Some pretty good news - a positive story

ozchrissy

I havn't been on here for a while, I found that it scared me to death reading all the negative stories.

Well mine is a very positive story. I had heart complications just after diagnosis, have had a stent inserted in my coronary artery and another heart procedure to replace a pacemaker/icd which ran out of battery at the same time. I had Stage 2, no lymph involvement but poorly differentiated cancer cells I then went on chemo, 5-FU continual pump infusion via a PICC line for 9 weeks, Carboplatin and Epirubicin every 3 weeks. Well have just had my final cycle and have two more weeks of the 5-FU via the picc line and pump bottle. I was diagnosed on the 30th March this year, so feel pretty good that with all the earlier heart complications I am sitting here, 4 months later, tumor virtually gone and now nearly finished chemo.

Prior to starting chemo, I was hardly able to eat, was dosed up to the max with pain meds. Now, 7 weeks later, I have no pain and am swallowing easily. My cancer is in my gastric cardia. My oncologist is very happy and believes that the tumor has gone. I feel great. Of course the chemo hasn't been easy, but it has been survivable. I have a quality of life at the moment that I am contented with and able to cope with.

I am due to undergo surgery in the next 5 weeks, 2 more weeks of the 5-FU through the bottle infusion and then time to recover and then the surgery.

I honestly believe that there will be no tumor and that the surgery is just cleaning up the mess and making sure the little buggars do not come back. I know I am very lucky, it was diagnosed very early and I have been given the best oncological approach available.

All in all I can say, although this journey hasn't been a lot of fun, I have coped very well taking each day as it comes, good or bad. I have an extremely positive outlook that I will be cured after the surgery. They do however plan to give me another 3 cycle chemo (9 weeks) treatment, which I am willing to go ahead with, and then I am sure I will be cancer free. I refused to have radiotherapy as the risks far outweighed the projected benefits, and they are cutting that area out anyway.

I have lost weight through the side effects of the chemo, but once the bottle it taken off in 2 weeks, I intend to eat like a horse and gain a few more kilos to ensure I have more strength to fight after the surgery.

So I know I am very lucky, but just want to let everyone know how well I am coping and how well the treatment is working. Thought we could all do with a newbie who is coping very well and looking forward to a cure.

sandy1943

Thanks for checking in with
Thanks for checking in with us, so that we can share in the wonderful news. I'm glad the heart procedure went well and you could get on in fighting the beast.
It sounds like the treatment is the same as mine. My doctor dosen't give rad. for the treatment of Ec. I don't know if this is good or not, but I am going on five years Of clear scans.
I know how sad the post can be sometimes, but it is success stories that help keep us all going, and give us the desire to keep spreading the word that EC is a killer and we need to work hard to spread the word for early detection. You are blessed to have a stage two diagnois, as I was with a stage three. Even though it is very bad, there is hope and the newly diagosed need to know this.
I'm so happy for you, and looking forward to the day this is all a memory.
Hugs and continued prayers, Sandra

paul61

So glad to read that things are going well
I am very happy to read that your treatment is proceeding with good results. You sound like you have a great attitude and a very strong will to get better. Those can be just as important as the medical treatments.

It is so good to hear that your symptoms have almost been eliminated and that you have your last infusion behind you. Now on to a clear scan prior to surgery and a successful surgery.

Thanks for keeping us up to date.

Wishing you the best of luck,

Best Regards,

Paul Adams
Grand Blanc, Michigan

DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
Two year survivor

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

stephikindred

Hi Chrissy!
Good to hear from you and even better to hear GOOD news. Nice to see your smile. Keep that positive outlook and keep us up-to-date!
All the best to you,
Stephanie

mardigras

You're a Trooper Chrissy!
Well done you for getting this far and fighting this awful cancer with courage and dignity.
I was so happy to read your message and get all your positive vibes from it.
How we need people like you to post here.
I wish you all the luck in the world and will pray that your surgery goes well and you recover quickly. With an attitude like yours, you should do very well.
Hugs and prayers
Marci