It's been 6 years now

traci43
traci43 Member Posts: 773 Member

Here I am at my 6th anniversary after being diagnosed with stage iv colon cancer with mets to the peritoneum.  I’m alive and well with most of my body parts intact.  I’ve lost bits and pieces along the way, but nothing vital.  I’ve had three surgeries, one was HIPEC, and 56 rounds of chemo.  I spend a small fortune each month on supplements.  I wish I could say that I’ve been NED for all that time, but no luck there.  I can't manage more than 12 months NED.  Still I beat my first oncologist’s projection of 18 months.  Every time I see him in the hall I want to smack him for his dire prediction, but part of me wants to thank him because it made me fight to live.

My last surgery was October 2012, to remove a small tumor at the bottom of my peritoneum.  That went well and I chose not to have chemo after.  All was well until January 2013 when my onc called and wanted me to come in for blood work.  Turns out I now have chronic myleogenous leukemia (CML).  This leukemia is the result of two genes exchanging parts and results in too many mature white blood cells.  Good thing is it’s easily controlled by a pill.  Only problem is when it is out of whack, it cannot control my colon cancer.

About 6 months ago I started cimitedine and PSK, after reading what many of you have said.  My CEA is slowly, and I mean, slowly rising---0.1 to 0.2 per month and is now at 5.0.  I attribute the slow growth to the cimitedine and PSK, in the past it would have been a lot higher by now.  A CT scan next month may shed some light on what is going on.  As I said, I wish I could say I’m NED but I can’t just yet.  Don’t know if I’ll ever be there with the CML.

Even with all this I can still see that my body is rejecting the colon cancer.  My mets have been limited to the fat in the peritoneum, with the exception of my ovaries which were removed in the first surgery.  So my organs, don’t want it.  Now if I could just convince the fat in the peritoneum of that, I’d be good.

I don’t post frequently, but I check in from time to time.  I still work full time and love what I do.  I stay busy spending time with family and friends.  I appreciate everyone’s comments and suggestions on this board, I think we all have to help each other through this.

Comments

  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    As they say on Duck Dynasty...

    Happy-Happy-Happy

    X6 !!!!!!

    Congratulations Traci:)

    Smile

  • thingy45
    thingy45 Member Posts: 632 Member
    Sundanceh said:

    As they say on Duck Dynasty...

    Happy-Happy-Happy

    X6 !!!!!!

    Congratulations Traci:)

    Smile

    Wow

    Fantastic Tracy, wow, your post gives all of us hope for a longer life. Although you have challenges and worries you manage a productive live.

    thanks for the post.

  • AnnLouise
    AnnLouise Member Posts: 276 Member
    Traci.....

    You deserve a big congratulations although I realize it came with a price. Your strength is amazing and inspiring....it does give us hope. Thanks for sharing you journey....~ Ann

  • MaryCarol5
    MaryCarol5 Member Posts: 102
    AnnLouise said:

    Traci.....

    You deserve a big congratulations although I realize it came with a price. Your strength is amazing and inspiring....it does give us hope. Thanks for sharing you journey....~ Ann

    congratulations Traci and

    congratulations Traci and thank you so much for sharing- it does give the newbies such as myself hope and encouragement to see that the treatments are worth it!  So happy for you Smile

  • Deena11
    Deena11 Member Posts: 199 Member
    Great news

    Good to hear these positive survivor stories!!

  • traci43
    traci43 Member Posts: 773 Member
    Sundanceh said:

    As they say on Duck Dynasty...

    Happy-Happy-Happy

    X6 !!!!!!

    Congratulations Traci:)

    Smile

    Thanks!

    Thanks everyone!  Not sure why it keeps showing up here and not at the end of the post.  Oh well!  Tongue Out

  • gizzyluv
    gizzyluv Member Posts: 143
    Sundanceh said:

    As they say on Duck Dynasty...

    Happy-Happy-Happy

    X6 !!!!!!

    Congratulations Traci:)

    Smile

    I LOVE IT!

    Ah yes....Duck Dynasty has helped Jason & I keep the laughter going!....And THAT'S A FACT JACK! lol Congratulations Traci! =) (this was suppose to be a reply to Sundanceh "happy happy happy" reply to Traci's post, but it keeps ending up half way down the page....? Oh well! Doesn't matter....) Tongue Out

  • Coloncancerblows
    Coloncancerblows Member Posts: 296 Member
    Congrats!  Love to hear good

    Congrats!  Love to hear good news on this forum.

  • barbebarb
    barbebarb Member Posts: 464

    Congrats!  Love to hear good

    Congrats!  Love to hear good news on this forum.

    very encouraging

    Thank you for sharing and this is so encouraging.

    Wishing you continued success!

    Barb