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Neon356
Carl, thank you for replying to my post. I will give my brother some space as you suggested. Since my family is new at this, if there is anything you can tell me to help him get through this, I would certainly appreciate it. Thanks, Machel
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How Long Can You Stay on Chemo
Seasons Greetings, I hope this e-mail finds evryone feeling well and in the Christmas spirit. My Dad is scheduled for a PET scan this week and the results will determine our next course of action. The oncologist previously talked about stopping the Camptosar and possibly continuing just the Erbitux if the scans show…
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So they scanned my cat...
Due to the insurance difficulties I have had in getting my previous PET/CT covered I am now two months behind of my scheduled scans and so we decided to just have a CT done on Friday afternoon. I am still waiting for the results of my bloodwork, but I got the CT results. I think they continue to be good. There is no sign…
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CEA results-need help
Hi everyone. I haven't posted in quite a while but I'm on the boards frequently checking on you and praying for a cure. We just received the results of my mom's CEA level and the numbers are just impossible to believe. Has anyone ever had a CEA level of almost 3800? This is no mistake. After an emergency CT scan and chest…
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possible liver mets
Hi everyone. Claudia here. I have not been here for a while. I have read a lot but not written. Been in a funky mode. Kind of denial. Feeling good and trying to get away from cancer everything. I had rectal cancer diagnosed May 27 05. age 34. I gave birth April 2. I had radn and chemo with an experimental drug TNFerade…
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this can't be me
I wasn't supposed to get cancer. I lived a happy and lucky life. I have always watched my health and lived smartly. Cancer happens to other people, not me. Maybe, we all have something in common and that is why we got this terrible disease. But, what ever it is, it's not that we weren't good people and did not live a…
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A Courageous Battle
I posted only one other time to this site and that was when my younger brother, Dave, was diagnosed Stage IV colon cancer a year and 1/2 ago. Everyone here has shown great support and concern for each other-- most of you probably have never met one another but share a special bond. After 20 months of surgery/chemo/pain…
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Tailbone Area Pain
Hello, I recieved radiation to treat rectal tumor last summer and then had rectum/colon resected in September. I am now back at work, where I often slump, rolling my pelvis back and sit on my tailbone for long hours. I now am having dull pain back there. I'm unsure if it is just due to my poor sitting habits. But I am…
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I am new here-please help.
Hi I am new here. My father age 62 years old is diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal with liver mets. He went through surgery to resect his colon. 2 weeks after surgery, he is undergoing chemo with oxyliplatin and xeloda. He said he feels knocked down and weak. My question no. 1 is, how long is he going to be knocked down. He…
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Discovering How Cancer Spreads
I've pasted text below of the following Reuters article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10366968/ *****BEGIN TEXT***** LONDON - Scientists have discovered how cancer spreads from a primary site to other places in the body in a finding that could open doors for new ways of treating and preventing advanced disease. Instead of a…
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For Rodney
Hi Rodney - You replied to my email but included no subject. Apparently clicking on the subject is the only way to read the mail (clicking on your ID just brings up your web page). So, thanks for responding - I just don't know what you said! Betsy
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Relentless Erbitux Rash
Two weeks ago I my doc started giving me CPT-11 and Erbitux. The CPT-11 made me horribly ill, so we immediately stopped it. I am still using Erbitux, which does not make me sick but I have a terrible rash on my chest, face, and even my scalp. I know that a rash is a common side effect of Erbitux. The doctor prescribed…
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Treatments..Finally
Hi everyone.. I first posted on Nov. 7th about having rectal cancer and mets to the liver, finally I will start chemo - radiation on Tuesday Dec. 13th..I had a new cat scan on Wednesday and today the Dr. compared it to the one taken on Oct. 12th and the tumors have grown and we counted 7 in the liver..This is the first…
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xmas greetings
Hullo dear friends.At this time of year I travel away to help my son at work so I have not been able to post. Jen and I wish you all the very best for xmas and the coming new year. We also hope with all our hearts that those of you who are struggling at the moment in treatment will be able to tell us of good and positive…
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Bad Week at Work
Hi all - just venting! I think I have handled things really well since my Stage IV diagnosis in late May 2005. I seem to be going on with life and mostly managing to be relatively upbeat. BUT, I find I have seriously reduced tolerance for what some might indelicately term "bull ****"! This was a horrible week at work -…
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Cancer news good, liver bad
Hello, all. I haven't been in here or posted for some time. I was hospitalized in November after throwing up for 5 hours only to find that I had fluid in my abdomen. After CT scan, liver/spleen screen, and a paracentesis (they use a big needle to drain the fluid), I was BACK in the hospital again this whole past week.…
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what to expect at a PET scan
My oncologist has recommended a PET scan as part of my follow-up tests. I just had a chest x-ray and a colonoscopy and they were good, but I have never had a PET scan. What can I expect?? Thanks, Arlene
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My husband
My husband, Dale, died on Tuesday morning from pneumonia. He was fighting to recover from the surgery that drained the abscess compressing his spinal cord and was just overwhelmed with infection. He was diagnosed with rectal cancer in January 2002 and discovered the lung metastasis in October 2003. Erbitux was effective in…
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CEA counts
I completed my chemo in April. Had my follow up colonoscopy (my tumor had been too large to complete the initial colonoscopy in August of 2004), it was clear. I went in for routine blood work and my CEA count came back at 17. We retested my blood and a week later it had jumped to 21.9. I am now scheduled for a PET on the…
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Erbitux, dry skin and vitamin E
Hi all, I'm on Erbitux for the past 22 weeks and the dry skin thing is getting me. My rash isn't too bad anymore, it's moved to my legs but the cracked fingertips bug me. Has anyone taken Vitamin E to help with the dry skin. I've heard it's good for skin but have not tried it yet. I see my Onc on monday to go over last…
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Common thread for metastatic cured
HERE'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE!!!!!! A review of all the people in the world who have had metastatic colon cancer and have had no evidence of disease for 5 or more years. I would like to know what they believe contributed to their success. I personally know only one person who fits this description, but I understand there are…
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your best diarrhea treatments?
taking a survey to see how you all manage diarrhea and cramping. The oxaliplatin is really doing a job on me. the diarrhea starts about 2 days after the infusion. It lasts 3-4 days. The cramping is really uncomfortable. I'm up to 8 imodium per day and pulled out some lomotil that i had left over from 2 years ago(i know, I…
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my granny is gone
hello all. my granny passed away on sat morning. she was a fighter and at 80 yrs old she took some pain with little complaing. i was blessed to take care of her even at 2 am on fri but i knew she was slipping away. i have taken the next 2 treatments off as i am exhausted and just need a break. i am still waiting on scans…
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Female Radiation Side Effect
***Question for women!!!**** You've been warned! Hi, I finished radiation to my pelvis are to treat rectal cacner on July 11th. I haven't felt comfortable remaining sexually active since my rectal cancer diagnosis, so I used a vaginal dilator to try to minimize narrowing and closing off of the vagina which can happen from…
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blood transfusion tomorrow
Hi everyone, I hope you are all feeling well. I will be having a blood transfusion tomorrow because of low counts. I know that this will make me feel better as I've been extremely wiped out, but it is very frustrating to have to spend all day sitting at the hospital tomorrow. Yuck!!!!!!!!!! I finally had a day with no…
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Palooza 4 ~ Halifax, NS Canada
Palooza 4 Dear fellow semi-colons as we say goodbye to 2005 Andy & I would like to wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas and good health & prosperity in 2006. 2006 Semi-Annual Palooza's . Palooza 3, Austin Texas in late April , further details to be announced... Palooza 4, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. So set…
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oxaliplatin is it changing the stats?
When my husb. Tim was diagnosed stage 3 colon cancer with 8 positive lymph nodes I looked up all the information and stats I could find. The infor was grim and scarry. The info was also pre oxaliplatin for first time cancer patients. Does anyone have good news for me about survival rates for a 52 year old in Tim's…
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possible changes to my chemo
Last week, I posted how I was worried about by care. I have been on Erbitux and Camptosar for eight weeks because of recurrent liver metastases (6) and peritoneal lymph nodes (4). I had a scare last week as my CEA went to 49 and my onc. freaked. She said that she wanted to stop taking CEAs and CAT scans and just continue…
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Dry eyes at night - why?
I have taken most of the different kinds of chemo currently aimed at metastatic colon cancer to my lungs and liver. I have also had the colon surgery, liver surgery, and surgery on both lungs and also 4 stents placed in my bile duct. All of this began about 3 years ago. I wake up to go to the bathroom most night at about…
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night sweats
In answer to some of my posts a few people have mentioned night sweats..I wonder how common they are and how much it has to do with liver/lung mets?..or the chemo. My husband has had 2 treatments of folfiri and avastin and both times the night of the treatment he wakes up 2-3 times with drenching night sweats... please let…