New Plan...ready for next round of chemo
We are now ready for the next chemo rounds. I start on March 23. I will get 5FU and leucovorin boluses 5 days in a row, then 3 weeks off, 4 times. Then I should be DONE. I currently have no cancer cells showing anywhere, but I still agree that this insurance chemo is necessary.
As I said in another post, yesterday my oncologist read my whole pathology report to me. (I guess they also did that in the hospital after surgery, but not everything stuck because I was on meds!)Anyway, I consciously learned yesterday that my tumor was COMPLETELY GONE the day of the surgery. No Evidence of Cancer! We waited 5 weeks after radiation treatments stopped to give it the best shot, and it worked for me. This was the best news possible. It lessens the chance of recurrence, and it just felt damn good to know!
Thanks to all of you for being such a great support team. Oh, and my bowels are starting to regulate a bit...at least I am not completely incontinent anymore! Baby steps...
Vicki
Comments
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hope you start feeling better
Vicki just seen your post I hate hearing you are in pain that is enough to depress anyone espiccally when you should be celebrating the NED that is a good thing though you are one tough lady and you do inspire me. You have been on such a rollercoaster hopefully by the time you read this the ride will be all uphill for you
GOD bless Ill keep you in my prayers
hugs Sheri220 -
GOOD NEWS!
I am so sorry to hear you have been depressed; sounds like you have been really having a tough time of it! I wish you had been able to come here for a bit of respite. Don't try to be a trouper, get all the help that's available! This battle just really sucks sometimes! I hope the new pain meds work for you and that you are able to continue to get better control of your bowels; I am sure the combination of incontinence and pain would do all of us in! Bad enough to find out you have cancer down there but to go through the radiation and surgery and continue to be miserable and have to deal with lack of control down there is a tough one! I continue to pray for you and will add extra prayers for God to give you control over the pain and your bowels. Stay strong and continue to seek help! You ARE winning this battle and one day you will be looking back and in awe of the strength that you didn't know you could muster!
mary0 -
Isn't it grand?
Yes, treatment is horrible. VERY hard to get thru. But, look at the outcome!!!
I, too, was cancer free when they did my resection. Regrets? A firm NO! I joke about if I have a local reoccurance, they need to visit the pathology department of the hospital...it's GONE!
With this kind of surgery, dear Vicki, patience and time will win the day. Look to me...I am living a normal life again, 4 years post-dx. Yes, it was HECK to get thru, but, as you said, 'BABY STEPS'. Use that as a guide to introducing back foods...I was surprised at what set me off post-treatment. But, even that info I use...when I get too plugged, I know exactly what to eat to move the earth!
BIG hugs, Kathi
BTW, how is that pillow working? I found mine the other day in a closet...and thought of you!0 -
Glad to hear your good news
Hi Vicki,
I'm sorry you've been in pain, but SO glad to hear your tumor is gone!!!!!!!!
This will hopefully soon be something completely in the past for you. You still have the remaining to chemo to get through, but sounds like you're doing well. The depression will hopefully lift soon as the pain goes completely away. I'm thinking of and praying for you to have no pain, regain strength and energy, and be given a "jolt" of a positive mood.
Take care and best wishes!
Lisa0 -
Hang In thereKathiM said:Isn't it grand?
Yes, treatment is horrible. VERY hard to get thru. But, look at the outcome!!!
I, too, was cancer free when they did my resection. Regrets? A firm NO! I joke about if I have a local reoccurance, they need to visit the pathology department of the hospital...it's GONE!
With this kind of surgery, dear Vicki, patience and time will win the day. Look to me...I am living a normal life again, 4 years post-dx. Yes, it was HECK to get thru, but, as you said, 'BABY STEPS'. Use that as a guide to introducing back foods...I was surprised at what set me off post-treatment. But, even that info I use...when I get too plugged, I know exactly what to eat to move the earth!
BIG hugs, Kathi
BTW, how is that pillow working? I found mine the other day in a closet...and thought of you!
Hi Vickie,
You will do well on the 5Fu and Leucovorin. I had the exact same treatment (bolus) only mine went for 6 months - 1 week on then 3 weeks off. For the most part I would go in first thing in the morning and then go to work. I had days when I was tired and took those off thanks to a very understanding employer.
Cheers, Lance0 -
Hi Buddy...........lisa42 said:Glad to hear your good news
Hi Vicki,
I'm sorry you've been in pain, but SO glad to hear your tumor is gone!!!!!!!!
This will hopefully soon be something completely in the past for you. You still have the remaining to chemo to get through, but sounds like you're doing well. The depression will hopefully lift soon as the pain goes completely away. I'm thinking of and praying for you to have no pain, regain strength and energy, and be given a "jolt" of a positive mood.
Take care and best wishes!
Lisa
You are climbing the same hill as I and you will be as I am soon, 1 treatment away from NED.....That is the goal hun and you are almost home. I too am sorry for the pain, but it makes us more determined to be larger than it is, to make you mad enough to move another step closer to NED. Thats proves your strength to your self, and yes it shows how strong you really are. I am very proud of you for the way you have held on to the rope and gotten through it all. Life will be great again, promise. They told me the same as you, when the tumor was taken there was no sign of anymore cancer anywhere. I too did the mop up also and hope that it does mop it all up.......You are a lot further along than you were 6 months ago, and it won't be long before your completely done...Hang in there kiddo, we're counting on ya to come out smiling.........God Bless you sweetie..........0 -
Thanks Buddy!Buzzard said:Hi Buddy...........
You are climbing the same hill as I and you will be as I am soon, 1 treatment away from NED.....That is the goal hun and you are almost home. I too am sorry for the pain, but it makes us more determined to be larger than it is, to make you mad enough to move another step closer to NED. Thats proves your strength to your self, and yes it shows how strong you really are. I am very proud of you for the way you have held on to the rope and gotten through it all. Life will be great again, promise. They told me the same as you, when the tumor was taken there was no sign of anymore cancer anywhere. I too did the mop up also and hope that it does mop it all up.......You are a lot further along than you were 6 months ago, and it won't be long before your completely done...Hang in there kiddo, we're counting on ya to come out smiling.........God Bless you sweetie..........
You don't know how much your posts get me through. Even hubby says "heard from Buzzard today?" Thank you so much. Yes, I am strong and getting stronger. I can do this. The new pain meds are kicking in, and I know it will help. and it's in the 70's today and I am going to walk around the neighborhood! Yeah! Out of the house!
God Bless You, Vicki0 -
Great....VickiCO said:Thanks Buddy!
You don't know how much your posts get me through. Even hubby says "heard from Buzzard today?" Thank you so much. Yes, I am strong and getting stronger. I can do this. The new pain meds are kicking in, and I know it will help. and it's in the 70's today and I am going to walk around the neighborhood! Yeah! Out of the house!
God Bless You, Vicki
Your starting to sound like your young self again.......You tell hubby (but Im sure he already knows) that's hes got him a good woman there and he has been a great caregiver and thank you to him from me for taking good care of you. A caregiver is always under thanked but is a Godsend to those of us that need them.
Yep out of the house sounds good....its getting warm here too so it looks as though the limbs and trees are gonna get another go this weekend.....Keep up the good work hun and keep in touch......God Bless ya sweetie....won't be long now :-)0 -
emotionalBuzzard said:Great....
Your starting to sound like your young self again.......You tell hubby (but Im sure he already knows) that's hes got him a good woman there and he has been a great caregiver and thank you to him from me for taking good care of you. A caregiver is always under thanked but is a Godsend to those of us that need them.
Yep out of the house sounds good....its getting warm here too so it looks as though the limbs and trees are gonna get another go this weekend.....Keep up the good work hun and keep in touch......God Bless ya sweetie....won't be long now :-)
i am so emotional reading these comments. i am new to the boards and getting my port tomorrow and start chemo and radiation on Monday. Im scared shittttt but i need to be tough to get through it.
What awesome news to hear cancer free. You go girl and live your life and party up. Heck, get drunk...
I am truly so happy for you im teary eyed.0 -
Vicki, what great news for
Vicki, what great news for you! I, too, had a "complete response" to the preoperative chemoradiation for stage 3 rectal cancer...and when they operated...like you,not any malignant cells left. I was bummed that I still had to do mop-up chemotherapy, which 10 years ago was 5-FU. Here I am 10 years later with no health problems! Great news~0 -
Hey Vicki!
Soooo good to hear from you and even better to hear just how well your journey is going!! I'm sorry you are in pain and I have no doubt the pain is what is causing the depression. As soon as that pain goes away, you are going to be dancing the cancer-free dance and, strange as this may sound, you are going to actually enjoy being on the 5FU/Leucovrin. Why do I say that?? Because you will know that each treatment is the insurance you need to live a cancer-free life!! And that will be soooo much more enjoyable once the pain is gone away
Hang in there, my friend!!
Huggggggs,
Cheryl0 -
Your Turn is Comingpaulette S said:emotional
i am so emotional reading these comments. i am new to the boards and getting my port tomorrow and start chemo and radiation on Monday. Im scared shittttt but i need to be tough to get through it.
What awesome news to hear cancer free. You go girl and live your life and party up. Heck, get drunk...
I am truly so happy for you im teary eyed.
Hon, before long you will be an old timer here and find yourself giving advise to the newbies. I and along with many here will be praying for you and we are here if you ever need anything. This board is awesome, well the people here that is. Please never not ask a question, regardlss of the subject, we are all family here and here to help. We can and will get through this together. God Bless you ALways and may he keep you safe in is arms during this time of need.
God Bless
Beth0 -
way to go Girl
So glad to hear the great news, you deserve it so much. I will continue to pray for you during your last part of chemo, I have all the faith in the world in you that you will come through this with flying colors....Keep on holding on to Buzzards rope and we will all get there together....
God Bless my friend
Beth0 -
everybody do it!dorookie said:way to go Girl
So glad to hear the great news, you deserve it so much. I will continue to pray for you during your last part of chemo, I have all the faith in the world in you that you will come through this with flying colors....Keep on holding on to Buzzards rope and we will all get there together....
God Bless my friend
Beth
The nekked dance! congrats! So glad to hear it!0 -
everybody do it!dorookie said:way to go Girl
So glad to hear the great news, you deserve it so much. I will continue to pray for you during your last part of chemo, I have all the faith in the world in you that you will come through this with flying colors....Keep on holding on to Buzzards rope and we will all get there together....
God Bless my friend
Beth
The nekked dance! congrats! So glad to hear it!0
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