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his surgery story
My husband's (Mike) surgery was on April 23rd. He had a tumor inside his liver, lodged between the portal vein and the vena cava. Surgeons weren't sure how operable this would be. They weren't able to do their 1st choice which would have been a resection. Part of the tumor was attached to the vena cava. Instead they did a…
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About Ben's surgery
Hi well its over and Ben did well... 13 hours of surgery boy was it a long day yesterday.. but good news too Dr Gearhart was able to spare Bens prostrate and bladder. She went in threw both the front and rear and "very" slowly worked the tumors out... not sure if any nodes yet are positive and also she wasnt able to view…
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My Cancer Story
I have been posting on this board for the last couple of weeks. I want to share my cancer story, especially for the newly diagnosed. I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer on March 17, 2003. 2 out of 12 nodes were positive. Since then I have had 5 weeks of radiation treatments along with continuous 5FU. I was able to…
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E-POST CARD
Greetings from Key West, FL Semi-Colons!! Been here for a couple of days playing with helicopters. Heading out later on today. More later. PS - The rum, although distilled from cane sugar (sorry, Em), is great! - SpongeBob
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Catch-Up
Hello All! Thanks to a sleepless night, I was able to catch up on the last 3 wks of posts. First, I'd like to say Thank-You to those of you who expressed support, prayers, and love concerning my husband's recent surgery. You helped more than you'll ever know. It has been a very difficult few wks, but I know it will get…
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Rectal Cancer Suvivor-Question
I'll try to make a long story short. Oct 31, 2003 husband was dx with rectal cancer. Dr told us he would have 6 wks chemo and rad, rest time to recoup and then surgery which would result in rectum being removed and permanent colostomy. Dr said 0% chance of not having the above surgery and colostomy. Did the chemo(Xeloda)…
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Newcomer looking for help.
I was diagnosed in November 03' at the age of 52 with colorectal cancer following a colonscopy. I had 25 radiation/chemotherapy (Xeloda) treatments in December and January to shrink the tumor and was lucky enough to have few side effects. I had surgery on 2/23/04. The tumor was so low in my rectum I needed a permanent…
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Bon Voyage!
Well, we're off to Europe for about four weeks. Plane leaves tomorrow a.m. and I've got tons to do before then. I'm going to try real hard to put Bert's rising CEA on the very back burner and focus on what my girlfriend, who has survived both breast and colon cancer told me...that being, unless the onc gives you bad news,…
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why can't I chat???
Hi all I am still sorta new here and am wondering why I can't get in the chat rooms? Everytime I try to enter I get a blank page that says something like type here and press enter, but here are no buttons nor anywhere to type? I work on Macintosh computers.. maybe it's not compatible? I use Interenet explorer 5 also. maybe…
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to all the mom's...
I wish you all a VERY HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! Enjoy this weekend - I hope you have better weather than me in Toronto. It's gonna rain all weekend. Happy Mother's Day!! julie
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Words of encouragement
Hi all, I am putting together a small book to take to the hospital on the 20th when I have my surgery. I would like words of encouragement, poems you may have, prayers, anything that will uplift me, as I go through the next phase of my treatment. I also request your prayers that when I have surgery everything will go well…
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the results r in!!
hello all. i will remind u a little about what has been going on. in 02 was told of recurrance in both lungs and in pelvic and ab. in 03 went to mayo to have to major surgerys one in feb and one in march. just in jan 04 had at least 7 very visible lung lesions and several small ones. got scans monday and everything is gone…
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lump on leg
On my right leg I have a lump on the inside part. My onc said to me, not to worry that is a soft lump with fat. But I'm not to happy with his opinion. I would like to hear from you guys if you had a similar experience. Jose
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Stacy: Everyone: Worrisome Isn't It
Stacey, I am so honored by your praise...really, I am! I don't exactly agree with you because there are certain days that I feel like I'm the horse just out of the gate again :o ) but then again, there are other days when yes, Bert and I have come a long, long way and still have a long way to go. Hell, it beats having a…
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Why are we here?
If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain. Emily Dickenson
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Worrisom & Scary
I had some extra time this weekend, a rarity in and of itself :o ), and spent it reading some of the past posts as well as several new ones that have been added recently and I was extremely amazed and without a doubt concerned about how many posts that I read that mention recurrences without detection by either a CAT or a…
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Minor problem
Hi all, With all the heavy stuff happening at this site, I feel somewhat silly about this post, but here goes... Has anyone found a cure for cracks in the corners of the mouth? I kept hoping that with the warmer weather up here my skin would get better. My fingers and heels have healed up, with ongoing attention, but the…
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Ben's Big Day
Tomorrow is Ben surgery day.. He will have it at 7:45 am at John Hopkins with a team of 3 surgeons... Dr Gearhart, Dr Singh and Dr Schoenberg I am asking for prayers please as this is going to be a very large surgery . Teresa
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Addendum to Worrisome & Scary
Well folks, I did it. I called the onc's office today...one of those I want to know but don't really want to know moods overtook me and I really wish it hadn't. The last couple of visits Bert has had I have not been able to go with him as I've been going with mom to get her set-up and going on her new chemo regime. Bert…
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for the girls only
I have been pushed into menopause because of chemo and radiation. I had a hysterectomy in the past, but kept my ovaries. I now wake up 2--4 times a night drenched with sweat. Does anyone else have this problem and did anything help?
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Some good news to share
Hi everyone - Usually my postings are very dismal, but I thought I should share some good news with everyone. My mom (diagnosed Jan 03 with stage III, second local recurrence March 04) met with her surgeon this morning. All the margins from the surgery were clear and 4/4 nodes were negative !! They are not recommending…
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surgery advice
my husband is 34 years old, diagnosed in early march with stage III rectal, closing in on the end of chemoradiaton, and scheduled for surgery (total mesorectal excision) on june 16 at UCSF. do any of you have advice re what to pack for him for the hospital (expected to be there one week), what he would need and/or make him…
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Break out the Champagne!
That's what my brother said when he heard the news. Got the results of my blood labs and CT scan. NED! And I do not have to go back for six months. They used the word remission. I never heard a sweeter sound. When asked about re-staging the thing my onc said it could be classified as stage 11. And the recurrence was so…
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for one and all
Friendship To have a friend and be a friend Is a joy and priviledge too To know a friend accepts your faults And loves you 'cos you're you To be a friend is something fine It makes one understand How selfless is the love that gives, The ever helping hand. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx kanga n Jen xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Cancer Go Away
Are there instances where cancer never recurs in certain individuals? Or does it always eventually come back? I just don't hear of many stories of people who have licked it for many years. I need hope. Thank you.
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to participate in clinical trial...or not
Hi, everyone. I am looking for some advice from people who may have already had these treatments. My 25 year old nephew has stage 2 colon cancer, had the tumor removed in an ileostomy surgery and now must undergo chemo. The doctors have presented him with the option of taking part in a research study to forego the…
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Still don't know what to do next
Just saw my oncologist Tues. for CT scan results. I still have tumors showing up in my liver and lungs although some have sharnk others have not. I have been doing chemo since Sept 2002. First every two weeks for 3 days with the pump. After a PET scan done in August 2003 which showed dead tumors I went to doing chemo every…
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CEA Levels
Hi guys, I just wanted to say I'm relatively new here, but I have met wonderful people, I hope all of you are doing well. My husband's dr appt was today and they told us that his CEA level had gone up some. In March his cat scans were clear (He has Stage 3 Rectal Cancer)..She told us that sometimes the chemo makes it go…
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Kanga - I Do Have an Incredible Man :o)
I do Kanga, I do....have one incredible man that is and I thank God for him every single day. I also have an incredible "mum" a wonderful, wonderful son, and a father who was top notch and I just know continues to look down upon us and helps look after us. I've been blessed. Bert says "Guten Tag" and doesn't quite know how…
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Young Survivors Board
Hi there is a board for young people with cancer or survivors looking for people to talk to around thier age 18 and up.