Semi-Colon Roll Call

As another long time poster who doesn't post as much as I used to, I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer on March 17, 2003 at age 46. I have been NED since my surgery in 6/03. I had some bumps in the road initially, but am doing well now.

I live in central MA.

I am almost 6 years NED-----WOOOOHOOOOO!!!

To all the newbies, it does get better.

Maureen

Silicon Vally CA, Dxed 12/05 stage II, 2 large vicious looking tumors in ascending colon, HNPCC suspect. Surgery 2 days after X'mas and 6 months of chemo ensured in 2006. I hope to celebrate my 3 years NED this July.

Cancer survivorship showed me at once the fragility and the strength of life, and how much the love of your family and friends can make a difference.

Scouty - thanks so much for the roll call. Every answer says "Yes we can!".

-Ying

I just got done reading ALL of the responses!! Didn't take quite as long as i thought, and it was very enjoyable. I guess now it's my turn. I will TRY to make it brief!

Dx August 2, 2007 after two years of progressively worsening symptoms with stage IIIc rectal. 38 years old.
Blood transfusion in Sept. '07, then six weeks of 5FU fanny pack 24/7, and seven weeks (30 zaps) of radiation.

Cystitis and urinary blockage one week before last radiation zap from the radiation. Had a temp urinary catheter for three days, then finished the remaining radiation treatments.

Colon resection (half of rectum gone along with two feet of colon), and gallbladder removal January 9th, '08, another blood transfusion, eight days in the hospital, temp ileostomy. Radiation had killed the cancer in the tumor, and margins were clear.

In the hospital again in February '08 for an abdominal abscess, and dehydration. Diagnosed with non-sustained ventricular tachycardia while they tried to prep me for the abscess drainage procedure. Three more days in the hospital, but worth the dilaudid fixes.

Began FOLFOX 6 in March '08, had to skip last treatment due to bad neuropathy, and diagnosis of severe osteoporosis, degerative disc disease, arthritis, soft bones, and an insufficiency fracture in the sacrum from the radiation and chemo.

February '09, went in for the ileostomy reversal which had to be aborted during the surgery due to stricture. Dilated two times to 18mm. Not enough.

May 1st, 09, ileostomy reversal, dilation, and FINALLY a post-treatment colonoscopy scheduled. YIKES, THAT'S TWO DAYS AWAY!!!

There is a suspect lesion on my lung that my doctor is CT scanning every couple of months, so i'm not NED yet. :(

Many hugs to everyone!
Krista

Oh, born and raised in San Diego, California!

I have a wonderful idea for a similar thread! I will post it before i go under the knife!

Susan, Moose Pass, AK, Stage IV, NED 4 1/2 years! woot!

Stage 4 colon mets to liver resection on 5-14
Just starting folfox and avastan
Trying to shrink tumors to do a
needle ablation

Lawrenceville, Ga. near Mall of Ga.

Hi, Everybody...I'm Craig and live in Arlington, Texas...soon to be home of the Dallas Cowboys! We're in between Dallas and Fort Worth. I'm new to the board this month, BUT I'm not lurking....I'm posting and sharing. 67 posts in 14 days.

2001-2004 Period of bleeding in rectum, and multiple BMs per day, doctor ignored symptoms.
June 2004 - Colonoscopy confirmed colorectal cancer.Woke up during procedure and saw my tumor.
July 2004 - 1st port installed.
July-Aug 2004 - Began chemo and external radiation.
Oct 2004 - Bowel resection.
Nov 2004 - Staple broke loose from the resection, causing bleeding, removed.
Dec 2005 - Hemhorroidectomy.
Dec 2005 - 1st port removed.
Dec 2007 - Diagnosed with liver tumor. Metastatic colon to liver.
Dec 2007 - RFA, Radio Frequency Ablation. Plus seed markers placed in liver for later use.
Jan 2008 - CyberKnife Radio Surgery (3) to remove remants of liver tumor.
Mar 2008 - 2nd port installed.
Mar 2008 to Dec 2008 - Oxaliplatin / Xeloda / Avastin chemo regiment in progress.
Jun 2009 - 2 spots appeared on the pleura of my right lung. Metastatic from either colon/lung.
Jun 2009 - Switched oncologists; currently waiting on case review for next step.

Just completed my 5-year march today actually Jun2004-Jun2009. Beginning year 6.
Waiting on the review to be completed - possible thoractomy followed by post op chemo.

-Craig

Dx'ed May'08 stage 4 rectal cancer 1 met to liver
radiation chemo 28 tx
rectal surgery Sept 5 '08
liver resection Oct 23 '08 NED after surgery
adjuvant chemo Dec-May '09 (FOLFOX 10 tx)
still NED 6 weeks after end of chemo!

Lander, WY

Dx 9/06 stage 4 liver mets and colon. 4 surgeries later ( 2 lung resections, 1 liver and 1 colon) and 6 months of Folfox I am waiting on my scan results. Last lung surgery for solitary met was 3/09 at Stanford.
I am a high school teacher in Buellton CA

Dear Scouty,

I have been away from the board for awhile, but wanted to check in with our famiy today after hearing about Farah. I saw your post and was so pleased to see SO many familar names and faces. Thank you for this!

I have been dancing with Ned for 4 years! Just had my 4 year check-up last month: CEA was undetectable and CT was all clear.

For those that don't know me, I was stage 3B with 6 out of 13 lymph nodes. I went on a clinical trial for Avastin...I did 6 months of Folfox with Avastin every other week for six months and then Avastin alone every other week for 6 months. Two years ago they thought it had spread to my lungs. They did surgery and took the nodules out and it turned out to be sarcoids not cancer. Phew!

In the last 4 years one son has gotten married (I now have two beautiful grandchildren) and one son graduated college and is now getting his masters at the National Theater Conservatory. My husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary last July and I have found my dream job. I am helping to organize a gubernatorial campaign in California and loving every minute. I am even starting to take off some of the 60 pounds I put on during treatment. Life Is Good!

God bless all of the semi colons. I keep you all in my prayers.

Hana

My hubby was diagnosed with rectal cancer stage II in May,2009.Currently he is in the treatment of chemo(5-FU) and radiation for six weeks before surgery.Whether more chemo or radiation needed depends on the pathology after the surgery.

Dx'ed stage 3 rectal cancer feb 13, 09
completed 6 wks chemo/radiation
surgery 6/2/09
currently second stage of chemo, cycle 1 done this week, should be completed in oct.
Living in Iowa.

NED for 13 months

surgery was set for June 9, 2008 at Mayo in Rochester, MN
my bowel obstructed on June 7, in the middle of the night, on a Saturday, 90 miles from Rochester
after explaining to local ER doc that I have colon cancer, thought I was obstructed, in a OWIE lot of pain, surgery set in 2 days at Mayo- his response, "maybe an enema would help?" and "how about if we admit you for pain management?" I told him, "call my surgeon in Rochester, tell her you are pumping me full of morphine and transfering me to Mayo". He came back not 10 mins later, got my surgeon on the phone after 1 ring, she said to him and relayed to me, "DO NOT GIVE HER AN ENEMA, max her out on morphine and get her here ASAP" My response was DUH

By the time I got there, 3 sheets looped to the wind, it was 5am, the radiologist had been called in to read my xray up in the cities, I was indeed obstructed and just like a well oiled machine, Mayo and her well trained staff took over and I let them!

stage 3B
3/12 lymph nodes
no sign of any spreading
had to do a colostomy due to the emergency nature of surgery and no time to clean the colon out

First PET was 5 weeks later, right before starting chemo. Absolutely no sign of mets.

6 months of chemo, 3 hospitalizations due to wicked side effects

Colostomy take down Feb 2, 2009
coloscopy at that time was clear

Port out in March 2009

April 2009 CET marker was so low, didn't even register.

CT scan on June 24, 2009 was clear. 2 hernias showing up, one very large. Will visit with the surgeon at Mayo on July 14, 2009- expecting her to repair hernias on July 15th.

Struggling with the emotional aspects of this past year. Feels as though I am going through PTSD- trying to stay focused on today and the future, but have these flashes of intense memories- mostly how very sick I was on chemo.

Thanks for a place to write all of this down- keep thinking if I just keep writing about it maybe that will help.

Prayers for all of us!

Dxed 4/08, stage 3 rectal, surgery 5/08, 12 rounds Folfox. Currently NED and dealing with C Diff Colitis and side effects of Oxliplatin and a pull in my incision.

I still dread every test and have about given up hope of ever having any kind of 'normal' bowel habits. It's just been one thing after another. I was always so healthy and I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I don't post here as much as I would like to. Trying to keep up with work and the house is about all I can pull off. Been off for 4 days with the C Diff so finally got to come spend some time here. I too read more than I post.

Dxed 12/07 after scheduling my first colonoscopy as a 50th birthday present to myself. Surgery on 1/08 to remove 10 inches of the colon, no mets. Continue follow-up visits every 6 months and thank God every day for early detection. Houston, Texas HOOKEM HORNS

This is a great thread - thanks for starting it scouty!! It is so wonderful and hopeful to see all you NEDs out there, and all you warriors going strong and living well!!!

My husband was dx 5/28/09 Stage IV colon cancer with over 11 mets to liver - told he was inoperable and cancer would take his life at first hospital.

Went to Cancer Center - Fox Chase in Philadelphia.
Colon resection 6/8/09 took approx 8 inches of sigmoid colon - tumor had perforated colon and attached itself to abdomen wall - all margins clean after surgery - took 26 lymph nodes and 12 were positive for cancer.

Started chemo 7/13/09 - 5FU, Oxaliplatin, Luecovorin - they will add Avastin next time. Plan is 12 treatments. Hoping that lesions on liver will shrink enough to make him a candidate for liver resection or other procedure to clean up liver.

We're in South Jersey - about 30 minutes south of Philly!

Thrilled to see all you survivors - thanks for sharing your stories!!!!

Donna

Right outside of Washington DC

Dx'd 9/08, Stage IV Rectal
4 cycles of neo adjuvant chemo
12/08 Liver resection (60% right lobe) with gall bladder removal
2/09 Low Anterior resection
8 cycles of adjuvant chemo, with 1 cycle remaining
PET scan scheduled for next week
then on to chemoradiation treatment

NED since 2/09, with questionable non active spot on liver and a couple on the lung that we are keeping an eye on.

Also mass in right breast that lit up on last scan is "probably benign", but breast cancer can't totally be ruled out, so that will be removed after chemo!