New member checking in!

Hi everyone!  My name is Alan, and although I have been reading this forum for quite a while now, I just decided to sign up so I to can join in the fun!  

 

I was diagnosed with Stage 4colon cancer in October of 2016 after they found a rather large tumor blocking my intestines.  I waited nearly a year before I started any treatments.  I worked in a field where I couldn't receive chemo and be deemed fit for work.  I needed to get some personal and finacial affairs in order before I was comfortable with treatment.  I tried very hard to make it to the end of 2017 working, but was forced to stop on Octover 22nd, 2017 because of the intense pain from the liver sites.  All is well though.  I started the standard 5FU treatment in November and will go tomorrow for the 10th of 12 rounds.  Doctor is very optimistic.  He claims that my age (46), and the fact that other than the cancer, I am in good health, has really helped the chemo do it's job.  (As a sidenote, when he said that, my mind wandered to the old joke that roughly says, Aside from that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play.).  Had a scan halfway though, and they said of the 14 tumors, 8 weren't visible any longer, and 6 had reduced 50-66%.  I am truely grateful that I chose to get treatment.  The side effects, although they seem terrible, really aren't when I read some of the stories on here.  A little bit of nausea, terrible diarrhea, and a bit of tiredness.  Overall, not too bad!

I will not ramble any longer, just decided it was time to put my story out there.  I have been energized and overjoyed in knowing there is this support group.  I love reading through, gathering knowledge, and hearing of the the successes of fellow members.  The only advice I can give is STAY POSITIVE.  I truely feel that our mental state and outlook has tons to do with how are treatment fares.

 

Thanks for letting me be a part, and I hope I will be posting for a long time to come.

Alan