i am scared

kayb48

i found out on Christmas eve 2008 I have stage 4 colon cancer. I was 47. it was found because I had low blood. part of my colon was removed but i had a small spot on my liver that th dr could not get to. i did 5 rounds of chemo and then was sent to a liver speacalist and he removed the small part of my liver where the spot was. that was 4 weeks ago and he tells me i am cancer free. i have an appoinment with my chemo dr today to see if i will do anymore chemo but i am so scared the cancer will come back. what are the rates on this.

PhillieG

Try to relax...
They can do amazing ting with surgery and chemo. I am not a statistics guy. My advice is to NOT look it up on the internet either. Try to think positive and keep getting followup checkups and your chances would be great that you'll stay cancer free.
-phil

Unknown

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changing2

Praying you through today
Am on it...praying for peace and wisdom for MD! Let us know.

lmliess

PhillieG said:

Try to relax...
They can do amazing ting with surgery and chemo. I am not a statistics guy. My advice is to NOT look it up on the internet either. Try to think positive and keep getting followup checkups and your chances would be great that you'll stay cancer free.
-phil

Don't read the statistics!
In fact don't read anything about Stage IV colon cancer. The statistics are too old. There are so many people beating and living with Stage IV cancer. I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer 12/1/08 and I am 38. I have had 2 surgeries - one with a perm. colostomy and the other with 2/3 of my liver resected. I am now on follow up chemo of Folfox + Avastin for 8 rounds to make sure there are no cells lurking.

I have finally come to the terms that - yes, I will beat this and do everything in my power to do it - including changing my diet, lifestyle and exercise more - BUT, scanning, and CT scans and bloodwork and contant monitoring will be part of my life. And if it does show up again, at least we are catching it and can do something about it right then.

I am scared too. I have another CT scan in September and I am already nervous. But I will not let this worry me so much that it takes away from my day I was given with my family and friends.

Postive happy thought can do wonders for your immune system, along with healthy eating and exercise. I am doing as much of that as I can and doing my chemo. Although I have to admit, during chemo I don't eat the best....I eat whatever I can to keep my weight stable and even up.

You came to the right place. These people are great here and have great thoughts and ideas and a lot of 'been there, done that' to get you through.

Linda

kayb48

PhillieG said:

Try to relax...
They can do amazing ting with surgery and chemo. I am not a statistics guy. My advice is to NOT look it up on the internet either. Try to think positive and keep getting followup checkups and your chances would be great that you'll stay cancer free.
-phil

My sister in law had breast
My sister in law had breast cancer 10 years ago and the first thing she told me when I was dignoised was not to look on the internet. today is the firsttime I have looked and I read about a 5 year life expectency. It scared the fool out of me. I am not going to look anymore. I wish I har known about this site 6 months ago I would have loved to hear about other survivers. Kay

Churchworker

kayb48 said:

My sister in law had breast
My sister in law had breast cancer 10 years ago and the first thing she told me when I was dignoised was not to look on the internet. today is the firsttime I have looked and I read about a 5 year life expectency. It scared the fool out of me. I am not going to look anymore. I wish I har known about this site 6 months ago I would have loved to hear about other survivers. Kay

Colon Cancer
My daughter has been diagnosed with Stage 2 Colon Cancer, the reason they think is is that Stage is that she had outpatient surgery for appendex and she got very sick. She had pneumonia and then heart problems during the surgery about 3 weeks ago. Found out 4 days later that appendex had cancer, then few days later that cancer had come through the wall so that makes it Stage 2. Will be going from Tex to Cal Thursday, she is having a colonostimy test today then will get stress test results and all of these other tests to see about surgery about the 26th. We don't really know much. The doctor told her they got all the cancer they could see, and after surgery she would be on a special chemo that you don't usually lose your hair. Has anyone out there had something like this? No one else in our family has had cancer. She is 45.

lesvanb

I'm also stage 4
and was diagnosed May 08. I've had the neoadjuvant, 2 surgeries (one to remove the one liver met) was NED after surgery, had adjuvant chemo and now in surveillance mode. My onc said especially the first two years after treatment I am at high risk, though cure is definitely a reasonable possibility (Stats are old, and they're based on a group and not individual response, and, well, human potential is much greater than any number can describe.) There's much kindness and patience to shower on yourself during this experience, and a discipline to not believe all the story lines your mind and thoughts will lead you down. They're just thoughts and how you are right now is reality. There is much to enjoy right now, especially lots of little things, like a bird song just heard, or a child's laughter. My onc at my visit last week said to me that time is on my side which I appreciated because that is not something often said to cancer patients. Doing the best that you can is really all you can do and of course much easier said than done in being able to accept that you're doing the best that you can.

Leslie

grandma2selena

Think Positive
Keep thinking positive. The first thing I did when I got the diagnosis of cancer was shut the Internet off. I wouldn't have if I would have found this board first. I just didn't want to scare myself with all that can be found on here. Heck even some of the statistics I have read about stage 1 anal cancer only gives 5 years survival rate too, I think that is all over the computer for all cancers. I know a dear friend of my mom who was diagnosed with colon cancer many years ago, before they have come up with so many new treatment plans. She had several years of Chemo, is now in her 80s and is still NED. Just believe in yourself and your desire to win this battle. Some of the information is out of date, and some of it who knows where it comes from. I am sending prayers and positive thoughts your way!

Debbie