It’s been a while

Momof2plusteentwins

Hello everyone ~ I’m a 8 year Stage IV Colon Cancer Survivor!!! I haven’t been on here much since 2012-2013 when I was in treatment. Cancer was the focus of my life for many years, now it’s not an everyday thing. I was diagnosed at age 49 Stage IV, 12 positive lymph nodes and Mets to liver. 4 children including twins that were 14. Never thought I would even see them graduate high school, now they are 23 ~ 1 of them a computer engineer and the other will be a pharmacist next year. And I have 5 grandchildren ~ twin girls that are 6 from daughter, and twin boys from my son age 4, and son has a 7 month old. I just want everyone to know that you never know, new Treatments, new surgeries, Stage IV is not always a death sentence. ?

abita

Thank you!!!! I am so glad

Thank you!!!! I am so glad you are doing well, and love that you give me hope. I am still on the journey

Real Tar Heel

Great story!

Great story!

suzycruise76

Thank you

for your wonderful story,I am very happy for you and your amazing family. You sure are lucky with all the twins !

I wish your good luck will stay with you,

Suzy

 

 

beaumontdave

Nice to have you back. It's a

Nice to have you back. It's a terrific sharing of hope and continuity. Thanks for checking in.......................................................Dave

sgold88

Great !!

Just the kind of story so many need to see. Thanks for sharing. Just curious, does the anxiety subside at all? Do you still do scans regularly? If so, how to you handle the anxiety?

Annabelle41415

Wonderful

Thank you so much for the update and I'm so glad to hear that all is going well.  It sounds like you have a wonderful life with lots of children and grandchildren around you.  It's good to see older members post that have had the diagnosis that you did and are living life to the fullest.  Wishing you the best.

Kim

darcher

This is the place

  This is the thread for old timers to re-announce themselves.  It's been a long time and things have changed since my last post which I think was last year some time. I kinda feel guilty, like I abanded the one place where there was genuine empathy.  Here, all of us shared a common theme and through prayers and encouragment each of us came through the cancer nitemare.   

  What's changed?  I filed for divorce a few weeks ago. The craziness I posted once upon a time was only part of the picture. There was more, worse, and involved her family and others. The root of it all was simply greed. Now it's coming to a close and my kids and I will finally have some peace. They live with me and are who I live for. If anyone recalls, a very large brain tumor was found by accident during a follow up pet scan late 2018. That would have been lethal in a few months had it not been caught when it was. I thank God for that. In one sense it could be said getting cancer saved my life. Without it, I would never have gotten that scan and by last spring I would have keeled over. I still remember when the Neurosurgeon showed me the MRI scan they did the next day. He was shocked at how big it was and also by the lack of response from me. My attitude was, "eh,... what ever".  It was like a tennis ball stuck in my head. 

 This past February for the follow up MRI he told me that when he first met me I had zero will to live and didn't care much about anything. It also made me forget things,  especially about money and that was taken advantagee of and eventually led to where we are now as it's affects have worn off. The brain, being a non-regenerative organ can only shift the jobs to other parts making the healing process super slow. I still have short term memory problems and I hope it gets better but who knows.  At least now I can speak a coherent sentence and can think straight. Some things weren't affected at all. My eye hand coordination which is very common with most wasn't impacted at all. 

  My only concern now is staying healthy for the munchkins sake. I've got a colonoscopy scheduled for Jan 12 which was supposed to be in 2022 but some things are happening that's got the oncologist concerned. I think it's just the stress of this because the pet scan I had a month back showed zilch which was a huge blessing. I'm going to stick around here more since I might be able to provide some encouragment. If I can surviive this, anyone can. The rest of my social life has a near zero chance of improving. Try being in the 50's with children under 10 and see how interested anyone is, lol. I have to be the kid's guardian angel, that's my job.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom M.

Thanks

I love stories like yours. God bless you and your family.

Trubrit

Happy Day!

It is always good news to hear survival stories like yours. 

And of course I remember you from all those years ago, and it makes me happy to hear about your grown children AND grandchildren. Oh, what a blessing!  

Drop in now and again, and let us know how you are doing. 

Tru

beaumontdave

darcher said:

This is the place

  This is the thread for old timers to re-announce themselves.  It's been a long time and things have changed since my last post which I think was last year some time. I kinda feel guilty, like I abanded the one place where there was genuine empathy.  Here, all of us shared a common theme and through prayers and encouragment each of us came through the cancer nitemare.   

  What's changed?  I filed for divorce a few weeks ago. The craziness I posted once upon a time was only part of the picture. There was more, worse, and involved her family and others. The root of it all was simply greed. Now it's coming to a close and my kids and I will finally have some peace. They live with me and are who I live for. If anyone recalls, a very large brain tumor was found by accident during a follow up pet scan late 2018. That would have been lethal in a few months had it not been caught when it was. I thank God for that. In one sense it could be said getting cancer saved my life. Without it, I would never have gotten that scan and by last spring I would have keeled over. I still remember when the Neurosurgeon showed me the MRI scan they did the next day. He was shocked at how big it was and also by the lack of response from me. My attitude was, "eh,... what ever".  It was like a tennis ball stuck in my head. 

 This past February for the follow up MRI he told me that when he first met me I had zero will to live and didn't care much about anything. It also made me forget things,  especially about money and that was taken advantagee of and eventually led to where we are now as it's affects have worn off. The brain, being a non-regenerative organ can only shift the jobs to other parts making the healing process super slow. I still have short term memory problems and I hope it gets better but who knows.  At least now I can speak a coherent sentence and can think straight. Some things weren't affected at all. My eye hand coordination which is very common with most wasn't impacted at all. 

  My only concern now is staying healthy for the munchkins sake. I've got a colonoscopy scheduled for Jan 12 which was supposed to be in 2022 but some things are happening that's got the oncologist concerned. I think it's just the stress of this because the pet scan I had a month back showed zilch which was a huge blessing. I'm going to stick around here more since I might be able to provide some encouragment. If I can surviive this, anyone can. The rest of my social life has a near zero chance of improving. Try being in the 50's with children under 10 and see how interested anyone is, lol. I have to be the kid's guardian angel, that's my job.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice to hear back from you

Nice to hear back from you Darcher, you seemed fairly upbeat in that last thread, I figured you were just putting stuff behind you and running with a renewed zest for life. I finally finished my responsibilities with raising my granddaughter a year plus ago, when she moved to Arizona. The one bulldog died of old age and I gave her the younger one, so I'm utterly without responsibilities other than helping my youngest son run the contracting business I turned over to him. But at 62 with scars and no belly button [lol], and as most of the cartilidge is gone from my ankles/feet, I'm removed from much of a social life as well. Being a dad, marrying a 30yo with 4 kids, was a huge adjustment, adding another, then taking on a granddaughter were all tougher than I realized, early on, and even harder when Cindy was diagnosed, but it's the proudest thing I've done in my life. I hope it fulfills you the same way. My kids say there's lots of sites for dating even at my age, as I've already looked around my not-so-little town, but haven't really found the right woman for a regular partner. I wonder if time and my late wife have made me hard to get along with, wanting the specific qualities I do, but it is what it is. Good luck finding what you need, and welcome back to the blog..........................................................

Ruthmomto4

I remember you!!!

I am sorry some things have taken such a bad turn, I truly am. I am glad physically things are going well and I hope your colonoscopy is clear in January!!

darcher

Thanks everyone.  I'm touched

Thanks everyone.  I'm touched that I've been remembered. I've got some work cut out for me and I'm not completely out of the woods as none of us ever are but I'm confident this new beginning is the best thing for the three of us. The day the sherrifs escorted miss ninja out the dark clouds followed her.  Even the kids are becoming more calm and carefree which is how they should be. It's only been a couple weeks and I'm already seeing improvements in my overall condition so I'm thinking the colonoscopy will likely yield a "you've got nothing" result like the last time. The MRI in February will probably be blank as well. I seem to get lucky like that, dodging what ever gets thrown my way.  

Beumont Dave, your wife is 30? wow, and I thought I married a young one being 17 years my junior.  That is a lot of work with 4 little ones etc. but with a supportive wife it's doable.  I hope I have your resiliance.

TruBrit, I remember your words of encouragment to new posters. It was always a blessing to read the empathy that was there. I'm bound and determined to find some adult companship.  I will have a disqualifier that will generate a red buzzer.  "Do you know martial arts?"  Yes? See ya! lol.  

Ruthmomto4. Don't be sorry.  It is a good thing because the exit door opened and I had the strength to walk through it.

    

 

 

 

Annabelle41415

darcher said:

This is the place

  This is the thread for old timers to re-announce themselves.  It's been a long time and things have changed since my last post which I think was last year some time. I kinda feel guilty, like I abanded the one place where there was genuine empathy.  Here, all of us shared a common theme and through prayers and encouragment each of us came through the cancer nitemare.   

  What's changed?  I filed for divorce a few weeks ago. The craziness I posted once upon a time was only part of the picture. There was more, worse, and involved her family and others. The root of it all was simply greed. Now it's coming to a close and my kids and I will finally have some peace. They live with me and are who I live for. If anyone recalls, a very large brain tumor was found by accident during a follow up pet scan late 2018. That would have been lethal in a few months had it not been caught when it was. I thank God for that. In one sense it could be said getting cancer saved my life. Without it, I would never have gotten that scan and by last spring I would have keeled over. I still remember when the Neurosurgeon showed me the MRI scan they did the next day. He was shocked at how big it was and also by the lack of response from me. My attitude was, "eh,... what ever".  It was like a tennis ball stuck in my head. 

 This past February for the follow up MRI he told me that when he first met me I had zero will to live and didn't care much about anything. It also made me forget things,  especially about money and that was taken advantagee of and eventually led to where we are now as it's affects have worn off. The brain, being a non-regenerative organ can only shift the jobs to other parts making the healing process super slow. I still have short term memory problems and I hope it gets better but who knows.  At least now I can speak a coherent sentence and can think straight. Some things weren't affected at all. My eye hand coordination which is very common with most wasn't impacted at all. 

  My only concern now is staying healthy for the munchkins sake. I've got a colonoscopy scheduled for Jan 12 which was supposed to be in 2022 but some things are happening that's got the oncologist concerned. I think it's just the stress of this because the pet scan I had a month back showed zilch which was a huge blessing. I'm going to stick around here more since I might be able to provide some encouragment. If I can surviive this, anyone can. The rest of my social life has a near zero chance of improving. Try being in the 50's with children under 10 and see how interested anyone is, lol. I have to be the kid's guardian angel, that's my job.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for update

I've thought about you many times and wondered how you were doing.  It sounds like you are on your road to recovery, even though it might be slow, it's still progress. 

It would be wonderful for you to come back on the boards and give your input and experiences to others.

Thank you for the update and hope to see you more often on the boards.

Kim

Canadian Sandy

I remember you well Darcher.

I remember you well Darcher. love your sense of humour! Hope things go okay for you and your kids. Come back and see us from time to time.

Trubrit

darcher said:

This is the place

  This is the thread for old timers to re-announce themselves.  It's been a long time and things have changed since my last post which I think was last year some time. I kinda feel guilty, like I abanded the one place where there was genuine empathy.  Here, all of us shared a common theme and through prayers and encouragment each of us came through the cancer nitemare.   

  What's changed?  I filed for divorce a few weeks ago. The craziness I posted once upon a time was only part of the picture. There was more, worse, and involved her family and others. The root of it all was simply greed. Now it's coming to a close and my kids and I will finally have some peace. They live with me and are who I live for. If anyone recalls, a very large brain tumor was found by accident during a follow up pet scan late 2018. That would have been lethal in a few months had it not been caught when it was. I thank God for that. In one sense it could be said getting cancer saved my life. Without it, I would never have gotten that scan and by last spring I would have keeled over. I still remember when the Neurosurgeon showed me the MRI scan they did the next day. He was shocked at how big it was and also by the lack of response from me. My attitude was, "eh,... what ever".  It was like a tennis ball stuck in my head. 

 This past February for the follow up MRI he told me that when he first met me I had zero will to live and didn't care much about anything. It also made me forget things,  especially about money and that was taken advantagee of and eventually led to where we are now as it's affects have worn off. The brain, being a non-regenerative organ can only shift the jobs to other parts making the healing process super slow. I still have short term memory problems and I hope it gets better but who knows.  At least now I can speak a coherent sentence and can think straight. Some things weren't affected at all. My eye hand coordination which is very common with most wasn't impacted at all. 

  My only concern now is staying healthy for the munchkins sake. I've got a colonoscopy scheduled for Jan 12 which was supposed to be in 2022 but some things are happening that's got the oncologist concerned. I think it's just the stress of this because the pet scan I had a month back showed zilch which was a huge blessing. I'm going to stick around here more since I might be able to provide some encouragment. If I can surviive this, anyone can. The rest of my social life has a near zero chance of improving. Try being in the 50's with children under 10 and see how interested anyone is, lol. I have to be the kid's guardian angel, that's my job.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I remember you, Darcher

I am sorry for the stresses that have been in your life. Sometimes a seperation (permanent or not) is the best thing and a new start. 

While I wouldn't suggest you rush out and find yourself a girlfriend, don't rule it out for the future. You're young; and a man who is willing to bring up his children, is obviously a 'good catch'.

Good luck with the Colonoscopy. You are probably right about the stress. It can play havoc on your digestive system. 

Stick around.

Tru

danker

Survivers

I too am a long time survivor.  Only 4 grandchildren (one died from drug overdose), but I have a great grandcson!! Been NED 10 years now.  Aren't we the lucky ones!!

darcher

Canadian Sandy said:

I remember you well Darcher.

I remember you well Darcher. love your sense of humour! Hope things go okay for you and your kids. Come back and see us from time to time.

Oh, I will. This is a place

Oh, I will. This is a place of simialrly situated people I can relate to .

Tueffel

Thanks

Thank you for coming back and telling us that you are still NED and good. For people with stage 4 it is a huge vlessing to see this information. I am thankful for this, another survivor and fighter I can tell my dad about! So thank you!

Tueffel