Stage IV Hope

jenhopesprays
jenhopesprays Member Posts: 128 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I haven't been on here for a while but came here when first diagnosed and loved the support.

I thought this might encourage others. I have been at it for 2 1/2 years. The discovered a recurrence 14 months ago which we treated aggressively with CRS and HIPEC and I am still NED. Quick knock on wood!

I had an MRI and a CT and those radiologists are unable to detect any cancer. I know there are lots of you struggling so I post this as an encouragement to you all to seek out the best therapies to remove the beast.

If it wasn't for the sites like these, I would never have discovered HIPEC or my big city doc.

As some of you can attest, even the best docs don't remember to tell you or know about the best treatments for you. You often have to bring it to them.

There is so much HOPE for stage IV cancer. Hoping to spread some here.

Nedhopesprays
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Comments

  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    thank you
    Thank you for sharing your great news and for giving encouragement. :)
    Many of us need to hear messages like this on down days. I know there are still options, but it does get tiring. Then your message today made me smile and get ready to start "kicking some cancer butt!"

    Thank you and God bless with many more NED years ahead of you!

    Lisa
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    Hi Jen,
    Thanks for posting

    Hi Jen,

    Thanks for posting your great story; it offers hope to me, (+ others I am sure) still hoping to be NED. Congratulations on getting to NED. Your story reminds me of my surgeon's words early on, "you have to be patient". Take good care!
  • kimby
    kimby Member Posts: 797
    NED is a wonderful thing
    Jen,

    I think/hope I have already told you that you have inspired me in so many ways. Although my treatment has been unending, you provide light for the tunnel. You make it sound so easy, even after "the MOTHER of all surgeries". I know it hasn't been easy. I know you still struggle. Please know how many lives you've touched along the way. YOU are an inspiration.

    Thank you for all that you do. Know that you are loved.

    Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.

    Kimby
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    We all need to hear this
    Even those of us stage 4 folks that are NED need to here this. You make us even more confident that we can continue to beat it.

    When I first was DX. I read that for us stage 4 people “the doctors will make you comfortable, but there is no cure.” That web site does not say that anymore. There are too damn many of us stubborn folks out there that just will not consider ourselves the walking dead.

    Kerry
  • just4Brooks
    just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
    You got a lot to fight for!!
    I love youre pic and I see you have a lot to fight for. I'm so happy you won this fight and your story gives others strength to fight on. Keep up the good work..


    "Million Cancer Survivors Walk" is on Facebook

    Brooks
  • robinvan
    robinvan Member Posts: 1,012
    Thanks Jen
    Inspiration like this is always appreciated!

    Hoping and praying too! Rob; in Vancouver
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    WONDERFUL
    Thank you for sharing, and congradulations!! I just got an ALL CLEAR myself, stage 4 too. Its truly a blessing to be apart of this board..

    Did you do the NED naked dance??

    Beth
  • Fight for my love
    Fight for my love Member Posts: 1,522 Member
    Thanks for sharing.Wish you
    Thanks for sharing.Wish you all the best.
  • chicoturner
    chicoturner Member Posts: 282
    HOPE
    Hi Jen, thanks for your encouraging words. I have an onc here in our small town and appreciate him for many reasons, one being he has told me he has done all he can do and that he knows what doc at UCSF he wants to see me now. As my son said, I'm moving on up to the big leagues! It is scary, yet I am excited to see what is ahead! I have never been NED but have been in a long holding pattern. Time to move on! You are an inspiration. Thank you. Jean
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    Great!
    That's awesome! I'm so happy for you, and I know it's so encouraging for others who are struggling with reaching that NED status. Keep us posted!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • jenhopesprays
    jenhopesprays Member Posts: 128 Member

    HOPE
    Hi Jen, thanks for your encouraging words. I have an onc here in our small town and appreciate him for many reasons, one being he has told me he has done all he can do and that he knows what doc at UCSF he wants to see me now. As my son said, I'm moving on up to the big leagues! It is scary, yet I am excited to see what is ahead! I have never been NED but have been in a long holding pattern. Time to move on! You are an inspiration. Thank you. Jean

    UCSF

    Thanks Jean,

    We just keep on keeping on.

    I hear great things about UCSF. They are one of the best in the West.

    I have a friend with metastatic disease who has been in a "holding pattern for 12 years". There is nothing wrong with that. New drugs come out all the time and maybe our silver bullet is just around the corner.

    You wouldn't live in Chico would you? I have a sister there.

    Wishing you the best!
  • jenhopesprays
    jenhopesprays Member Posts: 128 Member
    dorookie said:

    WONDERFUL
    Thank you for sharing, and congradulations!! I just got an ALL CLEAR myself, stage 4 too. Its truly a blessing to be apart of this board..

    Did you do the NED naked dance??

    Beth

    Beth,
    Congrats yourself!
    I

    Beth,

    Congrats yourself!

    I did the nekid dance and the goofy, spontaneous giggles all day.
  • jenhopesprays
    jenhopesprays Member Posts: 128 Member
    robinvan said:

    Thanks Jen
    Inspiration like this is always appreciated!

    Hoping and praying too! Rob; in Vancouver

    Guess What?
    A friend passed your blog to me a long time ago.

    You have been encouraging me too!

    So how is that for coincidence.....

    Jen
  • jenhopesprays
    jenhopesprays Member Posts: 128 Member
    kimby said:

    NED is a wonderful thing
    Jen,

    I think/hope I have already told you that you have inspired me in so many ways. Although my treatment has been unending, you provide light for the tunnel. You make it sound so easy, even after "the MOTHER of all surgeries". I know it hasn't been easy. I know you still struggle. Please know how many lives you've touched along the way. YOU are an inspiration.

    Thank you for all that you do. Know that you are loved.

    Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.

    Kimby

    Love you to Sweetie!

    Love you to Sweetie!
  • ittapp
    ittapp Member Posts: 383 Member
    Jen, I think you and i have
    Jen, I think you and i have talked via email before. I am so glad to hear that you are still NED. You give me so much hope and I will go into a beautiful Saturday morning tomorrow and think about your story and just have an awesome day.Thank you so much, Patti
  • jenhopesprays
    jenhopesprays Member Posts: 128 Member
    lisa42 said:

    thank you
    Thank you for sharing your great news and for giving encouragement. :)
    Many of us need to hear messages like this on down days. I know there are still options, but it does get tiring. Then your message today made me smile and get ready to start "kicking some cancer butt!"

    Thank you and God bless with many more NED years ahead of you!

    Lisa

    Lovely Lisa


    Dr Lenz is one of my docs. If you want to chat. Email me at Jenfightscancer@gmail.c*o*m (take the *'s out of the link)


    ((((big hugs))))

    Jennifer
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    Hey Jen. Thanks for the
    Hey Jen. Thanks for the post. Love the picture. My surgeon here at Wake Forest believes that I may be a candidate for cytoreductive surgery with HPIC. At this point he believes he can resect my liver, perform the debulking and HPIC, and resect my primary tumor in one surgery. I'd love to hear more about your experience with the cytoreductive surgery,
    Roger
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    Hi Jen
    Hi Jen,
    That is great that you are NED! My husband saw Dr. Lenz when he had surgery in LA a year ago. His onc in Hawaii now consults with Dr. Lenz. I was wondering if he recommended HIPEC? We like him very much but I did not know if he tended toward the things he was researching or if he recommends other institutions if their approach would benefit the person.

    Thanks.

    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member
    Great news
    Thanks for letting us know your great news!! I have been NED since '05 with stage 4. Everyday for all of us is a blessing.
    Jo Ann
  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member

    You got a lot to fight for!!
    I love youre pic and I see you have a lot to fight for. I'm so happy you won this fight and your story gives others strength to fight on. Keep up the good work..


    "Million Cancer Survivors Walk" is on Facebook

    Brooks

    CP8 Survivors
    Come help us hold up our Survivors sign at CP8 in Fort Worth Oct.13-16, probably Thursday night we will gather for dinner and picture.
    Jo Ann