Speaking of scanxiety...

Brenda Bricco said:

Update...
The scan was clear!
My husband was so convinced that there was gonna be something that he cried when the doc came in the room and said to the nurse that was checking him in " I can't make him wait anymore and I can't wait either, Your scan looks awesome!". Him crying made me and the doc cry. We asked about the whole bone met thing (that the PA threw out there when the CEA rose 3 points) and he said that he highly doubts that there would be anything in his bones, that he can see the bones in the upper part of the body and they are clear. The doc said he wants us to sleep at night so he ordered an xray of his legs that we went to immediatly (no news yet but I trust the docs judgement). I asked about the rising CEA and he said that that the chemo could do that too. The plan is three more months and then another scan, if that is clear he said that we would stop the chemo (Xeloda) and can take a LONG break of six months. He also said that if something shows up we will treat it (like it was no big deal).
We were discussing the whole small town onc that told us to go home and enjoy the time we have (which is good advice for anyone) but if we would have stopped there we would be getting darn close to the funeral. He said he can't tell you how many time he has heard that.
I want to thank everyone for your thoughts, prayers and encouragement. I hope that I can encourage you by saying that we see all hear the doom of the whole 5% but hings are changing, I know that guys at UW Madison gets a thrill out of making folks better that others said couldn't be done. Please don't give up hope... I thank and praise GOD for getting us to Madison!
I have been praying and thinking about you all and I hope that we all get good news from here on out.
GOD's blessings to you, thanks again!
Brenda

marbleotis said:

This may cheer everyone up.
This may cheer everyone up. I was in chemo #11 of 12 today (side note-Yeah!), anyway there was a couple in the mid-60's and the husband was receiving some chemo and some other things. We smiled a few time and he said some funny stuff. He was done before me so he was disconnected and given his next appointments. He stood up and spoke to the 3 patients in the room. He said it is all about being positive. He said he started chemo when the new wing on the hospital was just a pile of bricks. He was told he would have 2 months....that was 3 years ago. He said to all of us it needs to be firmly in your head that you will beat this. He said the Onc asked him years ago....do you want to fight this...he said a respounding yes (we also share the same Onc - Yeah again). He left then to use the bathroom and his wife continued to tell us....he had 8 surgeries, chemo too many times to count, scans an on and on and last week he was in ICU with a bp of 48/20. This week he is in chemo and he looked good. She said he has taught her about being strong in your mind you cannot let cancer have that space in your head because it then attempts to control your thoughts. I thought this man was great. I have told my husnand from day 1 I was going to fight from the beginning (I am CC 3b no mets). It was no accident that I met that man today. I believe God works that magic. What this man did for me (and I hope others with his story) is once again affirm that a strong positive attitude goes a long way. I was Dx 1/13/12 with CC 3b surgery 1/31/12, chemo 1/7/12 - today (#11). At 49 years old!. Yes - that sucks, but it can always be much worse. Everyone keep strong, focussed and pushing forward. Alice

marbleotis said:

This may cheer everyone up.
This may cheer everyone up. I was in chemo #11 of 12 today (side note-Yeah!), anyway there was a couple in the mid-60's and the husband was receiving some chemo and some other things. We smiled a few time and he said some funny stuff. He was done before me so he was disconnected and given his next appointments. He stood up and spoke to the 3 patients in the room. He said it is all about being positive. He said he started chemo when the new wing on the hospital was just a pile of bricks. He was told he would have 2 months....that was 3 years ago. He said to all of us it needs to be firmly in your head that you will beat this. He said the Onc asked him years ago....do you want to fight this...he said a respounding yes (we also share the same Onc - Yeah again). He left then to use the bathroom and his wife continued to tell us....he had 8 surgeries, chemo too many times to count, scans an on and on and last week he was in ICU with a bp of 48/20. This week he is in chemo and he looked good. She said he has taught her about being strong in your mind you cannot let cancer have that space in your head because it then attempts to control your thoughts. I thought this man was great. I have told my husnand from day 1 I was going to fight from the beginning (I am CC 3b no mets). It was no accident that I met that man today. I believe God works that magic. What this man did for me (and I hope others with his story) is once again affirm that a strong positive attitude goes a long way. I was Dx 1/13/12 with CC 3b surgery 1/31/12, chemo 1/7/12 - today (#11). At 49 years old!. Yes - that sucks, but it can always be much worse. Everyone keep strong, focussed and pushing forward. Alice

Brenda Bricco said:

Update...
The scan was clear!
My husband was so convinced that there was gonna be something that he cried when the doc came in the room and said to the nurse that was checking him in " I can't make him wait anymore and I can't wait either, Your scan looks awesome!". Him crying made me and the doc cry. We asked about the whole bone met thing (that the PA threw out there when the CEA rose 3 points) and he said that he highly doubts that there would be anything in his bones, that he can see the bones in the upper part of the body and they are clear. The doc said he wants us to sleep at night so he ordered an xray of his legs that we went to immediatly (no news yet but I trust the docs judgement). I asked about the rising CEA and he said that that the chemo could do that too. The plan is three more months and then another scan, if that is clear he said that we would stop the chemo (Xeloda) and can take a LONG break of six months. He also said that if something shows up we will treat it (like it was no big deal).
We were discussing the whole small town onc that told us to go home and enjoy the time we have (which is good advice for anyone) but if we would have stopped there we would be getting darn close to the funeral. He said he can't tell you how many time he has heard that.
I want to thank everyone for your thoughts, prayers and encouragement. I hope that I can encourage you by saying that we see all hear the doom of the whole 5% but hings are changing, I know that guys at UW Madison gets a thrill out of making folks better that others said couldn't be done. Please don't give up hope... I thank and praise GOD for getting us to Madison!
I have been praying and thinking about you all and I hope that we all get good news from here on out.
GOD's blessings to you, thanks again!
Brenda

Brenda Bricco said:

Update...
The scan was clear!
My husband was so convinced that there was gonna be something that he cried when the doc came in the room and said to the nurse that was checking him in " I can't make him wait anymore and I can't wait either, Your scan looks awesome!". Him crying made me and the doc cry. We asked about the whole bone met thing (that the PA threw out there when the CEA rose 3 points) and he said that he highly doubts that there would be anything in his bones, that he can see the bones in the upper part of the body and they are clear. The doc said he wants us to sleep at night so he ordered an xray of his legs that we went to immediatly (no news yet but I trust the docs judgement). I asked about the rising CEA and he said that that the chemo could do that too. The plan is three more months and then another scan, if that is clear he said that we would stop the chemo (Xeloda) and can take a LONG break of six months. He also said that if something shows up we will treat it (like it was no big deal).
We were discussing the whole small town onc that told us to go home and enjoy the time we have (which is good advice for anyone) but if we would have stopped there we would be getting darn close to the funeral. He said he can't tell you how many time he has heard that.
I want to thank everyone for your thoughts, prayers and encouragement. I hope that I can encourage you by saying that we see all hear the doom of the whole 5% but hings are changing, I know that guys at UW Madison gets a thrill out of making folks better that others said couldn't be done. Please don't give up hope... I thank and praise GOD for getting us to Madison!
I have been praying and thinking about you all and I hope that we all get good news from here on out.
GOD's blessings to you, thanks again!
Brenda

marbleotis said:

Robin - thanks this guy was
Robin - thanks this guy was so inspirational I had to do the viral sharing. He locked eyes with me like he was talking to my soul (I know that sounds weird but I cannot explain any other way. Alice

Brenda Bricco said:

Update on leg xrays
We got home around 4pm... I crashed but could hear my husband answer the phone when the doc called him to say that all looks good and there is no evidence of bone mets (just as he thought).
Something strange happend today that I want to tell you about. After the scan we went to the surgical waiting area to rest until we got scan results. I got my husband all set up in a recliner with a blanket and he was out in two minutes. I curled up on a love seat kind of couch using my purse as a pillow. I dosed off until I felt someone lay a blanket over me too. I sat up thinking my husabnd was up but it was someone that I didn't recognize, he wasn't there when I layed down. I know this is going to sound strange and maybe I was just over tired but it just felt like GOD was providing rest for me too. I looked at the man and mouthed the words "thank you", he smiled and sat down across from my husband (my love seat was in a different pod).I was so beat that I snuggled into my blanket and feel asleep. I wanted to properly thank him when I got up but he wasn't there. Have you ever had the feeling that GOD is carrying you? I sure do. Maybe it was just someone being kind but it just felt like something out of the ordinary, like GOD was providing for me. This whole day had felt like this, it was a good feeling to have at such a tense time.
I can't stop thanking GOD for all of his mercy and love.
Feeling so thankful tonight...
Brenda