It's like I never had it.

kansasmike
kansasmike Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I went to the doctor for a check up back in March, since it had been a couple of years. I'm 52. The doc asked if I'd had a colonoscopy and I said not for about 30 years. So we scheduled one. It looked suspicious but the bowel prep wasn't entirely successful so he scheduled another for the following week. As I was laying there waiting for the 2nd one the surgeon came in, called my wife in and told us that I had colon cancer. He was going ahead with the 2nd scope, but said he wanted to do surgery the next day. This was a Monday so I had surgery Tues April 7, 09. He removed 18 inches of my colon. There were lots of lesions on the left side that he had to cut through. I was in the hospital for 8 days with an NG tube most of time. It was a rough 8 days but I was very lucky. The cancer hadn't penetrated the colon wall and had not spread at all. The surgeon pronounced me cured. I got out of the hospital on Wednesday and was actually back at work the following Monday. The surgery was done lapriscopically so I didn't have a huge incision, only about 6 inches. I was very sore, but I sit at a computer most of the time. I couldn't afford to take any more time off.

It now seems like a very surreal dream; I'm almost embarrassed to call myself a survivor. I had no chemo, no radiation. Once I got over the soreness of the surgery the only after affect was I go the bathroom more often.

The last week or so I've started getting stiffness and soreness on my left side. That's where all the lesions were; but this start in my lower back and goes all the way up to my neck. My left wrist is affected and I also have ear pain. I don't know if I have an infection or arthritis is setting in. Anyway that's my story.

Comments

  • Julie 44
    Julie 44 Member Posts: 476 Member
    #2
    Survivor
    No matter how much you went through or didn't go through you did have cancer so you are a SURVIVOR....You are more than welcome to this site..I know I speak for everyone here....
    Please go to the doctor and get yourself checked out because( as you know) you can never tell whats happening with our bodies until you check it out....Always be proactive when it comes to your health...Good luck let us know how you make out...........................JULIE
  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    #3
    Do schedule an appointment
    Do schedule an appointment with an oncologist. A recurrence of stage 1 CR cancer is not likely, but it happens. I think you should be on a schedule of follow up exams. But I doubt what you're experiencing now is due to cancer; it's too soon.
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #4
    Stage 1, too
    Hey, I'm a Stage 1 survivor, as well, and I certainly do feel like I had cancer. Don't ever think you're not part of the group! Come by as often as you like!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #5
    Survivor? YES!
    Honey, just the fact that you survived that long with an NG tube qualifies you for sainthood. I know I was begging perfect strangers, visitors to other rooms, the cleaning lady--anyone!--to remove that thing after 4 days. So yes, you ARE a survivor! And yes, you are blessed that nothing went through the wall. But make no mistake, you are a survivor!

    Hugs,
    Kirsten
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #6
    You are officially a semi-colon.....
    and a survivor. And very, very fortunate that you do NOT need chemo/rads!!!!

    I am dancing for you....

    Hugs, Kathi
  • karguy
    karguy Member Posts: 1,020 Member
    #7
    Don't be
    Don't be embarrassed to call yourself a surviver,because you are a surviver.But in light of your previous experience I really think you should go see the dr. about your present problems,you don't want to wait to long,and welcome.
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #8
    KansasMike
    I'm so thankful your cancer had not spread. I agree, however, that you should speak with a cancer specialist instead of just relying on your surgeon for an all clear. We've seen a number of Stage I that are not followed and the next time they have symptoms, it's Stage IV and bad news.

    Meanwhile, I have no idea why your wrist and ear would hurt without having chemo, but the pain in your back and side might be from you turning the wrong way or lifting something after your surgery. My surgeon said, lap or not, they do a lot of yanking and rearranging and it's still abdominal surgery and can take 6 months to a year for your muscles to be okay again.

    BTW.... that scar sounds quite big for lap surgery. My scar is about 2 inches or less and I also had 18" removed and 17 lymph nodes removed.
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #9
    The Brass Ring
    Hey Mike

    That's the story that EVERYONE OF US would like to write for our Cancer if we could!

    You are on of the lucky ones to be sure - I'd go play the lottery tonight or something, I mean that's really great news!

    Not having chemo and radiation and everything else will allow your quality of life to be all it can be. Those of us that have suffered through these medieval procedures would love to havae your story.

    I'd say you grabbed "the brass ring" as the carousel went 'round - we're all happy for you.

    As echoed from the others, Welcome, we've always got room for one more :)

    If I'd known you were comin', I would have left the light on for you :)

    Thank you for your post - oh and by the way, do go and get that checked out - what did Benjamin Franklin say? "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

    Let us know and take care
    -Craig

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