Newly Diagnosed Stage III

Colleen E.

I was recently diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer (age 51). No family history at all. See the cancer centre on Oct. 11 to discuss chemo (1 positive lymph node). Arrived on this site after reviewing many depressing statistics. I'm much more optomistic after reading some of the stories especially those who are longterm survivors. I have encouraged everyone I know in my age group especially to make sure to get their FIT test done, the one good thing I can see about the whole ordeal. I'm interested to know if those undergoing chemo continued to work during treatment (I have a desk job), not the most important issue but I do enjoy my job and coworkers and working keeps my mind busy (I make a specific point of not thinking about my diagnosis at work).

JanJan63

I'm sorry you received the

I'm sorry you received the diagnosis. It's unfortunate you've been reading discouraging statistics. You're correct that it's not necessarily doom and gloom. Is there a plan to have surgery or are they attempting to shrink the tunour before that with the chemo? Or just seeing what will happen with the chemo?

Whether or not you are able to work will really depend on you and your body chemistry, I think. Everyone seems to have a different response. I started with the 5FU before my surgery and was terribly fatigued but I was also undergoing radiation at the same time. I owned a business and did go in a few hours a day but towards the end could barely do that. I don't know how I'd have felt with just the 5FU. When I had the Folfox as mop up chemo after the surgery I had neuropathy pretty badly and was tired a lot. By that time I'd had to sell my business and I couldn't say if I could have worked because I wasn't. There were days that I was quite tired again, I do remember that. I didn't have neusea with either round of chemo.

I agree that being with other people would be a huge help in staying positive and keeping your mind off of things. You might have trouble imagining it now but at some point the cancer won't be the foremost thing in your mind. I rarely think about it and often make jokes about it. That's my way of coping and of trying to make people not feel like I'm different somehow. Cancer was such a big, ugly, scary thing before my diagnosis and I knew so little about it. I remember feeling like people who had it were not like the rest of us. We had to be careful around them and not say the wrong thing and it was scary if you didn't see them for some time in case they looked horrible or ill the next time you saw them. I felt pity and revulsion at the same time. That's being terribly and horribly honest. But now that I've battled the demon I want people to feel comfortable around me and not handle me with kid gloves or constantly tell me I'm so strong and amazing or always ask me how I am. I want people to not be scared to go get checked out at their doctor's office in case they have cancer. I want people to see that for many people it's survivable. Most of all I want people to have hope. Not having that is the most dehumanizing part of all of this.

Anyway, after all that deep stuff, welcome. I'm sorry you're here. Ask questions and tell us your story.

Jan 

John23

Welcome to the other side of the moon!

You can save a lot of time for yourself and others, by filling out your "profile page". When any of us feel a need to offer a reply to another's question, we first click on their name and go to their "profile page". If you fill the boxes in, you'll be posting your personal data and allowing others to easily see your condition; what you've been through, and what you're headed into.

That aside......

Just from your short post, it sounds like you're headed in the right direction and have a great attitude regarding your unfortunate diagnosis!

Re:
"I'm much more optomistic after reading some of the stories especially those who are longterm survivors."

There was a very in-depth study from our Scandinavian friends not too many years ago, that noted that people diagnosed with cancer were not "living longer", they were simply being diagnosed earlier. That study and it's findings were echoed around the globe and well corroborated.

I was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in 2006. They said that the tumor was "fist sized" and probably took 7 or 8 years to grow that large by 2006. So by their estimate, the cancer cell was there before 1998 and  growing totally unnoticed. It makes the words: "long term survivor" moot within this context. The more one considers that Scandinavian study of cancer, its profound concept and time-frame, the better the understanding of life with cancer becomes.

You've just begun your journey, you will be moving through all the same emotional stages that each of us here has moved through. Some/many of us are still chugging along the harsh, bumpy road, wondering if it ever ends, or how..

My wife's physician noticed a spot in one of her lungs a few months ago. A subsequent scan has indicated some possible growth of that "spot". A biopsy has been ordered; she'll get the results as soon as they are ready. Her physicians remarked how relaxed she appears, unlike others in her situation.... She points to me with all my "spots" dating back to (and before) 1998, 2006, now...  Is there a need; a reason, to panic?

We have a great guy on this board that's been around for a long time (PhillieG). They treat his cancer as a "chronic disease", not as some terminal "all is doomed" event. A new tumor pops up and they ablate it; smack it down, like carnival game of "Whack-A-Mole".

Maybe that's all it's really about. Where's my stuffed banana?

You have an absolutely fantastic emotional approach; don't lose your grip on it. It's not "optimistic"; you're not a "dreamer", you're just facing matters realistically.

My very best hopes are with you.

John

 

caretothepeople

Hi Colleen,

it's great that you are being proactive and thinking ahead. John and Jan have already provided some great advice so I wanted to add that there is an organization called Cancer and Careers.

They have lots of information on their website about navigating working and facing a cancer diagnosis– everything from information and webinars about fmaily leave laws, accommodations, working through chemo. Might be helpful to check out as you start making decision.

Stay strong and positive!

-Melody

ron50

Hi Colleen

   Sorry that you are here but welcome. I guess i qualify as one of the old timers. I was diagnosed with stage 3 c colon cancer into 6 nodes in Jan 1998. I had surgery and 48 sessions of chemo over a period of 48 weeks. Apart from a few weeks at the beginning whilst recovering from surgery , I never stopped working (I repair sewing machines). Nearly 19 years later I am still cancer free and still working. I am not much help with the chemo side of things. I had my chemo via a drip in the back of alternate hands each tuesday for 48 weeks . Every second week I had an added 9 tablets of Levamisole (banned in 2001 for often fatal side effects.) Ny main chemo agent was 5Fu. I was dxed at age 48 . I am 66 now and still working. I have a few long term problems ,mostly from unknown auto-immune disease. I have had at least ten colonoscopies since dx and had polyps removed at least during half of them. It is important to remain vigilant after your treatment finishes and have all of the followup tests as suggested by your doctors. All the best Ron.

Colleen E.

JanJan63 said:

I'm sorry you received the

I'm sorry you received the diagnosis. It's unfortunate you've been reading discouraging statistics. You're correct that it's not necessarily doom and gloom. Is there a plan to have surgery or are they attempting to shrink the tunour before that with the chemo? Or just seeing what will happen with the chemo?

Whether or not you are able to work will really depend on you and your body chemistry, I think. Everyone seems to have a different response. I started with the 5FU before my surgery and was terribly fatigued but I was also undergoing radiation at the same time. I owned a business and did go in a few hours a day but towards the end could barely do that. I don't know how I'd have felt with just the 5FU. When I had the Folfox as mop up chemo after the surgery I had neuropathy pretty badly and was tired a lot. By that time I'd had to sell my business and I couldn't say if I could have worked because I wasn't. There were days that I was quite tired again, I do remember that. I didn't have neusea with either round of chemo.

I agree that being with other people would be a huge help in staying positive and keeping your mind off of things. You might have trouble imagining it now but at some point the cancer won't be the foremost thing in your mind. I rarely think about it and often make jokes about it. That's my way of coping and of trying to make people not feel like I'm different somehow. Cancer was such a big, ugly, scary thing before my diagnosis and I knew so little about it. I remember feeling like people who had it were not like the rest of us. We had to be careful around them and not say the wrong thing and it was scary if you didn't see them for some time in case they looked horrible or ill the next time you saw them. I felt pity and revulsion at the same time. That's being terribly and horribly honest. But now that I've battled the demon I want people to feel comfortable around me and not handle me with kid gloves or constantly tell me I'm so strong and amazing or always ask me how I am. I want people to not be scared to go get checked out at their doctor's office in case they have cancer. I want people to see that for many people it's survivable. Most of all I want people to have hope. Not having that is the most dehumanizing part of all of this.

Anyway, after all that deep stuff, welcome. I'm sorry you're here. Ask questions and tell us your story.

Jan 

Thank you.

Thank you for your reply.  I work in our largest hospital (as an admin assistant to a neurologist). I too always felt quite sorry for "those people" who have cancer.  Now I'm one of them, pretty humbling. No one in my age group has ever had cancer, so that is kind of an isolating "why me?" feeling.  I hope to continue working while having chemo, but don't plan to be a hero. When I asked my surgeon about his patients in the same situation, he said some he'd never know were on chemo, others didn't do quite as well.  I am extremely easily nauseated and am hoping not to have that issue, but from what I have researched that can be controlled pretty well.

Colleen E.

John23 said:

Welcome to the other side of the moon!

You can save a lot of time for yourself and others, by filling out your "profile page". When any of us feel a need to offer a reply to another's question, we first click on their name and go to their "profile page". If you fill the boxes in, you'll be posting your personal data and allowing others to easily see your condition; what you've been through, and what you're headed into.

That aside......

Just from your short post, it sounds like you're headed in the right direction and have a great attitude regarding your unfortunate diagnosis!

Re:
"I'm much more optomistic after reading some of the stories especially those who are longterm survivors."

There was a very in-depth study from our Scandinavian friends not too many years ago, that noted that people diagnosed with cancer were not "living longer", they were simply being diagnosed earlier. That study and it's findings were echoed around the globe and well corroborated.

I was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in 2006. They said that the tumor was "fist sized" and probably took 7 or 8 years to grow that large by 2006. So by their estimate, the cancer cell was there before 1998 and  growing totally unnoticed. It makes the words: "long term survivor" moot within this context. The more one considers that Scandinavian study of cancer, its profound concept and time-frame, the better the understanding of life with cancer becomes.

You've just begun your journey, you will be moving through all the same emotional stages that each of us here has moved through. Some/many of us are still chugging along the harsh, bumpy road, wondering if it ever ends, or how..

My wife's physician noticed a spot in one of her lungs a few months ago. A subsequent scan has indicated some possible growth of that "spot". A biopsy has been ordered; she'll get the results as soon as they are ready. Her physicians remarked how relaxed she appears, unlike others in her situation.... She points to me with all my "spots" dating back to (and before) 1998, 2006, now...  Is there a need; a reason, to panic?

We have a great guy on this board that's been around for a long time (PhillieG). They treat his cancer as a "chronic disease", not as some terminal "all is doomed" event. A new tumor pops up and they ablate it; smack it down, like carnival game of "Whack-A-Mole".

Maybe that's all it's really about. Where's my stuffed banana?

You have an absolutely fantastic emotional approach; don't lose your grip on it. It's not "optimistic"; you're not a "dreamer", you're just facing matters realistically.

My very best hopes are with you.

John

 

Thanks for the reply and suggestion to complete my profile.

Thank you for your reply. I tend to be quite an anxious person but have realized that won't do me any good in my situation. My dad who passed away 5 years ago was very involved in counselling with the A.A. Program for over 50 years. I will try to follow their very famous "One Day at A Time".  I'm actually waiting until i see the cancer doctor and have more information before telling my mother, siblings and friends about my diagnosis. It will worry me more knowing they are worrying about me. So far only my husband (we do not have children) and my coworkers know.

Colleen E.

caretothepeople said:

Hi Colleen,

it's great that you are being proactive and thinking ahead. John and Jan have already provided some great advice so I wanted to add that there is an organization called Cancer and Careers.

They have lots of information on their website about navigating working and facing a cancer diagnosis– everything from information and webinars about fmaily leave laws, accommodations, working through chemo. Might be helpful to check out as you start making decision.

Stay strong and positive!

-Melody

Thanks for replying and for the website suggestion.

I will definitely look at the Cancer and Careers website. I am fortunate to have very good medical leave options through my employer which very comforting as I have no idea how I will do while on chemo. I've been fortunate enough to have been in previous very good health and have used maybe 10 sick days in 27 years of working. 

Colleen E.

Thanks - gives me a lot of hope.

Thank you Ron. Your photo reminds me much of my husband who is a very avid fisherman.  He was actually in a large fishing tournment when I was called for surgery - I insisted he not cancel.  As I could have my ipad and lots to read I was fine and had a pretty good recovery (laparoscopic).  You've done amazing and I'm sure are an example of hope for many.  Wishing you continued good health.

funshine

there is always hope

Welcome to the site

Stage 3 is def fightable. Dont look at the numbers online. They are very depressing. There are a lot of survivors out there. I have stage 4b colon cancer diagnosed in 2010. its been a long fight but so worth it.

hope your way, take care.

Linda

thruby

Me too

Hi! I was diagnosed a few weeks ago with Stage 3c colon cancer (my 48th birthday present).  I got my port installed on Monday and am scheduled to start chemo on Wednesday. Everything I have learned over these past few weeks has me concluding we can beat this.  I also have a desk job and it is my hope to work a lot over the next 6 months.  I know there will be days that I will miss, but I hope to keep those to a minimum.  My oncologyst seems to think working is definitely doable.

Terri

dtre30319

Stage 3

Hello Collen,
  Im also a stage 3 colon cancer individual.  I was diagnosed September 28, 2014.  Did surgery and chemo for 6 months.  I worked (from my office).  However, it was designed so I recieved my chemo on Friday night and it lasted until Sunday afternoon.  Its doable.  I had 4 pos nodes.  I get scans every three months and just had one this morning.  I go to Cancer Treatment of America for all my follow-ups and treatment. 

danker

thruby said:

Me too

Hi! I was diagnosed a few weeks ago with Stage 3c colon cancer (my 48th birthday present).  I got my port installed on Monday and am scheduled to start chemo on Wednesday. Everything I have learned over these past few weeks has me concluding we can beat this.  I also have a desk job and it is my hope to work a lot over the next 6 months.  I know there will be days that I will miss, but I hope to keep those to a minimum.  My oncologyst seems to think working is definitely doable.

Terri

Age

Your young age is to your advantage. I was 77 when I was diagnosed.  Here I am Ned(no evedence of disease), for last 6 years, now 84.   Good luck to you both!!!