New Member

vangbi

devotion10 said:

Good to see you reporting in ...

I know it seems like a whirlwind of activity but things will slow down once you begin treatments. Your appointments will have regularity to them. You will also feel like you are actively doing something and that will help make you feel more in control.

The port … as others of said, the port placement is a surprisingly easy procedure and makes everything easier.  My husband had only minor discomfort the first 24 hours after placement. The area just might feel a bit tender. It is a great device when you have chemo, blood work, or certain scan injections. In the beginning, they will give you some numbing cream that you put on your skin with a little adhesive patch to keep the cream from getting on your clothing before you go in for treatments.  After a while, my husband no longer used the cream because he said that he did not even feel it when the port was accessed.

Six months of chemo … is a fairly standard treatment regimen given before potential surgery.  You will do ok, but the effects will be cumulative so don’t be surprised if it makes you feel a bit worse as time goes by. If you have 5-FU, they may provide you with a pump that you wear around your waist for 48 hours so that you can have continuous, low-dose infusions.  Many folks here have experience with the pump so come back to ask questions.  You may also be given the 5-FU in pill form that some find more convenient.

Side effects … each person’s experience is different.  It will also depend on what other chemo drugs are administered. My husband had mild nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and cold sensitivity.  As you begin to experience any discomfort, come back to the site and we can you give you some tips that can help make you feel better.

Driving … I really hope you can just take a break, get your treatments, and concentrate on your health for a while.  It really could be dangerous and frankly, I don’t think you will feel like it. 

You mentioned the VA hospital … thank you for your service to our country

Peace. ~ Cynthia

 Update got the port

 Update got the port yesterday. Then saw the surgeon today found out there is lymph node involvement also spot on lung and kidney scheduled for biopsy on kidney tomorrow and PET scan friday. Surgeon finally gave me a stage for now which didnt surprise me when she said it is stage III. But I do realize that is still not postive until after biopsy and PET. Wife went and got a dog she says to keep me active. Must admit hes very active and friendly.

Annabelle41415

Welcome

I've been off board for a couple weeks, but glad you found us.  Please post all your thoughts and concerns here as we are a great bunch of people.  We will help you through this rough journey.

Kim

relaxoutdoors08

vangbi said:

 Update got the port

 Update got the port yesterday. Then saw the surgeon today found out there is lymph node involvement also spot on lung and kidney scheduled for biopsy on kidney tomorrow and PET scan friday. Surgeon finally gave me a stage for now which didnt surprise me when she said it is stage III. But I do realize that is still not postive until after biopsy and PET. Wife went and got a dog she says to keep me active. Must admit hes very active and friendly.

Walked the Dog on the 5FU pump

My husband and I walked the Dog to the Dog Park on my 5FUPump days but I needed extra water to stay hydrated e when doing Folfox.  I am a IIIC and still here 3 years NED No evidence of disease. Next Scan in April.  My advice take one treatment at a time. I think your wife had a great idea to give you a dog ....  My prayer words were given when my Priest gave me the a anointing of the Sick.  Courage, Hope, Health. I took a good breath and prayed these words before each scan and before each treatment. Sending these prayers for you.

thxmiker

vangbi said:

Ability to Work

 Just wondering if I am going to be able to work while being treated as I am a truckdriver 

what kind of effect are the treatments going to have or should I start applying for disability

now? 

Start the application for

Start the application for disability. It make take years to get.

 

Welcome to the forum!   At the same time we are sending our thoughts and prayers for your strength because you are here.

 

It sounds lie you are on top of it!   I was able to work and carry on as normal for my first three years.  We did not even tell either of our families. (They are a little religious wacko.)  The second round of surgeries, chemo etc.... was  ahiney kicker for me.   Others have done better, some have done worse.   I would ride out the storm and see where you are at.

 

Best Always!  mike

Trubrit

vangbi said:

 Update got the port

 Update got the port yesterday. Then saw the surgeon today found out there is lymph node involvement also spot on lung and kidney scheduled for biopsy on kidney tomorrow and PET scan friday. Surgeon finally gave me a stage for now which didnt surprise me when she said it is stage III. But I do realize that is still not postive until after biopsy and PET. Wife went and got a dog she says to keep me active. Must admit hes very active and friendly.

Stage 3 for me too

I also did the 5FU and Oxaliplatin, so I can commiserate with you as time goes on. But (Oh, I know, I shouldn't say butt), the time does go by, and soon it will be behind you (Oh, behind you. Just can't get away from these body related expressions).

Glad your port surgery went well. And even though its not good news about the spots, you are on the road to getting rid of that cancer. 

Hoping the Kidney biopsy went well, and will be thinking of you on Friday. 

Its all go, go, go (see, another body related expression). 

Be good to yourself and love that puppy. 

annalexandria

Trubrit said:

Granny walker

I couldn't walk straight either and ended up with a walker. I looked like I was 100 years old, especially when my hair fell out and I looked like Gollum. 

 

Oh, but Gollum is really kind of...precious,

don't you think?

Trubrit

annalexandria said:

Oh, but Gollum is really kind of...precious,

don't you think?

Yep, that's what I looked like.

Glad I didn't get the Gollum teeth though. 

vangbi

Annabelle41415 said:

Welcome

I've been off board for a couple weeks, but glad you found us.  Please post all your thoughts and concerns here as we are a great bunch of people.  We will help you through this rough journey.

Kim

Me and dog getting along good

Me and dog getting along good He is a Shebi not sure if i spelled that correct but kind of looks like Golden lab hes about 1 Yr old so very active and loving. 

 I got thru the biopsy ok yesterday still a little sore today and that port is a blessing no more sticking me in my arms. Go in for pet scan of lung tomorrow and surgeon said she may have me see pulmonary specialist also to make sure I have lung capability to get thru surgery I sure hope so.

Wife still having good and bad days sometimes cheerful and sometimes crying.

 The costs are already starting to get to me as Insurance doesnt cover everything Applied for disability and still waiting for answer from VA administration but am getting worried as backup funds running out fast. Trying to stay positive but finacial stuff starting to get me down. Need to stay as upbeat as I can so Mary can stay positive. 

Trubrit

vangbi said:

Me and dog getting along good

Me and dog getting along good He is a Shebi not sure if i spelled that correct but kind of looks like Golden lab hes about 1 Yr old so very active and loving. 

 I got thru the biopsy ok yesterday still a little sore today and that port is a blessing no more sticking me in my arms. Go in for pet scan of lung tomorrow and surgeon said she may have me see pulmonary specialist also to make sure I have lung capability to get thru surgery I sure hope so.

Wife still having good and bad days sometimes cheerful and sometimes crying.

 The costs are already starting to get to me as Insurance doesnt cover everything Applied for disability and still waiting for answer from VA administration but am getting worried as backup funds running out fast. Trying to stay positive but finacial stuff starting to get me down. Need to stay as upbeat as I can so Mary can stay positive. 

Money, it can drown you

I started to worry too much about money while I was doing chemo, and it wasn't good for me so I just let it go. Now I'm feeling better I just have to deal with it month by month. Luckily, as long as I pay something toward the different Doctors (five of them, plus two hospitals and one diagnostic centre) they leave me alone. 

Still, I am grateful for the insurance company (except when they wouldn't cover the PET), or I'd have been in debt and my kids and grand kids and great-grandkids. 

Onward and upward. Will be sending good vibe and positive energy your way tomorrow. 

devotion10

vangbi said:

Me and dog getting along good

Me and dog getting along good He is a Shebi not sure if i spelled that correct but kind of looks like Golden lab hes about 1 Yr old so very active and loving. 

 I got thru the biopsy ok yesterday still a little sore today and that port is a blessing no more sticking me in my arms. Go in for pet scan of lung tomorrow and surgeon said she may have me see pulmonary specialist also to make sure I have lung capability to get thru surgery I sure hope so.

Wife still having good and bad days sometimes cheerful and sometimes crying.

 The costs are already starting to get to me as Insurance doesnt cover everything Applied for disability and still waiting for answer from VA administration but am getting worried as backup funds running out fast. Trying to stay positive but finacial stuff starting to get me down. Need to stay as upbeat as I can so Mary can stay positive. 

I am so excited about you getting a new dog!

Somewhere I have some great instructions for how to put a picture in your message.  I would love to see a pic of him! Name? You might want to start a new message .. maybe after your next appointment ... it could be Update or My New Dog ... whatever.  This one is getting long -- you have so many new friends here!

Remind your Mary that she can come here as well and there is also a specific Caregivers site too, but we do have many active caregivers who post here on the Colorectal forum though as well.  I know she is scared and worried.  She is my kind of gal if she went out and bought you a dog to help you get through all this -- I did the same thing!

Peace. ~ Cynthia