Semi-Colon Roll Call

PGLGreg

Hawaii
I live in Waimanalo, HI, on the east coast of Oahu near Bellows AFB. Grew up in Lima, Ohio.
11/2005 Colonoscopy diagnosed with rectal cancer, stage IIa, at age 63.
12/2005 Surgery: LAR, NED since then.
1-2/2006 Radiation, 5FU+leucovorin (just 10 injections).

Greg

Madre

polarprincess said:

hi
42 years old, had some bleeding, vague abdomindal and back pain, stretching like feeling in my stomach, palpitations.. went for colonoscopy they found 3 cm polyp which they said looked benign and sent me to mayo clinic for removal. He wrote on colonoscopy report however that it was essentially the diameter of the colonic lumen so when i got to mayo they expected i had very advanced disease and pretty much gave me my death sentence, and i told them they were wrong..then they did their own colonoscopy and sure enough they found just the polyp and they were sure it was benign too so we celebrated! The next day i went for endoscopic removal of the polyp and then went home. 2 days later i got a call and the devasating news they had found cancer in it.
I went back down for my resection and although it was negative for residual carcinoma, they found it in 1 lymph node out of 26, so i began chemo and radiation in august of 2008. I am getting 12 rounds plus the chemoradiation.. i had to quit oxaliplatin due to an allergic reaction. My 12th treatment in on April 20th...It was T1 moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. no lymphatic or perineural invasion

Stage 3B
I went for a routine physical Feb 2008. Blood counts low...more testing
Upper GI - negative
occult test - negative
siliac disease - negative
CT scan 4/3/08 - BINGO - 1.5 in tumor in colon
Colonoscopy - 4/8/08 - mass too thick to go through biospy positive
surgery 4/17/08 - removed 15 inches, 4 lymph nodes positive - Stage 3B
FOLFOX chemo 5/21/08 - 10/22/08
Prior had complete hystercetomy 2004 was told that if I hadn't had that then would porbably have ovarian or uterian cancer now.

Back to work all test coming back fine so, so far so good.

catherine58

Hello from across the pond!
Just checked in ... it's been a while and I don't recognise a lot of faces although Scouty and Emily were among those who responded to my early posts - thank you so much, I took a lot of your advice on board .. This site was such a huge support to me after I was diagnosed (in February 2007) with a football-sized tumour on my right colon. Had a right hemicolectomy (sp?), three lymph nodes affected so on to nine rounds of Folfox, which I finished in August 2007. NED ever since and feeling better than I have for years. No lingering side effects whatsoever from chemo.

Have recently embarked on genetic testing: my tumour showed "microsatellite instability" which I gather means there is a 90% chance that I have HNPCC, although I'm still waiting for definitive results from the blood test. Bad news is that there is a 50% chance that my children have the same gene and that I am likely to develop other cancers, good news (I gather) is that the tumours do not tend to be particularly aggressive and are less likely to metastisize (sp?? not a word I use frequently, thank goodness!) than non-genetic forms.

Very best wishes to my fellow semi colons!

Catherine

CherylHutch

catherine58 said:

Hello from across the pond!
Just checked in ... it's been a while and I don't recognise a lot of faces although Scouty and Emily were among those who responded to my early posts - thank you so much, I took a lot of your advice on board .. This site was such a huge support to me after I was diagnosed (in February 2007) with a football-sized tumour on my right colon. Had a right hemicolectomy (sp?), three lymph nodes affected so on to nine rounds of Folfox, which I finished in August 2007. NED ever since and feeling better than I have for years. No lingering side effects whatsoever from chemo.

Have recently embarked on genetic testing: my tumour showed "microsatellite instability" which I gather means there is a 90% chance that I have HNPCC, although I'm still waiting for definitive results from the blood test. Bad news is that there is a 50% chance that my children have the same gene and that I am likely to develop other cancers, good news (I gather) is that the tumours do not tend to be particularly aggressive and are less likely to metastisize (sp?? not a word I use frequently, thank goodness!) than non-genetic forms.

Very best wishes to my fellow semi colons!

Catherine

Hey Catherine!
I think I must have come onboard much later than you, so I missed seeing any of your posts. WOW... a "football-size" tumour?? That's incredible!! Surely you must have had some sort of signs or discomfort with something that big? That would be like carrying a baby around... then again, I have heard of gals who gave birth and had absolutely no idea they were preggers. But that is so darn amazing to be walking around with a tumour that size. No wonder you are feeling so much better nowadays!!

That is fabulous news that you are still NED. Oh sure, we can look at the statistics and worry ourselves sick that we are going to be the ones that are in the 50% demographic or the 60%, 70%, 90%, etc. On the other hand, someone has to be in the other percentage that they don't get it... so why not us??

Anywho... so glad to make your acquaintance... and I'm in awe of the tumour they found and took out for you. That is amazing and wonderful!!

Huggggs,

Cheryl

catherine58

CherylHutch said:

Hey Catherine!
I think I must have come onboard much later than you, so I missed seeing any of your posts. WOW... a "football-size" tumour?? That's incredible!! Surely you must have had some sort of signs or discomfort with something that big? That would be like carrying a baby around... then again, I have heard of gals who gave birth and had absolutely no idea they were preggers. But that is so darn amazing to be walking around with a tumour that size. No wonder you are feeling so much better nowadays!!

That is fabulous news that you are still NED. Oh sure, we can look at the statistics and worry ourselves sick that we are going to be the ones that are in the 50% demographic or the 60%, 70%, 90%, etc. On the other hand, someone has to be in the other percentage that they don't get it... so why not us??

Anywho... so glad to make your acquaintance... and I'm in awe of the tumour they found and took out for you. That is amazing and wonderful!!

Huggggs,

Cheryl

Nice to hear from you,
Nice to hear from you, Cheryl.

Well the surgeon said it was the size of a "small" football (and he would have been referring to a soccer ball, not an American football - maybe that's a little less impressive?). Still, it was a pretty big tumour ... I remember the surgeon telling me in the recovery room that I was going to have a much flatter stomach which added to the general euphoria I felt in the first hours after surgery (I was pumped full of heroin at the time!). He was right - I'll never have a washboard stomach but it bulges a lot less now (in fact I'm generally much happier with my body now than I was before diagnosis - just happy to be alive, I suppose!).

The genetic counsellor later told me that HNPCC tumours are often alarmingly large but, as I mentioned above, less likely to spread than other non-genetic cancers ...

I just read your story - sorry you're still fighting the beast but you certainly have the right spirit to beat it!

Courage!

Catherine

dmdwins

ruggersocks said:

I'm here even though it's been awhile
Just read that article about anal cancer on CNN and it always brings back fear to read the survival rate.

Diagnosed with rectal cancer 5/06, rectal resection, radiation/chemo combo, chemo again. finished 1/07

1 met to lung and 1 met to liver found in July 2007

Chemo again, ablation of met to liver, lung surgery, chemo. finished June 2008.

Now having scans every 3 months. Last scan in January showed nothing!

Next scan is on Monday, April 13th. Will find out results on the 15th. Prayers are always welcome!

Hugs,
Cheryl

Prayers and positive thoughts
Hi Cheryl

I see your scan is coming up tomorrow. We all know how those days are. I am sending you positive thought and prayers!!

Dawn

CherylHutch

catherine58 said:

Nice to hear from you,
Nice to hear from you, Cheryl.

Well the surgeon said it was the size of a "small" football (and he would have been referring to a soccer ball, not an American football - maybe that's a little less impressive?). Still, it was a pretty big tumour ... I remember the surgeon telling me in the recovery room that I was going to have a much flatter stomach which added to the general euphoria I felt in the first hours after surgery (I was pumped full of heroin at the time!). He was right - I'll never have a washboard stomach but it bulges a lot less now (in fact I'm generally much happier with my body now than I was before diagnosis - just happy to be alive, I suppose!).

The genetic counsellor later told me that HNPCC tumours are often alarmingly large but, as I mentioned above, less likely to spread than other non-genetic cancers ...

I just read your story - sorry you're still fighting the beast but you certainly have the right spirit to beat it!

Courage!

Catherine

Soccer Ball/Football
Both balls sound awfully large to me! Heck, if you had said the size of a baseball that is still large! I can only imagine how wonderful you felt, once they found it, to get it out of there! And that is great news that these particular type of tumours are less likely to spread. Phew!

Yep... still fighting the beast although, am in a "wait and see" period right now while we wait and see just what these nodules in the lungs are planning on doing. I tend to like to think that we are going to be "waiting and seeing" an awfully long time as the nodules all decide that they aren't cancer

Hehehe... so, "across the pond" am I right to assume you are in Britain? Or are you across the other pond and in Australia? I figure, we have two ponds that are across from us. I'm here in Canada, so that would make it across the pond and up one country LOL!!

Hugggggs,

Cheryl

pamness

Thank you for starting such a great thread
The stories are so great and hopefully very helpful to the newbie lurkers on the board.

I was diagnosed in January 2007 during a routine colonoscopy, 1 polyp, malignant - 2 lymph nodes positive (unexpected, scans were clean). The usual - colonectomy - 7 inches more or less, lymph nodes 2 out of 21. Followed by folfox and chemo/radiation. Currently ned since August 2007. Have had blips along the way, odd CT scans and my cea seems to be normal at 4.2 - at this point in time CT scans are good and my cea has been at 4.2 for quite some time with 6 normal scans.

I guess everything is relative. Had a colonoscopy last week - all clear.

Pam

tootsie1

dmdwins said:

One day at a time
This is my first post- i live in Pittsburgh Pa

44 yo mom of 2 beautiful young ladies(13,12) and a pretty great husband,too. Diagnosed 10/2007 Stage IV with metastasis to the left ovary. The other ovary was not removed at the time because they both looked "normal" at surgery. 6 months of folfox and avastin. Was to do 6 more months of Avastin alone both developed a pulmonary embolis and had to discontine.Convinced oncologist to have gyne onc take out other ovary 11/08. Right ovary also looked normal at surgery however positive at pathology. No additional chemo as I am NED right now. Awaiting PET at end of May.

Keep fighting everyone. There are many survivors out there and we are among them!!


Dawn

Welcome
Welcome to the board, Dawn. I like the way you were so proactive about that ovary. Way to save your health!

Looking forward to more posts from you.

*hugs*
Gail

Kathleen808

PGLGreg said:

Hawaii
I live in Waimanalo, HI, on the east coast of Oahu near Bellows AFB. Grew up in Lima, Ohio.
11/2005 Colonoscopy diagnosed with rectal cancer, stage IIa, at age 63.
12/2005 Surgery: LAR, NED since then.
1-2/2006 Radiation, 5FU+leucovorin (just 10 injections).

Greg

hi neighbor
Hi Greg,
We're right over the hill in Kailua. We love going to Bellows. Good to see the sun out finally.
Aloha,
Kathleen

PGLGreg

Kathleen808 said:

hi neighbor
Hi Greg,
We're right over the hill in Kailua. We love going to Bellows. Good to see the sun out finally.
Aloha,
Kathleen

from Waimanalo to Kailua
Hi Kathleen,

I knew Kailua was close. I'm a few blocks from Bellows, on Hinalea. I used to run along Bellows beach every morning until the MPs decided to prevent civilians from walking over there from Sherwood forest.

Greg

Annabelle41415

pamness said:

Thank you for starting such a great thread
The stories are so great and hopefully very helpful to the newbie lurkers on the board.

I was diagnosed in January 2007 during a routine colonoscopy, 1 polyp, malignant - 2 lymph nodes positive (unexpected, scans were clean). The usual - colonectomy - 7 inches more or less, lymph nodes 2 out of 21. Followed by folfox and chemo/radiation. Currently ned since August 2007. Have had blips along the way, odd CT scans and my cea seems to be normal at 4.2 - at this point in time CT scans are good and my cea has been at 4.2 for quite some time with 6 normal scans.

I guess everything is relative. Had a colonoscopy last week - all clear.

Pam

My roll call
I found out December 1, 2008 that I had rectal cancer. I started radiation/chemo on January 7, 2009 for six weeks. On March 26, 2009 I had surgery to remove my rectum and have a temporary ileostomy which should be reversed sometime later this year. Next month I should be starting 4 months of chemo. The doctor told my husband that my surgery went better than expected (4-6 hour surgery and mine lasted 4 1/2 so I did well). I was in the hospital for 5 days which was normal with my surgery.

I am slowly getting back to normal. I'm still in pain, especially in the rectal area since they took the rectum out and made a new one out of the colon (isn't it surprising what they can do with other parts of your body). But the incision is so low in the rectum that when I sit, it puts pressure on my bottom.

I live 45 minutes west of Detroit and had my surgery at one of the best hospital's around and my surgeon was absolutely wonderful and my radiation oncologist is just so great of a doctor.

My pathology report came out clean with no lymp node involvement and the tumor shrunk from radiation/chemo from 25 mm to 3 mm so that was a huge decrease.

I am improving everyday and thank God he is in my life to get me through this. Kim

sladich

Annabelle41415 said:

My roll call
I found out December 1, 2008 that I had rectal cancer. I started radiation/chemo on January 7, 2009 for six weeks. On March 26, 2009 I had surgery to remove my rectum and have a temporary ileostomy which should be reversed sometime later this year. Next month I should be starting 4 months of chemo. The doctor told my husband that my surgery went better than expected (4-6 hour surgery and mine lasted 4 1/2 so I did well). I was in the hospital for 5 days which was normal with my surgery.

I am slowly getting back to normal. I'm still in pain, especially in the rectal area since they took the rectum out and made a new one out of the colon (isn't it surprising what they can do with other parts of your body). But the incision is so low in the rectum that when I sit, it puts pressure on my bottom.

I live 45 minutes west of Detroit and had my surgery at one of the best hospital's around and my surgeon was absolutely wonderful and my radiation oncologist is just so great of a doctor.

My pathology report came out clean with no lymp node involvement and the tumor shrunk from radiation/chemo from 25 mm to 3 mm so that was a huge decrease.

I am improving everyday and thank God he is in my life to get me through this. Kim

Live in Ithaca, NY
Hi all,

Diagnosed with Stage 4 sigmoid colon cancer in September 2004 at the age of 48.
Have had 3 recurrences (liver, liver, lung)
NED since December 2007.
Testing next month.

Best to everyone!

Debbie

P.S. Please come to the Colon Palooza in October 2009 in Key West. You are sure to have a great time.

beachinmom

sladich said:

Live in Ithaca, NY
Hi all,

Diagnosed with Stage 4 sigmoid colon cancer in September 2004 at the age of 48.
Have had 3 recurrences (liver, liver, lung)
NED since December 2007.
Testing next month.

Best to everyone!

Debbie

P.S. Please come to the Colon Palooza in October 2009 in Key West. You are sure to have a great time.

Guess I will join in the roll call
I was diagnosed in May 2008 at the age of 40 after experiencing just a few weeks of blood in my stools. I had a colonoscopy which found two polyps (non-malignant) and a mass of 2.5cm. I had an abdominal resection and hysterectomy and was found to have stage 1. I did have agressive features to my tumor, i.e. poorly differentiated and lymphovascular invasion, so I chose to do 6 months of FOLFOX. Scans were clean in Dec 08 and currently I am NED. Followup colonoscopy is in May so i will feel better when i find out if it is clean too.

Moesimo

great post
As another long time poster who doesn't post as much as I used to, I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer on March 17, 2003 at age 46. I have been NED since my surgery in 6/03. I had some bumps in the road initially, but am doing well now.

I live in central MA.

I am almost 6 years NED-----WOOOOHOOOOO!!!

To all the newbies, it does get better.

Maureen

scouty

bump
So others can see how awesome we all are!!!!

This is a list of some very amazing people!!!!

Lisa P.

JADot

Here!
Silicon Vally CA, Dxed 12/05 stage II, 2 large vicious looking tumors in ascending colon, HNPCC suspect. Surgery 2 days after X'mas and 6 months of chemo ensured in 2006. I hope to celebrate my 3 years NED this July.

Cancer survivorship showed me at once the fragility and the strength of life, and how much the love of your family and friends can make a difference.

Scouty - thanks so much for the roll call. Every answer says "Yes we can!".

-Ying

jenben59

scouty said:

Great question
I did not follow any of the conventional paths to my NEDness so I talked it over with my oncologist to define my date.

scouty
I love your word..."NEDness"!

jenben59

sheri22 said:

my turn
hi still fairly new dx on Jan 22 of this year with stage 4 colon mets to lung , had stage 2, 3 yrs ago got lucky for awhile hopefully itll happen again, Ohio USA
next by the way I love the pic of your boxer We have 3 gotta have a sense of humor to own these dogs huh?

Hi, Sheri 22.
Just curious... where in Ohio? I'm originally born in Cleveland in '59 and lived in Bay village until I moved to Texas in '82 and have been here ever since.

Diagnosed: 12/08, ascending colon
Stage 3c, 4 out of 25 Lymph nodes
currently on: Folfox, 5FU & Lucevorin (sp?)

This is a great site. Stay in touch.

jenben59

spongebob said:

CLEVELAND ROCKS
So, jenben, you lived in "the Village"? I grew up in North Olmsted!

Wow! Someone...
knows the area! When we were kids my parents used to take us to Berea Beach...it was nice and clean back in the day. When I was in college down here in Texas one of my professors attended Baldwin-Wallace college. Yes, I know the area...North Olmsted, Olmsted falls, Lakewood, Berea, Broookpark, Middleburg Heights, and even Parma...when we were kids the joke was "Parma Polaks"...not that we really cared what nationality any one was...we were just kids saying stupid stuff! I can remember riding the Rapid Transit downtown...it was safe back when I was young...I don't know now. Things are really tough up north...so many businesses went under.