new to the board

elizabethgd

I am 59 and recently diagnosed stage 3 rectal cancer. I have 8 days left of radiation and chemo. I feel like I am still in shock. The plan is for me to have surgery later (4-6 weeks after end of radiation )I have had apt with surgeon at Duke and also met with a surgeon in my home state of SC. Anyone have opinions about Duke Cancer Clinic? Thanks for any replies. I have lots of questions (not to mention fears), but will start with this question.

PhillieG

Welcome
Hi Elizabeth,
I have Stage IV colon cancer. I have no experience but I would think that one of us regulars do. Everyone here is very helpful and there are a vast number of us with different stories. I'm sure you will find many answers to your questions.
Sorry to hear you are here under the circumstances that you are.
-phil

just4Brooks

We got the same thing!!
I know how you feel. I have stage 3 Anal Cancer. I just went through my first Week of Chemo (24hr pump) and Radation every day. I have 5 weeks to go and I'll so scared!!! My Surgery is in Aug then I have 6 more months of Chemo after that. I totaly understand your fears. I have them too!!!

lizzydavis

From SC
Hi Elizabeth! I am 53 and have also been diagnosed stage 3 colorectal cancer. Since my cancer was in the lymph nodes and there was no tumor, I had the colon resection and the surgeon harvested 22 lymph nodes to determine if any were positive. I had the resection on May 15 at Greenville Memorial Hospital and I am in the process of healing. My chemo and radiation will start in mid June.

If you would like for me to answer any questions, I would be glad to talk with you. I am in shock too but this website has been a real comfort. Great people here to help us along the way.

kimby

Welcome
Yep, you should still be in shock. The emotional crap is really tough, especially during those first weeks/months. I have colon canzer and no experience with Duke (although they have a stellar reputation) so I really can't answer your question this time. I just wanted to welcome you.

That radiation/chemo stuff you're on now? It can really kick your ****! Be prepared for it to get worse in the next 2-3 weeks. I had liver rads along with chemo, thought I'd handled it all so well, and was down for a month AFTER I'd finished rads. It completely blind-sided me.

So, we're glad you found us. Ask your questions and we will all do our best to answer them and be supportive.

Best Wishes,

Kimby

kimby

just4Brooks said:

We got the same thing!!
I know how you feel. I have stage 3 Anal Cancer. I just went through my first Week of Chemo (24hr pump) and Radation every day. I have 5 weeks to go and I'll so scared!!! My Surgery is in Aug then I have 6 more months of Chemo after that. I totaly understand your fears. I have them too!!!

Welcome
Glad you found us and hope we can be helpful. The first weeks and months are just plain scary. Things get better with time but that doesn't really help now. Maybe we can. We have a pretty supportive group here, I hope you enjoy it.

Stick around, ask questions, whine. We're here.

Hugs,

Kimby

elizabethgd

lizzydavis said:

From SC
Hi Elizabeth! I am 53 and have also been diagnosed stage 3 colorectal cancer. Since my cancer was in the lymph nodes and there was no tumor, I had the colon resection and the surgeon harvested 22 lymph nodes to determine if any were positive. I had the resection on May 15 at Greenville Memorial Hospital and I am in the process of healing. My chemo and radiation will start in mid June.

If you would like for me to answer any questions, I would be glad to talk with you. I am in shock too but this website has been a real comfort. Great people here to help us along the way.

thank you all
I appreciate any and all information. I am in Columbia getting radiation/chemo at SCOA But have not decided about surgeon yet... I hope you are doing well..and that you continue to heal.

Julie 44

just4Brooks said:

We got the same thing!!
I know how you feel. I have stage 3 Anal Cancer. I just went through my first Week of Chemo (24hr pump) and Radation every day. I have 5 weeks to go and I'll so scared!!! My Surgery is in Aug then I have 6 more months of Chemo after that. I totaly understand your fears. I have them too!!!

Take it easy
Take it easy and calm down..I know it is very scarey....I had stage 3 colon Cancer I am now cancer free for alittle over a month...But I know how you are feeling I felt the same way and so has everyone else who has this monster we call cancer.....First of all write down all of your questions for the doctor you tend to forget and be shellshocked when you talk to him....Find out everything you can about your treatment...You have to be your own advacate!!!!!Get a second opinion if it will ease your mind....Take one step at a time...Get your family and friends involved in your treatment. Everyone can help you in one way or another...Don't be afraid to ask for help...That is very important!!!! You can and will get through this!!!!!! One step at a time..Keep coming back to this site..It has helped mo soooo much you have no idea...Ask all the questions you need to don't feel funny cause we all know how it is ok We will all help as much as possible My prayers are with all of you....Julie

Annabelle41415

Welcome
Elizabeth: Welcome to the message boards. I am sorry you had to find us but we are a great bunch of people that can offer you support, encouragement and information.

Right now your head is reeling with emotions and it will be filled with doctor appointment after another, especially now with the radiation/chemo. You will look at your calendar and think when do I have time to do anything else but go to the doctors, and that is a normal feeling.

I had radiation/chemo for six weeks (daily) and then a six week healing, surgery and then I now am starting my second round of chemo.

Post often and ask as many questions as you want. We don't all go through the same treatment, but a lot of us do so it's nice to know you aren't alone.

Let us know how you are doing.

Kim

taraHK

same diagnosis
Hi. I had the same diagnosis as you: Stage 3 rectal. And, in case it is of some comfort to you, I had the same initial treatment as you (chemoradiation, followed by surgery 4-6 weeks later). I had further chemo after the surgery -- I wonder if that is also the plan for you?

Of course you are still in shock. Dealing with the diagnosis, new information, decisions, plus treatment IS a huge shock to the system! I am glad you found this board and I hope you find it as useful as I have, in terms of information as well as emotional support.

I have heard good things about Duke but don't have any personal experience.

I was diagnosed over 6 years ago -- still alive and kicking (hard).

Best wishes to you

Tara

tootsie1

Hey, Elizabeth.
Welcome to
Hey, Elizabeth.

Welcome to the board. I'm sorry you have to be here, but please check in with us to let us know your progress and let us help you in any way we can. I live in NC, but haven't been treated at Duke. It does have a good reputation, though.

Good luck with your treatment.

*Hugs*
Gail

karguy

welcome
I was 59 when I was diagnosed with stage 3,going on stage 4 colorectal cancer last year.I did chemo and radiation at the same time,then surgery 6 weeks later.I had to start writing down the questions I wanted to ask because once we started talking about options ,and precedures I was on overload with information,I forgot to ask some questions.Don't be afraid to ask anything.I just had a 7 month catscan,and colonoscopy ,and I came up clear so far.I have to wear a permanant colostomy,but it is no big deal,you get used to it.When they did my surgery they also took out 11 lymph nodes,and I'm still here.You will find a lot of information on this site,so don't be afraid to ask anything,there is alot of experience here so just relax as much as you can.I wish you the best of luck

kmygil

Welcome
Hi Elizabeth,

Welcome to the board, although we're sorry you had to be here. You are perfectly normal to still be in shock. It is a scary thing when you hear the "C" word. Also, chemo just sort of stuns you--another "C" word. Duke is supposed to have an excellent cancer center from everything I've heard, but I have no personal experience with them. Be sure to have all your questions written down and ask your physicians if you may tape your conversations. We tend to grab onto one or two things in a conversation and the rest sort of passes in one ear and out the other. Also, bring someone with you to the meetings; two heads are better than one when processing information, especially if one of the heads has "chemo brain." (LOL) Please come here early and often. This site saved my sanity! We have a wonderful bunch of caring, supportive people who will listen and respond to any and everything you put out there!

Hugs,
Kirsten

lizzydavis

elizabethgd said:

thank you all
I appreciate any and all information. I am in Columbia getting radiation/chemo at SCOA But have not decided about surgeon yet... I hope you are doing well..and that you continue to heal.

Better than expected
Hi Elizabeth,

I am doing much better than I expected. If you have any specific questions for me, you can write me here or by my email at laddavis@bellsouth.net. There is a wealth of knowledge on this ACS -colorectal cancer discussion board. I am still reading and reading to learn more.

My best to you.

VickiCO

We are in the same club...
I will share my story as it is similar to yours. I am a few months ahead of you. I was DXd Oct 22, 08 with stage 3 rectal cancer. I went through the 6 weeks of chemo/radiation, and Kimby is right...be prepared for an a$$ kicking, pun intended! The last two weeks are the hardest, as is the week after it all ends, but if you are prepared, it will be better for you. Don't fight the exhaustion. Mild exercise, like walking, helps, but if your body says lay down and rest, then lay down and rest!

I had surgery Feb 4, 09 - 6 weeks after treatments ended. My tumor had a complete response to the chemo/rads and was GONE at the time of surgery. It CAN happen! As a result, I was able to skip the ostomy, but if I had to have one, I would have been OK with that. Again, don't be a hero after surgery. But do walk, walk, walk. It will help you more than you know, and it will help get things "moving" again. My lymph nodes were tested and clear of cancer...score one for us!

You will no doubt get chemo brain...it is real. Write everything down. I take a family member with me to doctor appts, as once they used the words "You have cancer", my normal hearing went out the window. Having two people there, we tend to catch everything the doc says. And I take copious notes.

I am now on the second round of chemo ... called 'mop up' or 'insurance'. It isn't easy, but it has the possibility of keeping the beast at bay, so I will soldier on.

Sorry we had to meet here, but you have found the best site for your questions and much needed support. This group is fantastic.

Ask ANYTHING. Someone will respond.

Duke has a stellar reputation, so you should be in good hands.

Many hugs, Vicki

elizabethgd

thanks everybody!!

thanks everybody!!

elizabethgd

karguy said:

welcome
I was 59 when I was diagnosed with stage 3,going on stage 4 colorectal cancer last year.I did chemo and radiation at the same time,then surgery 6 weeks later.I had to start writing down the questions I wanted to ask because once we started talking about options ,and precedures I was on overload with information,I forgot to ask some questions.Don't be afraid to ask anything.I just had a 7 month catscan,and colonoscopy ,and I came up clear so far.I have to wear a permanant colostomy,but it is no big deal,you get used to it.When they did my surgery they also took out 11 lymph nodes,and I'm still here.You will find a lot of information on this site,so don't be afraid to ask anything,there is alot of experience here so just relax as much as you can.I wish you the best of luck

did you choose the
did you choose the permanent colostomy rather than j pouch? ...many people seem to have trouble with j pouch. so far surgeons are talking j pouch for me...but after reading all the pain and problems I am not sure ...opinion?

Buzzard

elizabethgd said:

thanks everybody!!

thanks everybody!!

as far as ostomy goes.........
Take everything one step at a time.....don't worry about an ostomy right now or a J pouch..take each step as it comes..KathiM on here has a J pouch so she will chime in before long and tell you about it..she is a woman on the go so catching her is sometimes hard to do, she doesn't let any grass grow under her feet......But anywho, I have a permanent ostomy and I don't have any qualms about it at all....its simply another part of me....sometimes I can hide my extra cash in it.....LOL....no not really but everything is doable if you get into the right mindset.......take your journey one step at a time and remember we are always here for you...........chin up........

elizabethgd

Buzzard said:

as far as ostomy goes.........
Take everything one step at a time.....don't worry about an ostomy right now or a J pouch..take each step as it comes..KathiM on here has a J pouch so she will chime in before long and tell you about it..she is a woman on the go so catching her is sometimes hard to do, she doesn't let any grass grow under her feet......But anywho, I have a permanent ostomy and I don't have any qualms about it at all....its simply another part of me....sometimes I can hide my extra cash in it.....LOL....no not really but everything is doable if you get into the right mindset.......take your journey one step at a time and remember we are always here for you...........chin up........

I want whatever will cause
I want whatever will cause fewest possible side effects, and ease of life...
...I guess everybody has lots of fears...Sometimes I feel like I am afraid to even hope.
Thanks for words of support

karguy

elizabethgd said:

I want whatever will cause
I want whatever will cause fewest possible side effects, and ease of life...
...I guess everybody has lots of fears...Sometimes I feel like I am afraid to even hope.
Thanks for words of support

ostomy
I didn't acually choose it ,it was kind of done for me,but as buzzard said,it's really no big deal.You get used to it,and it just becomes part of your routine,in fact some times it is actually convienant,and is much better than the alternative.Don't be afraid to hope.I got angry,and decided I was going to beat the cancer no matter what.It has been almost a year since surgery,and so far I am NED,and I keep on hoping.Just don't ever give up hope no matter what.Just decide that you WILL be a cancer surviver.HANG IN THERE,AND GOOD LUCK

spongebob

WELCOME ABOARD!
Welcome elizabethgd -

Sorry you have to be here, but you've come to a great board with a lot of happy, shining people who give great advice, support, and laughter (as you've mentioned in another post).

You asked about Duke Cancer Center - one of the BEST in the country!

Be well!

- SpongeBob