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CEA Level and # of liver mets/Need to Hear from Others
My dad has stage IV colon cancer (diagnosed 05/02) - multiple resections *April 2006 - CT scan was normal, cea was 2.? - ct did show a few small spots (needed to be watched) *June 2006 - cea rose to 5.?, had pet scan (clean scan) - went off of treatment *September 30, 2006 - pet scan (multiple spots - not sure how many,…
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TWO WEEKS FROM SUNDAY
Ahoy, fellow (and I mean that in the most gender-neutral, androgynous sense) SemiColons! Sorry to have been AWOL again. I seem to be doing that a lot lately but I am just so wrapped around the axle of transfer, promotion, cross-country move, and wedding plans. Katie (USAKat) was here last week to hostess my promotion party…
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Questions from CT scan, on to a PET:(
Hi all, I'm one of those folks in "the waiting room"...nearly 3 years out from chemo (come July); stage III, colectomy, 6 months chemo, NED since. Colonscopies have been clean (last one in Feb); this CT scan shows a "thickening of the colon wall near the site of the anastomosis", and a 1.5 cm lymph node in my left armpit.…
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Columnist Chronicles Life With Cancer
Columnist Chronicles Life With Cancer By FRANK ELTMAN (Associated Press Writer) From Associated Press April 22, 2007 1:45 PM EDT GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - A sense of humor helps, Lauren Terrazzano says, when you're dying of cancer. If there's a heaven, the newspaper columnist wrote recently, she plans to have a drink with John…
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Need Positive Thoughts/Prayers
History: *Diagnosed 5/02 *Has been on multiple treatments and had three liver resections (last one in 10/05) *In September 06 - Pet Scan showed multiple spots in liver and cea was 55. Rose to 181 by end of October and went down to 57 by March. Now it is up again to 74. At first Dr. did not seem concerned and scheduled pet…
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YES, YES, YES!! GOOD NEWS!
Hi Everyone!! As you may know, my mom (stage4/with mets to both adrenal glands) had a PET/CT scan last week. On Tuesday of this week, my mom, my dad, and myself drove to Denver to Rocky Mountain Cancer Center to see Dr. Allen Cohn. My mom has been fighting this beast for almost one year. She stopped chemo 3 months ago with…
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Stage IV? Out of options?
I just wanted to let you all know that the Cancer Treatment Centers of America are conducting a clinical trial of IV Vitamin C, which some of you may have heard about. This has been approved by FDA. The theory has been around for a while, that if the immunity of a patient is boosted the body can heal itself.…
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Bloodwork / Liver Counts
BRIEF HISTORY: DX with Stage II (NO/MO)colon cancer in July 06. Finished FLOFOX treatment on 3 Nov 06. Had colon reconnection surgery on 27 Feb 07. First 3 month check-up CT Scan was on 22 Jan 07 - ALL CLEAR/NED along with good bloodwork results. CEA was 0.5. Don't know if my CEA is a good marker because I am 99% sure it…
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Nausea
I am in my 5th year after having stage II rectal cancer. I have a nausea problem that doesn't want to go away. I have tried eating differently, having smaller meals more times a day, just munching all the time to mask the feeling. Nothing makes it go away. I am on a few medications, but remember feeling this way before I…
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Positive News
Finally got the results of my husbands ct scan last week when going for his 3rd treatment today. The oncologist says that there has been some shrinkage in the liver mets. We are so grateful for this positive sign after two treatments. (Thank you God)and thank you all for your support. He will have another treatment in 3…
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Over the Top!
Hey Everyone! In reading through the array of e-mails I have saved on this site, I'm noticing SO many people who have shared their stories and looked for support. Again, I know I sound like a broken record, but I really want everyone to consider heading to Nashville for the reunion in September. There are SO many of you I…
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neuropathey post chemo
I finished with chemo almost 2 years ago and am one of those who never completely recovered from the oxaliplatin neuropathy. Just a question: do any of you experience good days and bad days with the neuropathy still? For me, sometimes it seems almost gone, very unnoticeable, then other days I'm right back into some pain…
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Question regarding temporary Colostomy
Hello everyone. Quick summary, My dad was dxed with Colon cancer end of March. His surgery is scheduled for May 17. He has had a CT and blood all normal. He had his appt with the surgeon yesterday and he mentioned that he would be trying to do the surgery using the laproscopic (sp) method (if possible as my Dad has a spare…
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oxaliplatin
Hello, I had my first clonoscopy at 55 (july 2004)and was diagnosed w/colon cancer. I had a sigmoid resection at that time and was given 5 Fu & Leuvocorin for 6 months. Which I completed w/o any major problem, other than bleeding nostrils. My Dr. recommended sigmoidoscopys yearly & told me a FULL colonscopy wasn't needed…
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need info on fap
i have 4 kids and was just diagnosied with fap. at first it was rectal cancer that was never staged. i am so confused please can someone help?i have been dealing with this for 3 years and have a ileostomy. can't get any answers from the doctors just test after test. they are doing a egd on 3/23/07, hope they don't find…
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Scared of the future
I have spent the last 2 years fighting to survive stage 3 colon cancer and after lots of chemo and 1 recurrance I have had clear scans for about 9 months. But I am so scared to even think about the future and what that might be. My wife and I are seperating partly because I can't even discuss the future and what I may want…
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Another Delay
My husband was to have his last chemo treatment of folfox last week but his WBC were too low. We were to wait until this week and get his blood checked again. His bloodwork today again revealed a low count so we will be delayed again until next week. Will there be some point when they just decide to forget the last…
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Lung biopsy confirms mets
Just got the results of my lung biopsy done on Friday the 13th. Positive for low grade colonic adenocarcinoma as we suspected.Pet scan shows its in my liver also. I wish the Onc had recommended adjuvant chemo therapy as a precaution when I was diagnosed as Stage II in 2005 and just had surgery to remove it. If I only knew…
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CEA levels up
Dr. just called to tell me that my CEA level was up from 5 to 19. I have been going thru chemo since Dec. I only have 5 more weeks to go. He wants to do a pet scan. I had a large tumor in the transverse colon. I had a resection in Oct. of 06. Only two lymph nodes were positive. What do I do now?
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Second Cycle
Hi to all, I just got home from the hospital after completing my second cycle--can I do 10 more?? For some reason, I'm am so down, I guess what I'm feeling is normal. I have been so upbeat and optimistic but seems like this weekend has been tough. I'm tired from the treatment and hurried the drip to get out of there which…
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#3 & getting results today
Today is treatment 3 and we will be told results of ct scan last week to see if there is change in my husband's liver mets etc. Your good thoughts and prayers mean a lot. Part of me wants to know and part of me doesn't. I'm sure you can all relate to the anxiety. I'm really trying to stay positive and hopeful.It can be…
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Another bit of encouragement needed!
Hi and I know this has been discussed several times before. My hair is thinning, noticably after this weekend (cycle two). Just curious how many actually lost all your hair versus how many had just thinning during treatment. I'm doing 5FU and oxalplatin. This is a tough time for me right now and the loss of my hair is…
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Goodbye:-)
I don't write often, but I read almost everyday. I'm heading for some sun tomorrow am. I have a 2 wk vacation in St John VI. I will miss you guys. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Good health to you all!!!! Mary
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Liver enzyme tests
Hello all. We just got word that my husbands liver enzymes are elevated. ALT is 220 and AST is 90. This has me very concerned, however the doctor says before we do anymore tests we will have him discontinue is Lipitor that he takes for high cholesterol. He also said it could be because of his FOLFOX chemo that he is…
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Lung nodules
I would like some advice. I am a stage 1V colorectal with mets to liver have done all treatments and surgery and all looked good until I just had my one year pet/cat scans and now there is "nodules" in my lungs which were there before however one grew from 3mm to 5mm and now a new one at 5mm. My oncolgist said too small to…
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Double Lumen Ports
I am scheduled to have a double lumen port. Anyone have experience with 2 versus 1? Any problems or suggestions?
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Bunch of stage IV survival stories
http://www.ccalliance.org/patient/personal/stories_stage4.html
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I guess I'm just a dizzy broad!!!
Still no cause of my dizzy spells...all my blood levels are actually the best they've been since before meeting the beast. DID have a visual aura the other day....after it was over, I noticed a feeling of released pressure in my left sinus...hummmmmm....maybe the culprit.... During the aura, looked sort of like a disco…
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Sugar and Cancer
Hello Semi-Colons, I am posting an article about something very basic to cancer healing and could be all the difference in someone's outcome. It is worth the read. Just know I am always thinking of you all when I read these and want to share the knowledge. For some you have never heard this and others you know this is my…
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CEA Level and Treatment
My dad is currently on avastin and 5 flu (??). His cea went from 189 in October to 57 in February to 59 in March. We are concerned about this two point increase; however, the oncologist is continuing the treatment. In the past (previous oncolongist), my dad stopped treatment if his cea level rose at all and had a pet scan.…