Just has colon cancer surgery. It was stage 2.

cluecastle

Hello. My first visit here. I had a colonoscopy where they found a tumor large enough they could not see around. Within the week the tumor and a section of the colon was removed. They called it a sigmoid type. It has been almost 3 weeks and i see a cancer specialist in 4 days. I was told by the surgeon and referring doctor that there will be another colonoscopy in a week or so. I am a 66 yr old, diabetic, with copd and asthma, heart failure, depression/anxiety/panic attacks. I am so dreading to hear what the cancer specialist will say is needed as treatment. My body does not like many medications and goes to anaphylaxis response.. i know not to panic until seeing the specialist, but i am so on the verge here. I don’t know what i am asking for, but please someone…

janh_in_ontario

Don’t panic. Whatever the Dr says, you will need to absorb it and decide what is best for you.

My diagnosis was similar to yours but they couldn’t operate - so I am doing chemo hoping to shrink the tumor.

i was terrified of chemo - and after 4 rounds it has not been nearly the monster I was afraid of.

Every person reacts differently to treatments - just try to take a deep breath and tell yourself - well at least I had the surgery… poor jan couldn’t even have the surgery… see? Makes you somehow be thankful for that awful surgery right??

I had uterine cancer 11 years ago and this board really helped. I find the colo group are alot quieter but read through some of the older posts for advice and remember

YOU ARE A STATISTIC OF ONE!!

be calm

jan

Trubrit

Welcome to the club. The club nobody wants to be a part of

It is very hard to stop yourself fretting over what comes next. Such a natural response, that it is useless for any of us to tell you not to worry.

It sounds like you are already familiar with medical issues, and it is so very sad to have to add another one on top of what you are already experiencing.

If I were you, and if you haven't already done so, start a written list for your Oncologist. List absolutely EVERYTHING you can think of. What you want to know. What you know already. What you are feeling, physically and emotionally. When I got into chemo, I would list everything I was experiencing, from head to toe. Some of it benign. Like once I asked him if I should use talcum powder around my backside? I mean really. But it made me feel better to know, even if he couldn't help stifling a laugh.

I know you will tell him about all of your issues, especially the anaphylactic response to some medications.

Be sure and ask him what your options are as a Stage II patient. Do you really need chemo? Can you have less sessions of chemo? Can you not do chemo for six months and get tested?

You will have a blood test called CEA - carcinoembryonic antigen - this can or can't be a good indicator of Cancer in the body. For me it has always been a good indicator.

I am SURVIVING Stage IV. Next month will be EIGHT YEARS since my last Cancer episode.

Try to find something that will bring you to a place of peace. My something was Yoga - not the full-on yoga, where you twist yourself into a pretzel, or sweat until there is not more left. Just a gently Hatha Yoga, paired with meditation. It literally worked miracles for me, especially the meditation - I started with Guided Meditation specially for Chemo patients. For you it could be crafts or music, or anything that brings you to a peaceful place.

There are a great bunch of folks here on the forum, though the forum runs slow, so be patient.

Good luck with your upcoming appointment and be sure and stick with us.

Tru

cluecastle

Thank you. Bless you. Congratulations on your 8 years! Your ideas are very helpful. I truly had not thought to make a list. I will be looking into hatha yoga to see if it is available around here. Thank you so much.

cluecastle

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1695025#Comment_1695025

thank you for sharing. I am sorry surgery was not an option for you. It sounds like the treatments are going as best as can be. Meaning i am glad they are available for you and not messing you up too bad. If that is such a thing. I am trying very hard to switch my thoughts to those of gratitude yet i guess i am still in panic mode. A statistic of one…i had not thought of it that way. I will be studying all the facets of that idea. Those words kind of caused a reaction in me and i am not yet sure what the inner reaction is except i felt part of me pause. I don’t think that makes much sense. Thank you for your story and help.

janh_in_ontario

It does make sense - to me anyway! No one is facing the exact same situation or will react to the same drug / treatment the same way you will.

the internet will give you general stats - 14% survival rate for 5 years… etc - but all that truly matters is YOUR reaction, YOUR situation, YOUR survival at 5 years. Statistic of ONE.

I won the lottery here in Canada with a fantastic Oncologist and nurses and a surgeon who plans on my surgery with a given understanding that this is gonna work - and they have me believing too and that really is a key factor to success. It’s a physical problem but you have alot of power with your attitude.

it’s not easy, it’s not fun - but be kind to yourself and allow yourself a 15 minute pity party every now and then and then pick yourself up and fight!!!

be well

jan

janh_in_ontario

Just heard a new one - Your DIAGNOSIS is not your PROGNOSIS!

cluecastle

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1695117#Comment_1695117

So true. I am happy you are having your surgery! It will be miraculous, there is no other outcome. You pop into my head now and again the past couple days. No sucking up meant, i think you are one of the bravest people. I just wanted you to know and feel that. Decades ago my brother was an mp in the marines after viet nam. He told me there were times he was terrified. In viet nam, they had to learn to sleep through the bombings. Yet he was given the strength to carry on through. I suppose that’s where each of us needs to be at. Sleep in parts and fight in parts. Your fight has been a long time and now you can rest knowing all will be well. I did take time to let some emotion out. I put on some old agt/bgt where the contestants performed amazingly in song or physical acts. I bawled with the judges and them. That led me to the: i am 66 years old and what have I accomplished in life and the woulda coulda shoulda and where from here. I kinda got held up at that last part. I am not there yet. I’m more at the almost hyperventilating part. I see the cancer doctor tuesday and i am very happy she is there for me and worried what she’ll say. Then no matter what, the surgeon will be sending me back to the original doctor for another colonoscopy as he couldn’t see around the big tumor to see what is there. My friend of decades passed a few years back. My ride or die gal. Two women. Lives that weren’t easy. Each of our daughters grown and gone. We saw or talked to each other daily and did some stupid (not harmful) stuff together. I miss her so. I like to think she’s here. She’d say this is not good, not good at all; now it’s time to suck it up, make a plan and get it done. She’d say that in her quiet gentle tone. Anyway, smiles, prayers and blessings your way. When is it you meet with your medical people?

Trubrit

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1695133#Comment_1695133

That is a lovely post, CC.

I just now finished talking/FaceTime, with my friend of 51 years. She is in England and I, here in the States. I can't even bear to think what life would be like without her; so I am very sorry to hear about your friend. I don't doubt that she is watching over you.

You will do well - I feel it in my bones.

Tru

cluecastle

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1695134#Comment_1695134

Yesterday i lighted 18 candles for your journey. 8 for where you have come from and 10 more for so many more to come in positive light. Even though i am where i am now, i do believe God and the universe holds us through events. Some people roll there eyes and i let that be. Mostly quietly. Not always. I’m a libra and lord have mercy i’m not always sure where i will tilt sometimes. My friend bev would say, “well there’s that” as she looked at the person i had said something to and THEN she would tell them SHE was the calm classy one. To which i would snort loudly. It is wondrous to have such a friend. I am so happy you have your friend. That joy, that rock, can get us through so much. To me that is the very definition of love. To hold each other up, to dust each other off, and sometimes drag each other through the depths of the unknown pits to land on the other side knowing without each other we would have been flailing. You both are blessed.

i feel i have been blessed by finding this area to talk and i truly thank you for being here for me. The strength needed to come as far as you have come so far eludes me. Like it or not, your life story is a beacon for me. (See. There’s that mouth.) Prayers for a beautiful powerful life full of laughter and love blessings for you