New to this part of ACS

suzywingnut
suzywingnut Member Posts: 10
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Well gang I am another one to join the colon cancer team. I was diagnosed Nov 19, 2010 and had surgery 10 days later. I had a tad bit of a long recovery and am finally getting my energy back. I am having a tad bit of nervousness as Wed is my next follow up appt with my oncologist. After 3 months it was determined I was stage IIa so my protocol is every 3 months for the next 3 years. How do you deal with the anxiety that seems to come when it gets close to your follow ups? Do any of you still have occassional dull aches/pains near your incisions? I try not to let the little things get to me, but it's hard as this is still so new. Any words of encouragement to get me through until Wed? Thank you and I am glad I've found other colon survivors out there. Haven't found any in my area of Detroit.

Comments

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #2
    Welcome
    Welcome to the board and sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Follow ups are very hard on most of us and if there were a magic pill to take that anxiety away, I'd be the first to try it. You are still relatively out of a major surgery so don't expect that you are going to be back to normal in any given amount of time. Some people bounce back really fast, and some take longer. Having a pain at the incision site is common but if it gets worse or doesn't seem to ease up, then mention it to your doctor. I think there was something close to Garden City, but can't remember. Just know that most meetings were in the evening so wasn't able to make it, plus they seemed too far from me. Call ACS and they can give you the locations. Good luck on your appointment on Wednesday and let us know how everything went.

    Kim
  • marqimark
    marqimark Member Posts: 242 Member
    #3
    Welcome
    I'm new also

    I had my surgery last year in March.
    That was the easy part for me.
    The biopsy came back with a diagnosis of level 3c.
    The Chemo is what I struggled with.

    After the last round of Chemo last October, they tested for a baseline blood marker for CRC, did a CT scan and scheduled a colonoscopy and first follow up labs for March of this year.

    Everything came back okay so far.
    I don't have to have another colonoscopy for three years.
    I am also having Lab tests every three months just like you.
    My next appointment is coming up on the 23rd.

    I guess we can worry together, but I just know our labs are going to come back clean. :)

    Good Luck

    Mark
  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    #4
    Only for 3 years? I'm at
    Only for 3 years? I'm at year 5 and a half after treatment for stage IIa rectal cancer, and I'm still getting follow ups with my medical oncologist. I have a follow up on Thursday, as it happens, one day after yours. Good luck to us both. I'm sorry that I can't help with suggestions about reducing anxiety, since I don't get any, being a phlegmatic individual.

    --Greg
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #5
    welcome to the team
    as for anxiety and worry i found sex the best cure.
    unfortunately i don't worry as much as i would like too.

    i hope you don't mind the odd humour, its well intended and the result of
    my own year long crc journey. but humour can help.

    being busy can help. post here and give some others some support, it will get your mind off the tests and off yourself.

    its really sad but we always have someone who is worse off here, suffering or dieing so
    no matter what shiit i am going through and i have been, i feel grateful to be alive and surrounded be such fine friends and companions.

    hugs,
    pete
  • suzywingnut
    suzywingnut Member Posts: 10
    #6
    Follow up
    Sorry for the delay but nothing showed up that anyone had responded. Follow up went well and Dr poked and prodded and didn't find anything to be alarmed about. I have found that part of it was stress. I also started to track when it flairs and such and it seems to be things that would kick of my spastic stomach/colon from years gone bye. Bloodwork was good. I go back in Oct and I have to have my next colonoscopy done. Nov. will be ct scan. It's all such a journey. My dear friend who was diagnosed in Sept with breast cancer and had a double masectomy stopped by tonight and they see some in nodes so she's back at the major fight again. She's 40, married and two children. I feel so bad for her right now.
  • suzywingnut
    suzywingnut Member Posts: 10
    #7
    BTW
    I was able to regain a little bit of life as my dear husband and I were out working with Habitat for Humanity Detroit all this week. I wasn't 100% but it was great!!! I had many "protective parents" onsite. We are a family out there so everyone was making sure I didn't overdo.
  • AncientTiger
    AncientTiger Member Posts: 130
    #8
    marqimark said:

    Welcome
    I'm new also

    I had my surgery last year in March.
    That was the easy part for me.
    The biopsy came back with a diagnosis of level 3c.
    The Chemo is what I struggled with.

    After the last round of Chemo last October, they tested for a baseline blood marker for CRC, did a CT scan and scheduled a colonoscopy and first follow up labs for March of this year.

    Everything came back okay so far.
    I don't have to have another colonoscopy for three years.
    I am also having Lab tests every three months just like you.
    My next appointment is coming up on the 23rd.

    I guess we can worry together, but I just know our labs are going to come back clean. :)

    Good Luck

    Mark

    Welcome
    Suzie!! Glad you found us... great bunch of folks on here with a lot of experience to draw upon.

    A little surprised by the extended periods between colonoscopies Mark... my surgeon wants YEARLY scopes for the first 5 years at LEAST. Might be worth asking him/her about ;)
  • suzywingnut
    suzywingnut Member Posts: 10
    #9
    marqimark said:

    Welcome
    I'm new also

    I had my surgery last year in March.
    That was the easy part for me.
    The biopsy came back with a diagnosis of level 3c.
    The Chemo is what I struggled with.

    After the last round of Chemo last October, they tested for a baseline blood marker for CRC, did a CT scan and scheduled a colonoscopy and first follow up labs for March of this year.

    Everything came back okay so far.
    I don't have to have another colonoscopy for three years.
    I am also having Lab tests every three months just like you.
    My next appointment is coming up on the 23rd.

    I guess we can worry together, but I just know our labs are going to come back clean. :)

    Good Luck

    Mark

    Mark I know mine all came
    Mark I know mine all came back ok and will be praying for you for peace of mind on the 23rd. You sound like you are doing well post chemo and am grateful to hear that. I currently have a dear friend, 40, who has just been diagnosed with more cancer after her double masectomy. She is only 2 months older in survivorship. Trying to help her through this newest diagnosis.
  • suzywingnut
    suzywingnut Member Posts: 10
    #10
    AncientTiger said:

    Welcome
    Suzie!! Glad you found us... great bunch of folks on here with a lot of experience to draw upon.

    A little surprised by the extended periods between colonoscopies Mark... my surgeon wants YEARLY scopes for the first 5 years at LEAST. Might be worth asking him/her about ;)

    I could have misunderstood
    I could have misunderstood because my husband wasn't too sure either. I would feel best to have it annually but we will talk more the next followup visit. BTW my full name is Suzanne. I am an advid Red Wings fan thus my name. :)
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    #11
    Welcome
    Hi,
    Wonderful that everything looked good for you. And, awesome that you are helping with Habitat for Humanity. That's what it's all about, helping each other.

    Aloha,
    Kathleen

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