I'm pretty excited...a personal best.

annalexandria
annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
So I realize there may not be a category for this in the Guinness Book of World Records, but maybe there should be, given how many of us are dealing with cancer for years on end. As of today, I have officially made it for one whole year without any kind of surgery. Since the fall of 2009, I've been disemboweled five times, approximately every six months on average. And when I say "disemboweled", I really mean it. I have a nine inch scar down the middle of my torso that looks like I was on the losing end of a cutlass battle with an irate pirate. Friends like to joke about my need for having a zipper, or perhaps a velcro opening, installed for ease of access. I never in a million years thought I would still be here at this point, and feeling ok, all things considered. I know my situation can change on a dime, but given that my cancer is an aggressive little SOB capable of growing a few centimeters in a matter of weeks, going a year without its ugly head popping up feels pretty good. Since I am doing well at the moment, I'm going to focus all of my energy and good thoughts on you guys...many of you are having scans this week on this board, and I hope that all of us get to enjoy the holidays (or simply the winter months and the coming of the new year if you don't celebrate anything in particular) with some decent news to enjoy. Hope and strength to all~Ann Alexandria
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Comments

  • Maxiecat
    Maxiecat Member Posts: 544 Member
    #2
    Congratulations on your 1
    Congratulations on your 1 year milestone! I've gotten the zipper joke too...my abdomen is a mess too...after cr surgery and 2 csections. Keep up the good fight ... This cancer doesn't fight fair sometimes. I'm one of the ones going in for a scan this week...thank you for the positive vibes.

    Alex
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #3
    Dear Ann
    How wonderful that you are able to celebrate a year without surgery!

    It certainly calls for a celebration...maybe we should start our own "Positive Milestones" book!

    Wishing you many more years of success.

    Hugs,

    Marie who loves kitties
  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #4
    Contgratulations on this
    Contgratulations on this important milestone. I hope you enjoy many more years of being free from surgery and chemo and all the unpleasantness that has become a regular part of our lives.

    Chelsea
  • barbebarb
    barbebarb Member Posts: 464
    #5
    Chelsea71 said:

    Contgratulations on this
    Contgratulations on this important milestone. I hope you enjoy many more years of being free from surgery and chemo and all the unpleasantness that has become a regular part of our lives.

    Chelsea

    Wonderful
    Ann - So happy for you and for sharing your kind post.
    With every day and scan we never know what we will face with cancer.

    Wishing you many more years of no surgery and cancer -free!

    I scan tomorrow, as many others and am prayng for good reports for all!

    Sincerely -Barb
  • JayhawkDan
    JayhawkDan Member Posts: 205
    #6
    Great post!
    You're running quite the operation (or lack there of...lol). Ok, I know...comedy is hard ;-).

    I'm really happy for you and wish you the best Holiday season ever. I'm heading to the hospital in a few minutes for my ct scan -- wish me well! Dan
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #7
    Congrats!
    This is a great reason to celebrate!
    Everyone's situation can change on a dime, cancer or no cancer.
    I hope you have a wonderful holiday!
    -phil
  • janie1
    janie1 Member Posts: 753 Member
    #8
    PhillieG said:

    Congrats!
    This is a great reason to celebrate!
    Everyone's situation can change on a dime, cancer or no cancer.
    I hope you have a wonderful holiday!
    -phil

    Dear Ann
    Such great news. You have always been such an inspiration to me.
    You are so kind and supportive to ALL.......may you never see another OR again.
    Joan
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #9
    "Hooah!"

    "Hooah!"
  • k44454445
    k44454445 Member Posts: 494
    #10
    way to go!
    congrats on the 1 year!!! hope you stay out of surg forever!!!
    hugs
    judy
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #11
    fantastic
    i love to read good news stories.
    hugs,
    Pete
  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    #12
    pete43lost_at_sea said:

    fantastic
    i love to read good news stories.
    hugs,
    Pete

    Here is to many more years
    Here is to many more years of no need for surgery YAY!!! Great news!!!
  • danker
    danker Member Posts: 1,276 Member
    #13
    annalexandria
    Great news! Lets hope for no more surgeries.
  • wolfen
    wolfen Member Posts: 1,324 Member
    #14
    danker said:

    annalexandria
    Great news! Lets hope for no more surgeries.

    Ann
    I know it's not funny at all, but I had a small laugh at your terminology "disemboweled". Here's to keeping that zipper "zipped up" from now on.

    Luv,

    Wolfen
  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #15
    Maxiecat said:

    Congratulations on your 1
    Congratulations on your 1 year milestone! I've gotten the zipper joke too...my abdomen is a mess too...after cr surgery and 2 csections. Keep up the good fight ... This cancer doesn't fight fair sometimes. I'm one of the ones going in for a scan this week...thank you for the positive vibes.

    Alex

    Thanks, Alex...
    Please keep us posted on how things go for you. Nothing but good thoughts coming your way!
    PS I think most of us have heard that zipper joke a few times...personally I think stuffing my guts into one of those gallon-sized ziplock bags and attaching it to the outside of my stomach might be a better way to go.
  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #16
    Lovekitties said:

    Dear Ann
    How wonderful that you are able to celebrate a year without surgery!

    It certainly calls for a celebration...maybe we should start our own "Positive Milestones" book!

    Wishing you many more years of success.

    Hugs,

    Marie who loves kitties

    Thanks!
    And maybe a "positive milestones" thread would be a good idea...let people know there is hope for the future. And speaking of that, I hope your sis is doing ok. She's certainly got a great support person in you!
  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #17
    Chelsea71 said:

    Contgratulations on this
    Contgratulations on this important milestone. I hope you enjoy many more years of being free from surgery and chemo and all the unpleasantness that has become a regular part of our lives.

    Chelsea

    Thank you, Chelsea.
    I'm hoping we all can get a break from cancer. We certainly all deserve it!
  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    #18
    Congrats!

    Congrats!
  • YoVita
    YoVita Member Posts: 590 Member
    #19
    That's great news!
    I didn't realize how much you've been through over the years. You're one tough lady! I hope your break from surgery extends .... forever.
  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #20
    JayhawkDan said:

    Great post!
    You're running quite the operation (or lack there of...lol). Ok, I know...comedy is hard ;-).

    I'm really happy for you and wish you the best Holiday season ever. I'm heading to the hospital in a few minutes for my ct scan -- wish me well! Dan

    Actually, that's pretty good...
    dare I say you have a "cutting" wit? Heh...
    PS I do wish you well, and and am asking whoever runs this goofy universe that you get great results today.
  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #21
    Sundanceh said:

    "Hooah!"

    "Hooah!"

    Indeed, Craig...
    indeed! And I'm glad to see you getting out of that cave a bit...we need you out here to protect us from bears (imagine that said with a little accent...kind of like "baaars".)

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