Chemo starts tomorrow....

vman1300
vman1300 Member Posts: 80
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
After what has seemed like a year lol, my treatment starts tomorrow. I will initally be taking 2 months of Folfox with Avastin and then a scan.

I am already willing those pesky METS in my liver to be shrivling up and going away.

I am ready to start my path to recovery, I am just uneasy about what the next few months hold for my wife and I.
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Comments

  • hopefulone
    hopefulone Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #2
    Hi. I totally understand the uneasy feeling and I hope your regimen goes as well as my husbands did. His pesky mets did shrivel enough and he is now scheduled for a liver resection next week. I believe the avastin contributed greatly to the shrinkage. Keep focused on the goal, you'll get through it and keep your positive attitude God Bless
    Diane

    Diane
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #3
    Hi Vman

    I understand your trepidation at starting chemo, but it is also kind of uplifting right? You are starting to really kick this **** in the ****, so to speak.

    I was/am Stage IV and had a similar treatment (Xeloda/oxaliplatin/Avastin). My liver met(s) was/were gone after 2 treatments. I went on to complete 6 and have been NED since (25 months NED, 23 months off chemo). So, there is hope.

    And more often, chemo can at least shrink mets to the point that they are operable. Also, Lisa P (SCOUTY) on this site did chemo and then followed it up with "natural" methods and while the chemo shrunk things quite a bit, the natural methods definitely finished it off, without surgery.

    Good luck,
    Betsy
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #4
    VMan -

    I don't know if you are a Seinfeld fan or not, but if you are, you will appreciate this: Just remember; "It's SHRINKAGE, I tell ya... SHRINKAGE!!!" and in this case that's a good thing! Your attitude is awesome and I can tell you are gonna beat this. Keep your attitude up and strong during chemo. It will not be an easy step, but you are obviously focused on the outcome - keep it that way and you're going to win!!

    - SB
  • vman1300
    vman1300 Member Posts: 80
    #5
    hopefulone said:

    Hi. I totally understand the uneasy feeling and I hope your regimen goes as well as my husbands did. His pesky mets did shrivel enough and he is now scheduled for a liver resection next week. I believe the avastin contributed greatly to the shrinkage. Keep focused on the goal, you'll get through it and keep your positive attitude God Bless
    Diane

    Diane

    Thanks Diane!

    My wife and I are still praying for a great surgery next week for your husband.

    How many METS did he have? I have 5, 3 small ones and 2 medium ones according to my onc.

    I do BELIEVE thay are already starting to die!

    Kevin
  • vman1300
    vman1300 Member Posts: 80
    #6
    Betsydoglover said:

    Hi Vman

    I understand your trepidation at starting chemo, but it is also kind of uplifting right? You are starting to really kick this **** in the ****, so to speak.

    I was/am Stage IV and had a similar treatment (Xeloda/oxaliplatin/Avastin). My liver met(s) was/were gone after 2 treatments. I went on to complete 6 and have been NED since (25 months NED, 23 months off chemo). So, there is hope.

    And more often, chemo can at least shrink mets to the point that they are operable. Also, Lisa P (SCOUTY) on this site did chemo and then followed it up with "natural" methods and while the chemo shrunk things quite a bit, the natural methods definitely finished it off, without surgery.

    Good luck,
    Betsy

    Betsy,

    It is uplifting to know that I am taking another step to a COMPLETE removal of cancer cells from my body.

    It is stories of HOPE like yours that helps me keep my faith strong.

    Believe,

    Kevin
  • vman1300
    vman1300 Member Posts: 80
    #7
    spongebob said:

    VMan -

    I don't know if you are a Seinfeld fan or not, but if you are, you will appreciate this: Just remember; "It's SHRINKAGE, I tell ya... SHRINKAGE!!!" and in this case that's a good thing! Your attitude is awesome and I can tell you are gonna beat this. Keep your attitude up and strong during chemo. It will not be an easy step, but you are obviously focused on the outcome - keep it that way and you're going to win!!

    - SB

    SB,

    Off to the pool I go....I hope it will help, lol.

    I try to stay strong, but this has been weighing heavy on my for a day or so. I hope each treatment can be easier, even if the side efx are worse.

    Believe,

    Kevin
  • robinvan
    robinvan Member Posts: 1,012
    #8
    Hi Kevin,
    All the best to you as you start your chemo. It sounds like a good mix. I had Folfox a few years ago and it went fairly well. I had a liver resection with 4 or 5 mets. Still going strong despite a small recurrence last March. WE zapped that with RFA and I'm NED again.
    I hope that the next few months bring you closer to getting rid of those liver mets!!
    Blessings.... Rob; in Vancouver
  • vman1300
    vman1300 Member Posts: 80
    #9
    robinvan said:

    Hi Kevin,
    All the best to you as you start your chemo. It sounds like a good mix. I had Folfox a few years ago and it went fairly well. I had a liver resection with 4 or 5 mets. Still going strong despite a small recurrence last March. WE zapped that with RFA and I'm NED again.
    I hope that the next few months bring you closer to getting rid of those liver mets!!
    Blessings.... Rob; in Vancouver

    Rob,

    Happy b-day!

    I know tomorrow brings me one step closer to being NED. Thanks for the prayers my friend and we are doing the same for you.

    Believe,

    Kevin
  • sladich
    sladich Member Posts: 429 Member
    #10
    Keep positive thoughts. You'll be NED in no time.

    Debbie
  • apache4
    apache4 Member Posts: 272 Member
    #11
    Chemo is a wonderful thing. Just remember that. I hated it when I had to miss a treatment because of low counts and was determined to do chemo forever if I had to. Fortunately, it was 16 treatments for my "too many to count" liver mets and now they are all dead except one! Yeh! I plan on kicking that one in the butt also even if it means a little more chemo, surgery...I don't care...I just want it gone. Good luck to you. The first couple of times are usually not so much fun, but it gets better after that. Keep the faith.
  • kathleenss
    kathleenss Member Posts: 49
    #12
    I'll be thinking of you. You're on your way!

    Kathleen
  • vman1300
    vman1300 Member Posts: 80
    #13
    sladich said:

    Keep positive thoughts. You'll be NED in no time.

    Debbie

    Thanks Debbie.

    I am so ready to get on with the treatment.

    Believe,

    Kevin
  • vman1300
    vman1300 Member Posts: 80
    #14
    apache4 said:

    Chemo is a wonderful thing. Just remember that. I hated it when I had to miss a treatment because of low counts and was determined to do chemo forever if I had to. Fortunately, it was 16 treatments for my "too many to count" liver mets and now they are all dead except one! Yeh! I plan on kicking that one in the butt also even if it means a little more chemo, surgery...I don't care...I just want it gone. Good luck to you. The first couple of times are usually not so much fun, but it gets better after that. Keep the faith.

    I dont care wait it takes....I am gonna beat this. I am not looking forward to tomorrow for the fear of the unknown.....on the other hard i am so ready to get started.

    Believe,

    Kevin
  • vman1300
    vman1300 Member Posts: 80
    #15
    kathleenss said:

    I'll be thinking of you. You're on your way!

    Kathleen

    Thanks! We need all the strength we can to beat this.

    Believe,

    Kevin
  • jerseysue
    jerseysue Member Posts: 624 Member
    #16
    Good Vibes for you. The first night of chemo I couldn't sleep at all. So you may be doing some late night posts!
  • Faith4Cure
    Faith4Cure Member Posts: 405 Member
    #17
    I love your attitude; with it I'm sure you will be NED in no time at all. Keep on visualizing those pesky mets getting smaller and smaller until they are gone!

    The unknown always makes us uneasy. Take one day at a time. After tomorrow you will have that first day of the unknown past you and you will become more familiar with what lies ahead of you. You are on your way to a recovery! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your wife.

    Faith
  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #18
    You have the right attitude, Kevin. Keep it up. It does feel alot better when you have your plan of attack set up. Remember to get some naps in but also to keep moving and get some walking exercise. And maybe most of all, drink lots of water. You will kick the beast.

    ****
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #19
    Sending good, strong, fighting vibes to you!!!

    Hugs, kathi
  • vman1300
    vman1300 Member Posts: 80
    #20
    jerseysue said:

    Good Vibes for you. The first night of chemo I couldn't sleep at all. So you may be doing some late night posts!

    I actually slept well last night...tonight may be a different story.....

    Believe,

    Kevin
  • claud1951
    claud1951 Member Posts: 424 Member
    #21
    I'm sure you are on your way for chemo, now. You are right. They worst part is the unknown but you will do fine after this first one. Get to know what the effects are (if any) and deal with it as you need to. Also make sure you let your nurses know what you are going through.

    Just keep your energy moving forward! You'll make it!

    My best to you
    Claudia

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