New to Board stage 4 Colon Cancer

Sorry for the trial that brought you here to the forum, but now that you're a part of our club, we're here to help.

I'm quite surprised that they started chemo so soon after such a big surgery. They usually wait six weeks for the healing process. 

FOLFOX is nasty, but it can do the job and thats the main thing. 

Neuropathy is nasty. I hope they are mindful of that when you go in for further treatment. Maybe lower the dose. 

I was impressed and touched by your response in desnees thread. You have a good heart. 

Tru

The slightest bit of black pepper tasted like fire to me.  However, it didn't take too long after completing chemo for me to be able to enjoy everything again.  This is just a temporary state.  (Oh, how my husband hated cooking for me during chemo; everything had to be beyond bland, and we generally like strong flavors.)

I'm 10 years out of a Stage 4 (Appendix Cancer) diagnosis.

Alice

darcher said:

No spice here either.

  I never could eat anything spicy.  Even before cancer if it was any hotter than a taco bell spicy taco, forget it, I'd be spitting it out.   Like NHmike,  I've gone through the radiation and 28 sessions of Xeloda finishing them Spet 11.  I didn't have much in the way of side affects while doing it but since then I've been a bit of a mental mess.  The tumor is still there as evidenced by the bathroom issues I stilll have. It's plugging up the works.  A pet scan on friday will show whether it's still alive or not.   I think it's breaking up and coming out bit by bit so that's giving me some positive feedback.  In a way it's almost funny that Im looking in the toilet for solice.  All the waiting is something we can all relate to. The not knowing, wondering, and then pondering the possibilities. There is no way to avoid it and no way to "put it out of your mind" completely.  I was hoping the tumor would have been eradicated with the treatment  but it wasn't.    

What I've done is try not to research much to avoid seeing the negatives.  That is what we'd end up focusing on and that makes matters worse.  I am putting my faith in the doctors knowledge since I have next to none and as we all know, a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous.  I found that out while looking at proton versus standard radiation.  It took a while and the doctor's explanation to realize that proton was not the best way to go, not for this.  From that point onward I stayed out of it and just did what I was told.

  Some of the side affects caught me by surprise. I had no hunger or thirst for a while. That grabbed hold without me noticing. There is loss of short term memory.  You may not notice it unless it's pointed out by someone else.  The Neuropathy was one I was worried about and was told could happen. So far I've escaped it. The funny thing is, I'm in worse shape now after the chemo & radiation ended than while I was going through it.  The hopes of the tumor vanishing and it not are what have me tied up in nots now.   

You're about 1.5 weeks behind me though my surgery is at 8 weeks and yours might be before mine as it seems like 6-8 weeks is common. So I expect that you will have an MRI very soon for the surgeon to plan the options. I think that it took about two weeks after completion of the treatment to feel the big difference in toilet function, and, yes, I was watching since before treatment started. I think that Beth also did not have that much tumor shrinkage but she's had her surgery and the tumor is gone and I think that her mental situation is a lot better with that out of the way.

BTW, that's a great picture of you. You look young and fit there.

  NHMike, I still look pretty much the same.  That picture was taken about a year or so back during one of the last tournaments in San Diego.  It was fun and at that instant I was trying to keep from sliding down the hill.  The guy who took the picture thought I was going to lose it  (why he  was shooting pictures)  but luckily I was able to keep my footing and make the shot.  With how things are going there is a good chance I may be going back there and ditching the 6 months of cold and 6 months of good weather in Colorado.  

 My surgery is scheduled for Nov 3.  There was no mention of an MRI but I think a PET scan should be good enough to see what I want this Friday.  I'm going to insist I see it before it gets shipped off to the oncologist.  If there is any activity it will show up as bright spots. Cancer loves sugar.  What I saw the last time was the PET scan from back in July that had me freaked out. It's like a lit bulb where the the tumor is.  I suspect the amount of light coming off it gave the appearance of it being bigger than it really is. I wasn't told that but it stands to reason that if something is collecting and matabolizing the radioactive glucose it creates a bright spot larger than it is. Like a lit up light bulb it will look larger than true size if photographed.  It's something I'm going to ask about since it seems logical.     

 QueenWarriar, what you're going through is pretty much the same as everyone I else.  You'll lose track of time. It either goes super fast or very  slow.  More often than not, you'll get both and the emotional highs and lows will be frequent and in some cases will occur several times in a day. The best thing to do is keep your mind busy with something.  It's not perfect but if you're focused on a hobby or something that makes you happy it's that much less time for your mind to go blank.   Going blank is what allows cancer to come in and fill you with dread.

darcher said:

  NHMike, I still look pretty

  NHMike, I still look pretty much the same.  That picture was taken about a year or so back during one of the last tournaments in San Diego.  It was fun and at that instant I was trying to keep from sliding down the hill.  The guy who took the picture thought I was going to lose it  (why he  was shooting pictures)  but luckily I was able to keep my footing and make the shot.  With how things are going there is a good chance I may be going back there and ditching the 6 months of cold and 6 months of good weather in Colorado.  

 My surgery is scheduled for Nov 3.  There was no mention of an MRI but I think a PET scan should be good enough to see what I want this Friday.  I'm going to insist I see it before it gets shipped off to the oncologist.  If there is any activity it will show up as bright spots. Cancer loves sugar.  What I saw the last time was the PET scan from back in July that had me freaked out. It's like a lit bulb where the the tumor is.  I suspect the amount of light coming off it gave the appearance of it being bigger than it really is. I wasn't told that but it stands to reason that if something is collecting and matabolizing the radioactive glucose it creates a bright spot larger than it is. Like a lit up light bulb it will look larger than true size if photographed.  It's something I'm going to ask about since it seems logical.     

 QueenWarriar, what you're going through is pretty much the same as everyone I else.  You'll lose track of time. It either goes super fast or very  slow.  More often than not, you'll get both and the emotional highs and lows will be frequent and in some cases will occur several times in a day. The best thing to do is keep your mind busy with something.  It's not perfect but if you're focused on a hobby or something that makes you happy it's that much less time for your mind to go blank.   Going blank is what allows cancer to come in and fill you with dread.

  

 

Looks like we're going for surgery around the same time. It seems like we've got a growing gang right now for October surgeries.

bellsandbuginmich said:

I am new to Board as well, Stage 4 rectal/colon cancer

I am in desperate need of information and my nurse directed me to various support groups.  I have only read a few posts but I am eager to read more as it sounds like there is a ton of info.  Sooo, I am a 50 year old woman, diagnosed on September 14th with colon cancer.  after all of my MRI's and CT scans they changed it to Rectal cancer.  Apparently if it is in any part of your rectum they say that the Rectum trumps the Colon!! Therefore they are treating me as Rectal.  I meet with the Radiation Oncologist on Tuesday October 17th and the Medical Oncologist on October 23rd...I am scared as H#LL!!  Not just for me but for my twin girls that are turning 10 on Christmas Eve!  It sounds like all of you are so helpful and supportive,  I am in so much need at this point. 

We always reluctantly welcome new people.  None of us wants to be here.  I was just diagnosed in May, went through 28 radiation treatments and chemo pills in July and August.  Just had surgery to remove my 11cm tumor ladt Tuesday.  It was 4 cm from anal verge and up until a week prior to surgery, surgeon promised a temporary.  Well, I have a permanent.  Like you, this was my worst fear.  And guess what?  I am okay with it.  I am happy to be alive.  People I never kbew had colostomies are coming out of the woodwork.  I promise you, it's not that bad!!  I have twin boys who are 21, and 3 other children.  They need us to be around for them.  I plan on getting back to the saina and pool at my gym asap.  I can't wait to go out and not worry about where a bathroom is!  

We have all experienced the panic and fear you are dealing with.  I lost 45 pounds between April and August.  Stress and fear suck.  Cancer sucks. This discussion board has helped me so much.  Know that we are here for you.  Read. But don't Google too much!  Sends me into fits of depression to read old statistics.  Like Olivia Newton John recently said, 'I will not be a statistic.'

Praying for you.  --Beth

bellsandbuginmich said:

I am new to Board as well, Stage 4 rectal/colon cancer

I am in desperate need of information and my nurse directed me to various support groups.  I have only read a few posts but I am eager to read more as it sounds like there is a ton of info.  Sooo, I am a 50 year old woman, diagnosed on September 14th with colon cancer.  after all of my MRI's and CT scans they changed it to Rectal cancer.  Apparently if it is in any part of your rectum they say that the Rectum trumps the Colon!! Therefore they are treating me as Rectal.  I meet with the Radiation Oncologist on Tuesday October 17th and the Medical Oncologist on October 23rd...I am scared as H#LL!!  Not just for me but for my twin girls that are turning 10 on Christmas Eve!  It sounds like all of you are so helpful and supportive,  I am in so much need at this point. 

I had cancer cells not growing yet in my colon twice.   I started drinking human grade diatomaeous earth.   It cleanse the colon of parasites and  I have  not had any cancer cells since.  You can order it online at "wolf creek ranch" or at a feed store. Farmers feed it to their animals to take parasites out of their bodies so when they sell meat it is clean.  It has many minerals in it and silica.  It looks like dirty dishh water and taste chalking but keeps my colon clean.  I drank it at night before bed.  1 TBSP in about one fourth glass of cold water.  You can drink it like three times a day  It doesn't hurt you in any way.   Hope this infrmation is of use to you.  Research it if you want and make sure its food grade cause theres a pool grade also.