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I have pulled the plug
After three miserable sessions of adjuvant chemo I decided to terminate the treatment. My oncologist disagreed but he could not present an argument strong enough to change my mind. The effects of the oxy and 5Fu were too much for my body. My weight plummeted to 128 (I began this journey at 145) and my blood chemistry was…
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Short video article about the future of immunotherapy
http://www.bbc.com/news/av/business-42430785/immunotherapy-using-our-immune-system-to-fight-cancer Not fond of the presentation, a little distracting with the background noise, but an article on Cancer none-the-lesss. Tru
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Is decreasing CEA a good sign?
I don't want to get false hope, but after 2 treatments, my dh's CEA levels have went down. CEA was 131 prior to his colon surgery, then only went down to 93 two weeks after surgery and that's when we found out that he was actually stage 4 with spread to liver and maybe lungs, not stage 3 like originally thought. Then CEA…
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I am so excited my husband’s CEA
dropped from 8.9 to 3.1!! I am beyond excited over this since we started chemo at 14.9, I am happier over this than the tumor shrinkage for some reason. I feel CEA is my nemesis lol
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The extrme cold weather that some of us are exposed to
Having completed my treatment (folfox 5FU) back on Novemeber 8th, I am no longer experiencing the extreme sensitivity to the cold weather anymore, but I do remember how it felt! I hope that those of you who are dealing with the sensitvity to the cold are bundling up when you go outside. My thoughts go out to you, as I know…
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Stage 4 Appedix with mets
Hi, Just joined this group. I was diagnosed with Appendix Cancer in May. Had it removed followed by Colectomy and 3 month of Xelox. In October there were mets to my peritoneum. on Nov 1st had HIPEC and now recovering. I have Poorly Diff Adenocarcinoma with some signet cell features. Anyone with similar PDA pathology? what…
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Brand new to the forum, 8 months out from diagnosis
My story is complicated but I was diagnosed in October of last year with rectal cancer, usually I call it colon cancer to others in person because I feel embarrassed. Had major surgery to remove the tumor in lower part of colon which went fairly well in November. No ostomy! Due to mass confusion with multiple doctors and…
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Cold Sensitivity and Snow storms
Because of my fatigue, I stay inside. I am supposed to travel upstate to Christmas dinner tomorrow. But there is supposed to be a snow storm and high winds. I am wondering if I shoud skip it because of the cold sensitivity. I was already not up for the trip because of my fatigue.
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Radiation Therapy/What to Expect
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Bad news - tumour skull bone
Hi all - I am supposed to be on a chemo break to recoup after about 13 mos of chemo, which I really needed. Had brain scan due to ear plugged and feeling bit dizzy. CT showed a large tumour in the skull bone near my ear. Now I have had a zillion tests, x-rays, MRI's for Oncologist to learn more and to try to determine…
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Bowel problems still after 3 years off chemo
Just wondering if there is anyone who still has bowel problems years after surgery and radiation and chemo. I am 3 years cancer free but still have a lot of bowel problems. I get runny stools at times that I cannot control and have to be careful going out. It comes on some days and other days I am okay. Cannot seem to…
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Illeostomy reversal patients
I had me reversal back in Septmeber and other than some retraining, it seems to be going well. Question though to those who have had one. Now that I am somewhat at my new normal I have noticed something rather odd and wonder if anyone else experiences this, When I go more than a day without having a BM ( and this happens…
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Dad has colorectal cancer; I need moral support
Hello friends, My dad has been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma (colorectal cancer) and he has developed jaundice (liver has metasized) therefore we cannot give chemo. He is in severe pain, coughing and producing mucous. I need some moral support. I have tons of questions, i am meeting doctors but time is short. It all…
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Physical restrictions with a chest port?
What can’t you do with a chest port?
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Happy Birthday Trubrit
Yeah, that's me. 59 today. So excited! I have appreciated the birthday greetings in Carrieh's thread, but don't want to derail the content. So, have at it here, guys. I'll start with wishing myslelf
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Recovery from HIPEC surgery
My husband had HIPEC surgery at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital on July 18, 2011. The surgery lasted 5 hours and they only found one area in the peritoneal with active cancer. Dr. Levine took 10 spots and only 1 was active. The rest had been killed by the 6 months of 5 FU chemo. The worst part about the surgery was that he…
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Surgery question/ HIPEC
Hi Everyone, **** just returned from California where he met with Dr. Lenz and the surgeon at USC, Dr. Genyk. As many of you know, **** was diagnosed with cc stage 3c in January 2009. He had surgery and then 12 rounds of Folfox 6 and still a lymph node lit up. Then, 12 rounds of Folfori + Avastin and the lymph node, though…
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Abdominal Metastasis and had Cytoreductive Surgery with HIPEC? AKA "The Sugarbaker Method"
HI All, I haven't posted in a while and I am doing well. I had Cytoreductive Surgery with HIPEC in December '08. I just had another clean scan. Woohoo! Three more months of living and loving my family. Now I am trying to help a couple of other ladies do the same. If you have had this surgery and you live in Canada please…
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And it's back...
New, related tumor. Found in my scans this week. No treatment at this time - watch and wait, hopefully for a very long time. We now assume lots of new tumors will be sprouting from the way my cancer seeded in my abdomen. *Profanities*
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5th round on the 21st.
so I have my 5th round of chemo on the 21st. I am so fatigued now. What will it be like after the 5th. Does I.t. just get harder? After round 4 I just slept most of the time for 4-5 days. Does the chemo dose go up each time? Brain fog gets really bad when I am fatigued. I am on the normal Folfox treatment plan. Any help is…
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My CEA and LD keep going up.
My CEA and LD keep going up. Have any of you had this happe?
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HIPEC/IntraPeritoneal Chemo/EPIC
I see that BonnieDewey has been asking about HIPEC on some old threads. I thought I'd start a new on. Bonnie - this is for you. While I did not have HIPEC, I had EPIC, another form of Intraperitoneal Chemo that was given post-op, and not heated (at Sloan Kettering in NYC, which is what they prefer to HIPEC. Both treatments…
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Doc Won’t Allow Chiropractic Care/Horrible Pain
Any advice is appreciated...I’m NED, Stage 4. About 15 surgeries total. I have an ostom, a port, and only 1 lung. People with ostomy‘s, ports, and those who have had back surgery are all allowed to be seen by chiropractors. I had a thoracotomy 1.2 years ago and am in constan, unbelievable pain. I’m fairly certain my…
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Peritoneal Mets
How does a Colo-rectal cancer with peritoneal Mets is treated,my sister was diagnosed with this and docs decided for FOLFIRI 6cycles and if everything goes well and no any further Mets Hipec crs would have been done but sadly my lovely sister could not reach that mark she suffered lots of pain and agony every second and…
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Why do you change Ileostomy bags when you do?
There was a discussion on another board about when people change their bags and I was a bit surprised as a few people mentioned that they change them daily or every other day. Some here mentioned three days and I have been going with five days. The reason I change it at five days is that the bag loses its shape and becomes…
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Advice on food ideas for husband please!
I am struggling with what to do for nutrition for my husband. I normally cook pretty regularly as we are a family of 5. My dh just had his second FOLFOX with Avastin added today. Since his last treatment he has lost 4lbs. Might not seem like much, but he is already very skinny. He's down to 159lbs and is 6ft tall. He is…
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82 condolences, so far
My friend of 35 years has just passed away. He too had CRC. The family have just posted the announement of his death on Facebook and he has 82 wonderful replies do far, saying what a wonderful man he was, and that is tremendous. It did make me wonder though, why can't we, as a people, get into the habit of telling our…
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Anxiety around liver resection
Is it normal to worry about what if my lesions on liver don't shrink enough to remove, the surgery itself, the recovery time, the hospital stay (was in the hospital for 19 days for diagnosis, colon resection, and recovery), how my cats will worry, what I can do to get my body ready, etc? My surgeon is confident. My…
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Wife sleeping a lot and not eating
Wife is stage 4 colon with Mets to liver, she just started her 4th chemo and last week or so she is slowly losing her appetite and sleeping a lot then before. Today she barely ate today, seems like her appetite is non existent and she wants to stay awake but can’t. I’m worried about her, is this normal to have a slip…
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Sleeping All day??? Is this normal?
Hi everybody ... my Dad was (officially) diagnosed a week ago wtih Stage 4 - mets to liver, he's been in pain for a month. We;re meeting with the oncologist tomorrow, and he's getting his chemo port put in Friday and supposed to start chemo next week. We are still worried about his liver. But he has started sleeping ALL…