Some good news

Inspired2013
Inspired2013 Member Posts: 45
edited February 2019 in Colorectal Cancer #1

I figured I would share some good news. Today is the start of my last chemo round! It’s been a long 8 months for sure. Next up is new scans and blood work in mid March for a new baseline. If they’re clear, we’ll meet with surgery a few weeks later to start planning my total colectomy and my hysterectomy. My oncologist is also going to stop my antibiotic in March in hopes that my immune system will be up to the job of taking care of whatever is left of my January liver abscess. Oncology will also monitor forrecurrences every six months. In March I’ll get a survivorship binder that will give me information about all the screenings I will need as a result of Lynch. But all in all, I’m glad to be leaving this part of my journey behind me. Last night I also found out my application for disability benefits was approved, so that will make life a little easier as I continue to recover from the past 8 months. 

Comments

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #2
    Long journey

    and not without its problems, but how wonderful for it to be coming to a close.   Enjoy the break and then face the next step with confidence. We're with you ever step of the way. 

    Tru

  • Diane_K
    Diane_K Member Posts: 84 Member
    #3
    I'm so glad you're through

    I'm so glad you're through with chemo.  What a relief to have that over with.  You are very strong and will get through this!

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #4
    Congratulations

    It is always good to find something to celebrate.  Hopefully you can treat yourself to a nice dinner or weekend getaway to celebrate the end of chemo!

  • Inspired2013
    Inspired2013 Member Posts: 45
    #5
    SandiaBuddy said:

    Congratulations

    It is always good to find something to celebrate.  Hopefully you can treat yourself to a nice dinner or weekend getaway to celebrate the end of chemo!

    We’re doing cake on Sunday to

    We’re doing cake on Sunday to celebrate :). As for a trip, I have a friend getting married in Utah later this summer and I’d love to go, but my surgeries will likely take that decision out of my hands. 

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #6
    Inspired2013 said:

    We’re doing cake on Sunday to

    We’re doing cake on Sunday to celebrate :). As for a trip, I have a friend getting married in Utah later this summer and I’d love to go, but my surgeries will likely take that decision out of my hands. 

    Champagne

    Maybe you can pop open a bottle of champagne with the cake!

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #7
    News

    Sounds like some good news especially getting done with the treatments.  It will be so nice for you to finally get a break from all of this.  Thank you for sharing that news with us and go celebrate somehow.  You definitely deserve it.  Wishing you the best going forward.

    Kim

  • Inspired2013
    Inspired2013 Member Posts: 45
    #8
    We ended up doing cake after

    We ended up doing cake after I got disconnected on Sunday. Now I’m finding that I have no patience for this last round of side effects. I want a glass of milk and yet I know I shouldn’t try until at least Thursday. In other good news, Ive officially been approved for disability, so that will give me some spending money. I’m lucky enough to be able to live with my parents with few bills. So things are looking up after a very long 8 months. 

  • myAZmountain
    myAZmountain Member Posts: 417 Member
    #9
    So happy for you!

    So glad to hear ou have completed the chemo!  I admire your strength and positivity!!

  • Kazenmax
    Kazenmax Member Posts: 463 Member
    #10
    So glad life has improved. i

    So glad life has improved. i am all fo celebrating little successes along the way. Life is good!

    k

  • Alice514
    Alice514 Member Posts: 21
    #11
    Hysterectomy

    I'm curious... is having the hysterectomy at the same time as the colectomy an "easy" thing to add on to surgery? I'm 42, and never had children, but I can't see myself needing any of that at this point in my life (lol), so I'm thinking about asking my surgeon about it when I see her next week. I don't know much about my surgery (open vs. lap, etc) yet since I'm still being staged, so I don't know if adding anything on to an already "not nice" surgery (surgeon's words) would be problematic or add unnecessary complicatons? 

     

  • Inspired2013
    Inspired2013 Member Posts: 45
    #12
    Alice514 said:

    Hysterectomy

    I'm curious... is having the hysterectomy at the same time as the colectomy an "easy" thing to add on to surgery? I'm 42, and never had children, but I can't see myself needing any of that at this point in my life (lol), so I'm thinking about asking my surgeon about it when I see her next week. I don't know much about my surgery (open vs. lap, etc) yet since I'm still being staged, so I don't know if adding anything on to an already "not nice" surgery (surgeon's words) would be problematic or add unnecessary complicatons? 

     

    I know some people in some of

    I know some people in some of my cancer groups have had both done at the same time. Some have had multiple organs removed at the same time (not the same as me).  I’m having some additional complications at the moment that will likely put off both those surgeries. I do know when I was first diagnosed, I had both my colon and liver resections done at the same time. My surgeon was expertly qualified to do both, and so opted to do both at the same rather than break it up. I think it depends on few health of the patient and the availability of the surgeons needed. Right now my doctors are contemplating surgically going in to clean up a liver abscess that just won’t go away and at the same time remove my gallbladder. 

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