYERS
MY mom may get the surgery tomorrow morning, 30% of survival rate, i am so stressed, if she dont get it its a matter of days or so??? my mom is weak and in the hospital with heavy meds every 4 hours...( she is getting the perforation closed up and the primary tumor in the colon removed and a coloscopy put on. Please pray…
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Gamma Knife
I asked if anybody had this done two weeks ago. We went ( my wife )to the Cleveland Clinic on Tues. and received the treatment. They found a total of 7 tumors in the brain. The biggest was 2.2cm. It took 4 hours to do it. We go back in 2 months to see if it was successful. I highly recommend it. The key is a longer quality…
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Big Sis/Lil Sis - Bracelet Story
My 34 yr old little sister recently learned she has colon cancer (stage 3c) and will begin chemo Monday. She has an AMAZING attitude and WILL beat this! I wanted to give her something that she could wear reminding her that her big sister is "in this" with her. That she's not alone. After searching online for a couple of…
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CT Scan/PET & CT Scan Qutestion
I have a quick question. Do doctors order just PET scans anymore or are all PET Scans now really CT/PET Scans. The reason I ask is that my dad just supposedly had a PET/CT scan done and the esophagus lite up on the scan. So, the doctor wants to order a CT scan to see if there is anything there. Isn't a PET/CT scan both…
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symptoms question
hello to everyone...quick recap for those who may not remember us..my husband, Mike was dx. in Sept. 2005, stage 3, had temp illiostomy, did before and after chemo, did radiation for treatment before surgery, and SO happy to say, he is doing FANTASTIC..for any newbies out there, do not give up, as some of you may recall,…