newly dx'd

huntingturtle

Greetings, have been reading posts and figured it was time to introduce myself. My name is Hank ,live in Windsor Maine-work as a Rn in a psych hosp.- forensics unit.Went for my first colonoscopy and a 2.5 cm tumor was discovered in my ascending colon.Tumor was removed on 03/26/07 lucky for me had not got through the wall of the colon,but has involved 1 lymph node.I will be starting chemo in the next few weeks. I'm scared of the chemo and if it had not been for positive posts on this site I would have probably taken my chances without tx.So please keep up the positive spirit and thank you all.kindest regards Hank

Betsydoglover

Hank, Welcome (although as we always say, we are sorry to see you having to joing us.)

Do you know what chemo drugs you will be having? Let us know and many of us can then let you know our experiences.

Chemo isn't fun, but CRC chemo is probably less not fun than chemo for many other types of cancer. Hopefully you will do well.

Take care and keep us posted,
Betsy

huntingturtle

Betsydoglover said:

Hank, Welcome (although as we always say, we are sorry to see you having to joing us.)

Do you know what chemo drugs you will be having? Let us know and many of us can then let you know our experiences.

Chemo isn't fun, but CRC chemo is probably less not fun than chemo for many other types of cancer. Hopefully you will do well.

Take care and keep us posted,
Betsy

Betsy,Thanks I will be given 5-FU&Oxaliplatin with Leucovorin.Just waiting to have my port implanted then I guess I'm on my way.kindest regards Hank

Sam725

Hi Hank,
Welcome, I am a caregiver to my husband who was dx on Halloween (pretty scary thing to happen on that day!)he was staged 2 but the tumor perforated the wall of the colon but did not effect any nodes, anyways my husband just finished his 9th treatment today. He is on the same chemo that you will be starting soon. He has done great. I think the first time you get an idea of what it's gonna be like and after a few times you pretty much have a routine down. My husband feels pretty good while doing chemo, it's Friday when they unplug him from the pump where he says he feels like someone turned off his switch. He gets real tired, chemo brain and constipation (he takes Senokot-S for it, a god send he says!) is a little nauseous (he takes compazine for it). The weekend he pretty much sleeps. He really hasn't had the cold thing too bad (fingers tingle, can't drink cold things for a day or two after). He has said that with each treatment it's takes a litttle longer to get his momentum back but he keeps chugging along. He drives a truck and does deliveries so if he feels tired he will park some where and rest for a few minutes and then on his way he goes. I think each person reacts differently to the drugs but when I was first here everyone told me what to expect and they were right. Also a positive attitude goes a long way. Just know this is a great place to come, everyone has been so positive and helpful during this journey that we are going through. I may not post often but I know if I need help someone will be there to guide me. So put on your boxing gloves and get ready to fight a good fight, but just know you will be the victorious. Sandy

jsabol

Welcome, Hank,
I'm sorry you have to be here, but it is a great club. I am nearly 3 years out of treatment, one small positive polyp, not invasive beyond the submucosa, 1 node, 6 months chemo, and No Evidence of Disease since. My father died at 85 of metastatic colon cancer, so I was very clear that I wanted to improve my odds with chemo. I found this site right after surgery. I was inexplicably very nervous about the chemo (I'm a nurse, too, psych for 20 years, now working in dementia care). All went well, and the folks here were great with suggestions to manage any issues that came up. One major suggestion: stay well hydrated right before and during the treatments, seems to help keep the side effects down. You will get through this, one treament at a time. Stay strong and focused, keep us posted. Judy

KathiM

Hank,

Welcome to the semi-colons! One of the few places I can think of where sharing frequency, size, color and consistency is an OK thing!!!

I will echo Judy.....water, water, water...flush the chemical right thru your other organs asap. I am almost 2 years post treatment stage III rectal cancer....if you met me, and you didn't know, you wouldn't know....visualize you being at the end of your treatments...the mind is a powerful thing!!!

Hugs, Kathi

spongebob

Welcome to the SemiColons, Hank! Glad to have you here, but sorry to meet you under these circumstances.

We're always here for you as you battle the dragon - you're not doing it solo. Lots of different experiences here to tap into.

Keep up that good 'tude, Hank - it's very important!

Cheers

-SpongeBob

catherine58

Hello Hank

I'm about a month ahead of you: had surgery in February to remove a tumour (also from my ascending colon) and began chemo (the same regime as you) 10 days ago. Like you, I was extremely apprehensive but I have to say that the first cycle wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared. No nausea, no extreme fatigue, no pins and needles (although I'm told that will almost certainly develop as the cycles continue). I continue to lead my life more or less as normal, looking after my children and walking several miles a day. For me the worse side effects were insomnia during the three days I was taking steroids and a sore mouth (now getting better). I couldn't drink cold drinks for a couple of days, but that was more of an inconvenience than anything else. I've been drinking lots of water (at least four pints a day) and eating very healthily (masses of fruit and veg, juices, wholegrains, lean protein) so maybe that helped, also taking various supplements (but that's more controversial). My skin and lips got very dry so I kept slathering on moisturiser/hand cream/Vaseline and now everything seems back to normal.

Good luck!

Catherine

hopefulone

Hi Hank . Welcome, but as others have said, sorry it's under these circumstances. My husband is on avastin , oxal and oral xeloda. He goes once every 3 weeks for the avastin/oxal treatment and takes xeloda pill for 14 days to complete the cycle. He has 3-4 days after treatment when he's a bit tired and tingling , but the rest of the time he's back to his regular self and has gone back to work at his insistance (We are very lucky that his company lets him work around his chemo scheduling)and I actually at this point think the return to work has really helped his mental outlook. (not to mention, I would come home and find all kinds of things being "repaired" or painted, including my coat and boots which could have done without the white spots lol) God Bless. Hoping for minimal side effects for you. Let us know how you do.

Diane

Moesimo

Hank,

Welcome to our group. I am a fellow RN from MA. I am 4 years out from diagnosis, stage 3 rectal with 2 positive nodes. It has not been an easy road---- chemo, radiation, 3 surgeries, 11 hospitalizations. I was able to work full time through chemo and radiation.

I worked in an ER for many years, I now work in radiology. I was 46 when diagnosed. It took a while before I felt better. I only had 5fu and leukovorin.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Maureen

maureen1

Sam725 said:

Hi Hank,
Welcome, I am a caregiver to my husband who was dx on Halloween (pretty scary thing to happen on that day!)he was staged 2 but the tumor perforated the wall of the colon but did not effect any nodes, anyways my husband just finished his 9th treatment today. He is on the same chemo that you will be starting soon. He has done great. I think the first time you get an idea of what it's gonna be like and after a few times you pretty much have a routine down. My husband feels pretty good while doing chemo, it's Friday when they unplug him from the pump where he says he feels like someone turned off his switch. He gets real tired, chemo brain and constipation (he takes Senokot-S for it, a god send he says!) is a little nauseous (he takes compazine for it). The weekend he pretty much sleeps. He really hasn't had the cold thing too bad (fingers tingle, can't drink cold things for a day or two after). He has said that with each treatment it's takes a litttle longer to get his momentum back but he keeps chugging along. He drives a truck and does deliveries so if he feels tired he will park some where and rest for a few minutes and then on his way he goes. I think each person reacts differently to the drugs but when I was first here everyone told me what to expect and they were right. Also a positive attitude goes a long way. Just know this is a great place to come, everyone has been so positive and helpful during this journey that we are going through. I may not post often but I know if I need help someone will be there to guide me. So put on your boxing gloves and get ready to fight a good fight, but just know you will be the victorious. Sandy

Hello,

My mom was just diagnosed yesterday with colon cancer. She is 79. I'm very sad and very scared about all that awaits..I know she is too. I'm taking her to the surgeon today to have the laparoscopy scheduled.
I got on the cancer chat room last night and several told me about this semi-colon group. I'm not sure I know what to ask or how to feel about all this...staging is unknown at this point, but I'm so worried that it has spread...Plus, I'm angry no one picked up on this earlier, but of course that doesn't help. Glad to know this group is here.
Maureen