Newbie

nixie33

Hi everyone! I`m recently diagnosed stage 3 and had surgery 9/27 . Got my port and have my 1st apt. for folfox at sloane-kettering on Wed. I`m 55 and just retired from the Post Office after 32 yrs. It all has happened so fast that I still can`t believe that the doctor is talking about me when he`s speaking!I`m not scared or nervous but somehow this doesn`t seem real? Any comments or suggestions ?

kerry

HI Nixie,

I'm so sorry you have been diagnosed with colon cancer, but you are in a great place for information, support and friendship. My advice is to stay positive, take good care of yourself right now, and let us know how we can help you. Several of us have been on folfox so we can give you some heads up on side effects that may or may not occur.

Kerry

CAMaura

Hi Nixie -- Good luck on Wednesday. I agree with Kerry; please feel free to post about side effects (or anything....). There are many of us who have survived cruddy old Folfox! All the best to you. The only advice I would give right away is to give your doc a lot of feedback after each session about how you feel and how your body reacts. People do react differently and one can't really know how you will begin the process.
Again, all the best -- Maura

kangatoo

CAMaura said:

Hi Nixie -- Good luck on Wednesday. I agree with Kerry; please feel free to post about side effects (or anything....). There are many of us who have survived cruddy old Folfox! All the best to you. The only advice I would give right away is to give your doc a lot of feedback after each session about how you feel and how your body reacts. People do react differently and one can't really know how you will begin the process.
Again, all the best -- Maura

Hiya Nixie from oz.Welcome to our family. A good start here would be to let us know the details of your surgery and where your cancer was located in your colon. The varying dx's here open up a wealth of info for you. Also it might interest you to browse the personal pages too. Being told you have cancer can certainly leave you with the feeling of "is this true..is it me the doc is talking about?" Ask lots of questions of your doc. Be mindfull what Maura has said. We all react differently to the chemo. That is especially why places like CSN can be beneficial.It would seem to me by your comments that you are still finding this all a little "unreal" to you. Personally, I found it all pretty hard to come to terms with initially and over the next few weeks after surgery and then during chemo my emotions pretty much went haywire. Others here probably found the same happened. We wish you well on wednesday and hope that your coming chemo sessions will kick the cancers butt and get rid of any rogue cells. Let us know how you cope. You are always welcome here.
Ross and Jen

alihamilton

Welcome Nixie, Sorry that you have to be here but you will find the support and practical advice so helpful. I can understand your feeling that it doesn't seem real. I remember when my husband was dx over two years ago with Stage 111c, we also felt like it was a dream....or rather a nightmare and that we would wake up! I would certainly suggest that you have someone with you when getting information from doctors and so on, as it is difficult to take in everything by yourself.

Hope the chemo treatments go well...you will be surprised how quickly the time will pass and you will be on the road to recovery. Good luck!

Ali

Moesimo

Welcome to our club. Unfortunately, noone chose to be here. We are a great group and share your concerns.

I was 46 when diagnosed on 3/17/03. Life will never be the same. I HAD stage 3 rectal cancer with 2 positive nodes. I am also the mother of 3. It hasn't been easy, but I remain cancer free since my first surgery on 6/26/03.


We have all been there and know what you are going through.

Maureen

HowardJ

Hi Nixie,

Welcome to the semi-colons. The others have posted great welcoming remarks so I'll add one piece of advice: bring someone with you to your oncologist appointments. As you said, it all happens fast and we each hear things differently, especially when it comes to cancer. My wife comes to all my appointments (she insists), and I'm glad she's there.

Again...welcome.

Howard

shirleygirl

Hi nixie.I know just how frightening it is to be told you have cancer.I've had 2 colorectal tumours in 2 years,and it was no picnic.I had surgery for the 2nd tumour on 27 October,and my surgeon is confident he's got rid of it all.He did a hysterectomy and temp ileostomy after chemo and radiotherapy.The whole thing can seem very unreal-like the doc is talking to someone who looks like you, talks like you but doesn't feel like you.I coped by asking loads of questions,and researching my cancer on reputable websites-I would particularly recommend www.cancerbacup.org.uk.I hope this helps.Be thinking of you.

wendy_21

Hi! I'm 43 and was dx with stage III 10-14. I start chemo on 9/28 (Monday) and I SO know how you feel that they can't be talking about you! I hope your first chemo goes ok. Good luck!