Back in the States and back to business

snommintj
snommintj Member Posts: 601
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I'm back from Guatemala. I didn't have everything treated that I wanted but they did save my life for now. I had reported earlier that the Drs had abruptly changed my treatment plan and I got very sick. Well, the reason they changed my treatment was because they discovered a conglomerated mass of tumors in a terribly bad place. I had several small tumors in and around my bile ducts and pancreatic duct. For those that don't know. That is a real bad place to get cancer. The mass didn't show up on the PET and was only marginally noticeable on the CT. Luckily for me, the guy that writes the program for the machine was on top of his game. He showed it to the Dr who then sent it to the University and I guess they agreed I needed treatment asap. Unfortunately there is no way to directly treat tumors of this nature. So the Dr ended up irradiating the areas closest to the tumors and let the residual radiation treat the tumor. The reason I got as sick as I did was because the tumor had blocked up my bile into my liver. When the pressure was released, my liver flooded my system with bile, which I promptly puked up.
The good news is that the Dr feels confident he killed the conglomerated mass as well as the softball sized tumor that was in my liver. It had been 3 separate tumors but they all grew together and the Dr just decided to treat it as one big tumor. So my liver should be clear. There is another tumor that was originally scheduled to be treated that is still there but the Dr says there isn't any reason why I can't get it treated here in the states now that my liver is clean. The plan now is to restart folfox 6 with avastin for a few rounds then have Rapidarc, Novalis Tx, RFA, or nanoknife on my existing lung mets and the remaining lymph met. Then more chemo.
Right now, I feel pretty good. I personally hate folfox but it seems to be the only thing that works for me. I haven't had it in over a year so I expect it to work at least as well as it did the last time I took it.
Guatemala is crazy. Guatemala City is a city of destinations. There is no exploring or snooping around. You will get got. There are armed guards everywhere. Convenience stores, drug stores, clothing stores, McDonalds, hotels, taxis, all are guarded 24/7. You need to know where you're going, go there, and then get back. Many of the better communities are gated and are essentially their own little cities. The country side is no better. There is no wandering around. It's a shame too. The country has massive potential. It really is like a miniature USA. It borders both the Atlantic and Pacific and has mountains in the middle. This country has so much going for it. I hope things get better for the curious traveler.

Comments

  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #2
    Glad you are back safe + sound
    John I am glad you are back + they were able to treat you successfully. Sorry they found something new, but it sounds like you have things under control. That is interesting about Guatamala; I did not realize it was that guarded.
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #3
    Hey John
    Yeah, I saw the movie "Salvador" with James Woods...

    Welcome home:)

    -Craig
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #4
    Welcome Back John
    I'm glad that some of your problems were discovered and treated. Sorry about the FOLFOX but, I hope it works as well for you as it did before.
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    #5
    John
    John,
    You are one amazing, determined and very smart man. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I love your will to live.

    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #6
    welcome back
    Hi John,

    Welcome back to the USA! Wow- I never realized what Guatemala was like until you described it. Sorry for all you went through and so glad that they discovered what was going on with you and treated it. Too bad you've got to do Folfox again, but if it works for you, great!
    Keep us posted and don't go away for too long-

    Take care,
    Lisa
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    #7
    welcome home bad ****
    This sounds great John. I'm looking for your earlier post describing what the Guatamalan doctors were going to do, but I can't find it. You're probably pooped, but if you feel like it, I'd love to get another explanation of what the doctors did and why you had to go to Guatemala to get this treatment. I don't quite understand what the treatment was.

    I'm starting Folfox again as well. I hate the stuff, but I hope it works well again for both of us.

    Take Care - Roger
  • idlehunters
    idlehunters Member Posts: 1,787 Member
    #8
    Crow71 said:

    welcome home bad ****
    This sounds great John. I'm looking for your earlier post describing what the Guatamalan doctors were going to do, but I can't find it. You're probably pooped, but if you feel like it, I'd love to get another explanation of what the doctors did and why you had to go to Guatemala to get this treatment. I don't quite understand what the treatment was.

    I'm starting Folfox again as well. I hate the stuff, but I hope it works well again for both of us.

    Take Care - Roger

    Sup John!!!
    Welcome home!! WoW...sounds like you been thru quite a bit. Glad to hear you had such good success. You take care.

    Jennie
  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    #9
    Crow71 said:

    welcome home bad ****
    This sounds great John. I'm looking for your earlier post describing what the Guatamalan doctors were going to do, but I can't find it. You're probably pooped, but if you feel like it, I'd love to get another explanation of what the doctors did and why you had to go to Guatemala to get this treatment. I don't quite understand what the treatment was.

    I'm starting Folfox again as well. I hate the stuff, but I hope it works well again for both of us.

    Take Care - Roger

    Welcome Back:
    I'm like Roger, totally curious. Also, I couldn't find old post. When you are up to it please reiterate why you had to go to Guatamala, and what their docs did that docs here won't do. Sounds like a successful trip.

    Rest up and take care - Tina
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    #10
    geotina said:

    Welcome Back:
    I'm like Roger, totally curious. Also, I couldn't find old post. When you are up to it please reiterate why you had to go to Guatamala, and what their docs did that docs here won't do. Sounds like a successful trip.

    Rest up and take care - Tina

    welcome home
    welcome home John....so glad to see your handsome face again.

    rest and rest

    mags
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #11
    Welcome
    Welcome back. Sounds like all in all it went well for you. Glad you are back home safely. Thanks for sharing your experience.

    Kim
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #12
    John
    Glad things went as well as they did. I know that traveling in that region can in itself be hazardous to one's health. I have friends who have traveled to Jamaica in the past and it's similar as far as watching your back (and front).
    I guess they went there for nausea treatments?
    ;-)
    Continued success.
    -phil
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #13
    PhillieG said:

    John
    Glad things went as well as they did. I know that traveling in that region can in itself be hazardous to one's health. I have friends who have traveled to Jamaica in the past and it's similar as far as watching your back (and front).
    I guess they went there for nausea treatments?
    ;-)
    Continued success.
    -phil

    John welcome home,
    Just have a big hug from here!

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