Two Years Ago Today

Momof2plusteentwins

Two years ago today I had my surgery, rectal tumor, liver mets, and gallbladder removed.  I had 12/23 positive lymph nodes.  1 month later started 6 months of Folfox.  I had my blood work in the hospital and my CEA was <0.5 and it has been the same since.  I have CT scans every 3 months and so far it just shows an umbilical hernia and some shotty lymph nodes that we are watching.  My CEA was a good indicator for me, it was 53 at the time of diagnosis.  I just want to give hope to other stage IV folks.  I am on this site everyday and it is hard watching people die and feeling like I know them.  I don't know what the future holds for me but I will always keep fighting.  I have neuropathy in my feet and hands, I tire easy, I can't lift or strain because of the hernia, but I am still here and got to see the birth of my first 2 grandchildren, twin girls born.  I am also going to see my twin boys start their senior year in high school, I hope to see them graduate too!  Thanks to this site I have people just like me and a lot of people give me hope.

Sandy

Stage IV Rectal Cancer

Helen321

Congrats Sandy!  Lucy and

Congrats Sandy!  Lucy and Harper right?  I hope we get to see pics.  Grandbabies are the best medicine on the planet.   Can't wait to hear about all of their adventures with you.

Nana b

Helen321 said:

Congrats Sandy!  Lucy and

Congrats Sandy!  Lucy and Harper right?  I hope we get to see pics.  Grandbabies are the best medicine on the planet.   Can't wait to hear about all of their adventures with you.

I wonder why they aren't

I wonder why they aren't treating the lymp nodes.  I had a suspicious met/spot on my liver 5 years ago, and had no evidence of disease anywhere else.  Now that spot has grown to a quarter size and I have spots on my lungs and lymp nodes. Your lymp node activity sends danger signals to me.  Should they be treating them?  I would think that your mets/spots could mean cancer cells are going to  your other organs.  I say Could.   Don't want to scare you but since that's how cancer cells travel, through the lymp nodes, then to on to possible nearby organs.  I would just hate not to say something and years later, you say, what if?  What if, we treated it back then.  

 I'm not a candidate for surgery because I have mets in two organs. I think back now, why didn't they take out the one liver met instead of watching it for over 4 years.  I'm the one asking the what if question. 

I'm meeting with Stanford cancer board to see if I can get surgery, but I know they won't do it until the lymp nodes resolve themselves with chemo.  

 

Just want to bring this up, maybe you want to ask your ONC to be safe.   BTW:   I had two hernia surgeries,  they heal quickly. 

Lisa2012

Yeah for you!

I love to hear of stage IV success stories.....some day I hope to be one.....just a few more hurdles to jump!  Thanks for sharing.   Enjoy those babies!

Lisa

annalexandria

Congrats, Sandy!

It's always so nice to read survivor stories. Having a little hope is so important when you are first starting out on this journey. It's an awfully tough trip without it.

How long have you been NED, btw?

Big hugs coming your way!