I'm still here

khl8
khl8 Member Posts: 807
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Hello everyone,

I have not posted in such a very long time,  to be be honest I forget I had cancer sometimes.  Yes it is possible to actually go a few days forgetting that I have been through thell and back and it usually reminds me in a not so kind way when I eat something I shouldn't  have and spend way too much time in the bathroom. 

I am going to hit the 5 year mark from diagnosis in November of this year and my doctor is looking forward to it.  I am still not convinced this is the right date to start the countdown, but who I am to judge? 

Life is busy, I am working alot, living my life to the fullest. I have done a complete 180 from the person I was before the word Cancer became a part of my life.  I became a traveler, this year my husband I went on a mediterrean cruise for our anniversary and we loved it!  I got to meet our favorite spainard Pepe in person, was able to visit Spain, Italy and France, it was amazing.

I took up motorcycle riding this year too.  I was a passanger on my hubby's bike for years and decided I wanted to learn, so I am now the proud owner of my very oen Harley Davidson 883L Sportster motorcyle. Yes, I gear up and wera a helmet all the tiime.

I suppose I popped in to say to those that are new to the stuggle or those that are still battling, that there is life after this disaster, hang in there, fight hard and come out the other side with a sense of living the best life that you can. 

Cancer can kick you hard but it can give you a gift, the ability to see the world with a new set of eyes. Take a moment and look around.

Hugs!

 

 

 

Comments

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #2
    Five years is a big achievement,

    congratulations!  Looks like you posted a lot here at one time, can you share your story again for those of us who are a bit newer?

  • steveandnat
    steveandnat Member Posts: 886
    #3
    Encouraging

    It is nice to hear you are doing so well after all this time. I'm going on four years and like you I'm a different person since being dx.  I bet that Harley is awesome. Pray everyday is a good one. Jeff

  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    #4
    annalexandria said:

    Five years is a big achievement,

    congratulations!  Looks like you posted a lot here at one time, can you share your story again for those of us who are a bit newer?

    I was diagnosed with stage 3

    I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer in 11/2008, during a routine colonoscopy to "rule anything out".  I had 6 weeks of radiationand Xeloda to shrink the tumor, then resestion surgery with a temporary illeostomy for 9 months all the while going through 9 rounds of Folfox, then I had the reversal of the illeostomy in 09/09 and then in 2010 I had to have hernia surgery to repair the incinsion sites that herniated from the resection.  It was hell, all of it.  I struggled and panicked just like everyone. I managed to work throughout the chemo treatments, I was lucky enough to have an employer that allowed me to work from home on the days I was hooked up to the bag. 

    Today, I see my oncologist every six months for now.  I have a scan once a year for now, and even though he wants me to go 2 years between colonoscopies, I am not comfortable with that, so we met in the middle this year, instead of every 12 months I allowed it to go to 18 months.  If they had not found a polyp during the first one after surgery I would not be so diligent but I will not let anything slip past me anymore. 

     

  • Maxiecat
    Maxiecat Member Posts: 544 Member
    #5
    Thankyou for posting your

    Thankyou for posting your story....as a relative newbie it helps to see others surviving 5+ years.

     

    Alex

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #6
    Yes, a thank you from me too

    I am glad you have come back to post your happy news. Five years is wonderful. And I'm glad that you are taking your health into your own hands and getting those colonoscopies when you feel you need them. 

    As a newbie stage 3A, I am so happy to hear the success stories. It keeps my chin up when I'm sitting on the couch feeling like crap and wondering if its ever going to end. 

     

  • blue52
    blue52 Member Posts: 1
    #7
    stage 3 colon cancer

    Hi,

    I was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer 11 months ago. I don't have cancer in my family and I just turned 50 yrs. old. I didn't feel good for more then 8 months and couldn't take it any longer. I decided to go to the emergency room at the hospital. After several tests they said that they needed to do emergency surgery on me. I didn't know why but believed that everything will be ok. I remember waking up the next day and the doctor said it was cancer he couldn't tell me anymore. A few days later another doctor came into the the room to talk to me. She asked me if I had cancer in my family and I said "no" then asked my age I said just turned 51. I asked her why she was asking this and she said because you have stage 3 colon cancer. I was ok with this because I've had other things happen to me and survived that so this should be easy. I've been raising money for Relay for Life for 5 1/2 yrs. and didn't have cancer. I've had a very hard time thinking of me with this now. The emotional rollercoaster that I have been on has been the hardest thing I have ever had to go through in my life. I'm here to tell my story and bring hope to everyone out there who is going through this. There is help and people who will help. Being involved in Relay for Life has made a be difference in my life there support is over the top. I couldn't have done this without them. I've had the colonosopy and cat scans done and did chemotherapy for six months. I'm cancer free and so there is hope. Be stronger and get support.

  • hippiechicks
    hippiechicks Member Posts: 509 Member
    #8
    Congrats to you and your

    Congrats to you and your continued success.  It is very refreshing to hear such a wonderful success story!!

     

  • YoVita
    YoVita Member Posts: 590 Member
    #9
    And we're glad you're still here!

    Thank you for your post.  It was honest but hopeful.  I loved how you sometimes forget you had cancer.  I'm also very impressed in how you've expanded your life with travel and a bike.  Good for you.  Congratulations on your upcoming 5 years.  

  • wawaju04976
    wawaju04976 Member Posts: 316 Member
    #10
    Thank you for posting this.

    Thank you for posting this. It gives the rest of us encouragment!

  • wawaju04976
    wawaju04976 Member Posts: 316 Member
    #11
    Thank you for posting this.

    Thank you for posting this. It gives the rest of us encouragment!

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