Latest Scan Results
I give thanks to my Oncologist, the surgeons who work with her, her staff, and especially the chemo nurses who aside from being the nicest nurses I've ever had they are also the cutest ones :-)
Without her experience and innovations in the treatment of Colon Cancer I have little doubt I would be here today. This seems to be something that's often overlooked. Doctors DO matter.
My CT scan showed that the three "spots" I've had are still stable. One is in/on a lymph node close to my lung(s). An artery runs through it so it's not ablatable. It's been stable for over a year. IF it grows and action is needed it would be treated via Cyber-Knife. I have two other small nodes in my lung(s) that continue to be stable. I am continuing with Erbitux and Irinotecan every other week until I no longer do those treatments.
My CEA is stable at 1.9.
It's basically chronic at this point and that's fine with me.
Sometimes it's hard to stay Upbeat when one feels Beatup but it's up to us how we handle what life hands us. It's less about being dealt a good hand and more about playing a poor hand well.
I have much to be thankful for...
-phil
Comments
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Phil,
It's great to read of
Phil,
It's great to read of your stability but I am sorry the price you have to pay for that.
Yet, you do remain UPBEAT more often than not, handling that hand impressively. Thanks for sharing your status on here.
And....
I have to agree with about Oncology nurses. They do rock!
Laura0 -
Great news. You are an
Great news. You are an inspiation. Thanks for sharing. I hope you enjoyed your Thnksgiving.
Jeff0 -
thank youjanderson1964 said:Great news. You are an
Great news. You are an inspiation. Thanks for sharing. I hope you enjoyed your Thnksgiving.
Jeff
Phil for the scan update.i often wonder how many spots you have and where they are located.you are many of the true fighters on this board in the sence that you have been fighting for many years.i truly look up too you and sometimes say to myself if Phil can do it so can I.Happy Holidays my friend....Godbless..johnnybegood0 -
thank youjohnnybegood said:thank you
Phil for the scan update.i often wonder how many spots you have and where they are located.you are many of the true fighters on this board in the sence that you have been fighting for many years.i truly look up too you and sometimes say to myself if Phil can do it so can I.Happy Holidays my friend....Godbless..johnnybegood
thank you for that update Phil.....hi johnny.....I too am sorry that you have to keep on with the chemo Phil ....I always like to see posts from some of us oldsters.....
Hope your holiday season is peaceful Phil and that you continue in this stable mode
best love, mags0 -
Phil, you have been at this
Phil, you have been at this a long time... I bet you do feel beat up. I am glad you posted about your scan and being stable, it helps keep the hope alive for us all. I hope you find a way to keep your spirits up because when you are in high spirlts, I get a kick out of you ( I think you know that you are a stinker - I say this with the upmost endearment) hehe.
I pray that you stay stable for atleast 50 years.
Brenda0 -
Thanks for this posting,Brenda Bricco said:Phil, you have been at this
Phil, you have been at this a long time... I bet you do feel beat up. I am glad you posted about your scan and being stable, it helps keep the hope alive for us all. I hope you find a way to keep your spirits up because when you are in high spirlts, I get a kick out of you ( I think you know that you are a stinker - I say this with the upmost endearment) hehe.
I pray that you stay stable for atleast 50 years.
Brenda
Thanks for this posting, Phil. Your attitude and your posts have often made a difference for me and this one does, too. There is a lot too be said for putting one foot in front of the other. I, too, believe doctors DO make a difference and it is worth the effort of finding the right team.
Thank you. Wishing you many more years of "chronic". It's not such a bad word.
Cathleen Mary0 -
Stable
I'm glad that you are still stable and the treatment continues to work for you. It's important to have such a great team working for you along with you trusting them. Sounds like a good report.
Kim0 -
Phil
Phil,
Thanks for the update. I know you appreciate being stable and seeing that you are incredible you are able to live with chemo every two weeks. I pray that at some point you can move from chronic to NED but I also know that in the meantime you will live life to the fullest.
Aloha,
Kathleen0 -
Outstanding
Phil, you're one of the guys that I think of when I get down and wonder if, and when, this thing could go south. I think, well, Phil has hung around a long time -- what the hell, maybe I can too. Glad you're stable and living life. Happy Holidays! Dan0 -
Thank you for your post. It
Thank you for your post. It came at a good time for me. Feeling very down in the dumps due to Rick passing away. I realize this sounds selfish as I did not know Rick nor do I know Cynthia. Don't get me wrong, I'm sad for the the years that have been taken from Rick. I'm sad for Cynthia and the kids, who must move on without him. But also, I'm scared and sad for my husband and myself and what inevitably lies ahead for us. Ricks situation reminds me of Steve's (my husband). I know you should not compare peoples cancer. Everyone's situation is different. But there are some similarities with their cancer. Even though Steve is going through chemo and has cancer in his liver and possibly elsewhere, he seems fine. You would not know there's a problem. He looks normal, acts normal. Sometimes I look at him and I just can't believe it. George and now Rick's passing has been a reality check for me. I'm sure this is the same case with many others who take part in this group.
Your situation brings hope to many of us. My wish is that Steve will be able to manage his cancer like a chronic disease in the same way that you have. Unfortunately, your situation seems to be unique. I know you attribute a lot of your success to your onc and her colleagues at Sloan, however, I think you deserve a lot of credit. It takes a tremendous amount of work to stay physically and mentally strong. Thank you for sharing. Your up-date has cheered me up. Have a nice Thanksgiving weekend.
Chelsea0 -
Thank you
Thanks for taking the time to update us. I do think it is important to show how this cancer can be managed as a chronic illness with good quality of life rather than an inevitable decline. I also agreed with Chelsea above about acknowledging the role you play in your own illness. I do think that the patient themselves does have a significant influence on the path their illness takes and staying positive, engaging actively in treatments, maintaining 'life' outside of cancer, remaining motivated to work hard at recovery etc are all things we can do ourselves that does influence how our journey with this illness will be. You illustrate this well and as a result I think that you have won one of the greatest challenges we all face along the way of maintaining some sense of control over this whole chaotic process.
Thanks again,
Steve0 -
Phil, everyone above havesteved said:Thank you
Thanks for taking the time to update us. I do think it is important to show how this cancer can be managed as a chronic illness with good quality of life rather than an inevitable decline. I also agreed with Chelsea above about acknowledging the role you play in your own illness. I do think that the patient themselves does have a significant influence on the path their illness takes and staying positive, engaging actively in treatments, maintaining 'life' outside of cancer, remaining motivated to work hard at recovery etc are all things we can do ourselves that does influence how our journey with this illness will be. You illustrate this well and as a result I think that you have won one of the greatest challenges we all face along the way of maintaining some sense of control over this whole chaotic process.
Thanks again,
Steve
Phil, everyone above have expressed what I was thinking...I don't have much to add as they've said it all. Thanks for posting....I always wonder when you have scans and what they're showing.....so thank you for answering those questions.0 -
Thank You All
Thank you all for the kind words and well wishes.
It has been a rough year on this site for many. We never know what lies ahead for ANY of us. I often use the example of being hit by a streetcar but I use it as an example that just because many on here has cancer there's nothing that says we'll die from cancer. We may not get hit by a streetcar either since they're not as plentiful as they once were.
I stay connected to this site even if I don't post often. There's plenty of better qualified folks to field the majority of the questions and for someone who's just starting this "journey" and doing chemo, I don't think they want to hear about me doing over 320+ treatments! I chime in when I feel I have something constructive to offer.
I wish that none of us had to deal with cancer but I will say that I've learned more about life while facing death.
Hugs to all...
Phil0 -
stablePhillieG said:Thank You All
Thank you all for the kind words and well wishes.
It has been a rough year on this site for many. We never know what lies ahead for ANY of us. I often use the example of being hit by a streetcar but I use it as an example that just because many on here has cancer there's nothing that says we'll die from cancer. We may not get hit by a streetcar either since they're not as plentiful as they once were.
I stay connected to this site even if I don't post often. There's plenty of better qualified folks to field the majority of the questions and for someone who's just starting this "journey" and doing chemo, I don't think they want to hear about me doing over 320+ treatments! I chime in when I feel I have something constructive to offer.
I wish that none of us had to deal with cancer but I will say that I've learned more about life while facing death.
Hugs to all...
Phil
annything stable is GREAT, it is livable and acceptable.
Congratulations Phil. Allways good to hear when someone is doing good, it gives us all hope for the future and that is all we have, hope and a future.
Hugs, Marjan0 -
Good to hear from you Phil,
Good to hear from you Phil, your news is very heart warming. And I agree the people treating us along this journey make the difference.. I wish I had some male nurses.. when I had chemo i had all male techs...
Well good luck my friend.
We have lots to be thankfull for..0
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