Looking for friends and support - 37 year old guy with IIIb

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Comments

  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    Jesse
    Jesse,
    Congrats on finishing!!!! I hope you are able to enjoy your young and beautiful family and have decades of good health ahead of you!

    Wonderful!

    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    jessenj said:

    Finally finished
    Its been a long road, starting with diagnoses of Stage IIIB colorectal cancer in my sigmoid colon on June 10th, 2009. I was diagnosed with 1 lymph node affected out of 28 biopsied. I have just completed 12 rounds of 5FU chemotherapy, as well as 16 rounds of Erbitux (only to learn that the studies proved Erbitux to be useless in treating colon cancer). I am now set to return to work in about 2 weeks and I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm fighting this thing with everything I have, and the low lymph node involvement, combined with the Stage IIIb K-RAS type tumor, has put me at a 5 year survival rate of 72%, so I'm extremely optimistic at this point.

    Just wanted to post an update for anyone who followed along.

    Love you all,

    Jesse

    Way to go Jesse
    You have done very well. Chemo ain't easy but you fought thru it and now you are out the other side. You decided to beat cancer. Good choice it worked for me . My best wishes for good health for you and your family,Ron...St3c 6/13 nodes now into yr13 still ca free.
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    jessenj said:

    Finally finished
    Its been a long road, starting with diagnoses of Stage IIIB colorectal cancer in my sigmoid colon on June 10th, 2009. I was diagnosed with 1 lymph node affected out of 28 biopsied. I have just completed 12 rounds of 5FU chemotherapy, as well as 16 rounds of Erbitux (only to learn that the studies proved Erbitux to be useless in treating colon cancer). I am now set to return to work in about 2 weeks and I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm fighting this thing with everything I have, and the low lymph node involvement, combined with the Stage IIIb K-RAS type tumor, has put me at a 5 year survival rate of 72%, so I'm extremely optimistic at this point.

    Just wanted to post an update for anyone who followed along.

    Love you all,

    Jesse

    Congrats Jesse!!
    Isn't it wonderful to be DONE? Wow!

    Sorry you went through the Erbitux. I was KRAS mutant so didn't have Erbitux but for some reason, I was on a list.... and got a Dear Diane, sorry to inform you letter two weeks ago.

    Thanks for the update and BE WELL!
    Diane
  • Kathryn_in_MN
    Kathryn_in_MN Member Posts: 1,252 Member
    jessenj said:

    Finally finished
    Its been a long road, starting with diagnoses of Stage IIIB colorectal cancer in my sigmoid colon on June 10th, 2009. I was diagnosed with 1 lymph node affected out of 28 biopsied. I have just completed 12 rounds of 5FU chemotherapy, as well as 16 rounds of Erbitux (only to learn that the studies proved Erbitux to be useless in treating colon cancer). I am now set to return to work in about 2 weeks and I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm fighting this thing with everything I have, and the low lymph node involvement, combined with the Stage IIIb K-RAS type tumor, has put me at a 5 year survival rate of 72%, so I'm extremely optimistic at this point.

    Just wanted to post an update for anyone who followed along.

    Love you all,

    Jesse

    Congrats!
    Great job hanging in there and finishing! You were starting chemo around when I was dx'd. It is so exciting to see people finishing and moving on with life!

    Enjoy your family!
  • robinvan
    robinvan Member Posts: 1,012
    jessenj said:

    Finally finished
    Its been a long road, starting with diagnoses of Stage IIIB colorectal cancer in my sigmoid colon on June 10th, 2009. I was diagnosed with 1 lymph node affected out of 28 biopsied. I have just completed 12 rounds of 5FU chemotherapy, as well as 16 rounds of Erbitux (only to learn that the studies proved Erbitux to be useless in treating colon cancer). I am now set to return to work in about 2 weeks and I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm fighting this thing with everything I have, and the low lymph node involvement, combined with the Stage IIIb K-RAS type tumor, has put me at a 5 year survival rate of 72%, so I'm extremely optimistic at this point.

    Just wanted to post an update for anyone who followed along.

    Love you all,

    Jesse

    Thanks for the Update.
    I hope this is all behind you now. In more ways than one. Good luck on the whole "back to work" thing. It will be nice to restore that part of your life.

    Be well... Rob; in Vancouver
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    jessenj said:

    Finally finished
    Its been a long road, starting with diagnoses of Stage IIIB colorectal cancer in my sigmoid colon on June 10th, 2009. I was diagnosed with 1 lymph node affected out of 28 biopsied. I have just completed 12 rounds of 5FU chemotherapy, as well as 16 rounds of Erbitux (only to learn that the studies proved Erbitux to be useless in treating colon cancer). I am now set to return to work in about 2 weeks and I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm fighting this thing with everything I have, and the low lymph node involvement, combined with the Stage IIIb K-RAS type tumor, has put me at a 5 year survival rate of 72%, so I'm extremely optimistic at this point.

    Just wanted to post an update for anyone who followed along.

    Love you all,

    Jesse

    Jesse...
    Nice to meet you... I'm new on the boards but read your thread. I'm also a IIIB cc diagnosed back in November. I've only had one round of chemo so far, but am also optimistic about life.

    Enjoy your family and enjoy your many decades of life!!
  • betina61
    betina61 Member Posts: 642 Member
    jessenj said:

    Finally finished
    Its been a long road, starting with diagnoses of Stage IIIB colorectal cancer in my sigmoid colon on June 10th, 2009. I was diagnosed with 1 lymph node affected out of 28 biopsied. I have just completed 12 rounds of 5FU chemotherapy, as well as 16 rounds of Erbitux (only to learn that the studies proved Erbitux to be useless in treating colon cancer). I am now set to return to work in about 2 weeks and I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm fighting this thing with everything I have, and the low lymph node involvement, combined with the Stage IIIb K-RAS type tumor, has put me at a 5 year survival rate of 72%, so I'm extremely optimistic at this point.

    Just wanted to post an update for anyone who followed along.

    Love you all,

    Jesse

    Congratulations in finishing
    Congratulations in finishing your treatment Jesse,but I am confused with your staging, because I am stage IIIa not b and I had 1 limph node involment, stage IIb acording to what I understand is more that 3 limph nodes, and I have in writing by my Dr. that with chemo my survival rate is 84%, don't know if the K-ras factor makes a diference,but I think that you are stage IIIa if the spreading was only to 1 node.
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    betina61 said:

    Congratulations in finishing
    Congratulations in finishing your treatment Jesse,but I am confused with your staging, because I am stage IIIa not b and I had 1 limph node involment, stage IIb acording to what I understand is more that 3 limph nodes, and I have in writing by my Dr. that with chemo my survival rate is 84%, don't know if the K-ras factor makes a diference,but I think that you are stage IIIa if the spreading was only to 1 node.

    I believe how far the tumor
    I believe how far the tumor invades into the wall of the colon.

    This explains it much better.

    http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_8_After_Diagnosis_Staging_Colon_and_Rectum_Cancer.asp?rnav=cri
  • sfmarie
    sfmarie Member Posts: 602
    Jesse
    Welcome. You are not alone. What saddens me is reading about more and more "young" people that are inflicted with this disease. Click on my profile to read my story.

    I do know there are many young cancer support groups and perhaps you can find one in this area.

    This board is absolutely the best. It is a testament that this disease can be fought and won! It is a tough battle, but you must never ever give up HOPE. You will find much kindness, wisdom, encouragement and support here.

    Welcome again.
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    jessenj said:

    Finally finished
    Its been a long road, starting with diagnoses of Stage IIIB colorectal cancer in my sigmoid colon on June 10th, 2009. I was diagnosed with 1 lymph node affected out of 28 biopsied. I have just completed 12 rounds of 5FU chemotherapy, as well as 16 rounds of Erbitux (only to learn that the studies proved Erbitux to be useless in treating colon cancer). I am now set to return to work in about 2 weeks and I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm fighting this thing with everything I have, and the low lymph node involvement, combined with the Stage IIIb K-RAS type tumor, has put me at a 5 year survival rate of 72%, so I'm extremely optimistic at this point.

    Just wanted to post an update for anyone who followed along.

    Love you all,

    Jesse

    woo hoo- you did it!
    Hi Jesse,

    Thank you for updating us and letting us know how you are! You finished- woo hoo!
    I am sure you will be fine. Best wishes in going back to work, too.

    Take care,
    Lisa
  • ittapp
    ittapp Member Posts: 383 Member
    Hello Jesse, hello you look
    Hello Jesse, hello you look very familiar I was sure I had seen you on this board or colon club before or maybe not....chemo brain anyway welcome aboard glad to have you. Patti
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    jessenj said:

    Finally finished
    Its been a long road, starting with diagnoses of Stage IIIB colorectal cancer in my sigmoid colon on June 10th, 2009. I was diagnosed with 1 lymph node affected out of 28 biopsied. I have just completed 12 rounds of 5FU chemotherapy, as well as 16 rounds of Erbitux (only to learn that the studies proved Erbitux to be useless in treating colon cancer). I am now set to return to work in about 2 weeks and I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm fighting this thing with everything I have, and the low lymph node involvement, combined with the Stage IIIb K-RAS type tumor, has put me at a 5 year survival rate of 72%, so I'm extremely optimistic at this point.

    Just wanted to post an update for anyone who followed along.

    Love you all,

    Jesse

    Congratulations & all the
    Congratulations & all the best to you + your family.