Endoscopy nurse with colon cancer

EndoRN1985 said:

What stage?

Hey Alice, thanks for responding. I actually spoke with the pathologist today, as we were in a procedure together at work. She feels pretty confident it began as appendiceal CA, and spread to the colon from there. I appreciated your response, because that encouraged me to talk to her. I since have a call out to Swedish hospital in seattle (only one locally that does HIPEC), as well as my local oncologist to see what the options are. Pretty fluid situation. They called mine stage 2 (no nodes) but with the rupture, high risk. What stage was yours at diagnosis? I'm slightly concerned about the CA 125 elevation; was that monitored in you? Thanks again!

 

Andrew

The systemic chemo given is the same as for colon cancer - Folfox or Capox.  I had mine after my debulking surgery and intraperitoneal chemo (with FUDR, a metabolite of 5FU).  I didn't have HIPEC, I had EPIC

EndoRN1985 said:

Thanks

Thank you Alice. I am stage 2, but I have concerns another shoe is going to drop. Every step of the way has had encouraging news, followed by just the opposite. The problem I have encountered is there is no way to know for sure where the genesis was. At this point, I'm just looking forward to chemo starting to hopefully stop anything in its tracks, if there. I unfortunately had a wound dehiscence and have had trouble with it closing, so I just hope we don't have to delay it any further. 

 

Did they find mets right away, or was it detected later? My appendiceal rupture was about 9 months prior to cancer being diagnosed after surgery (the colon biopsies just showed inflammation) I did have an elevated ALT and CA 125, but won't have those rechecked for several weeks. Thanks again!

 

Andrew

the mets were found first.  The tumor encompassing my ovary was found to have originated in the appendix, so they took my (healthy looking) appendix out. It was filled with tumor.  There ware also spots of cancer on my omentum and the outside of both my sigmoid colon and right colon, so I was reseceted in several places.  I do eat and function normally.  We don't know when my appendix ruptured, as it was fully healed at the time of my discovery surgery.

EndoRN1985 said:

Kim

Hey Kim, thank you. I elaborated a bit above, and was hoping for some advice on dealing with the effects of chemo, particularly maintaining an active lifestyle with my job and two kids. I'm used to working irregular hours from being on call, but I think this might be on another level entirely. Thanks for your response! 

 

Andrew

Hi! 

I have had 11 treatments with Folfox (onr of the drugs in that causes a lot of side effects) so I did some research and found that taking zinc supplements (30 mg a day) helped with the whole loss of taste thing and metal mouth. I only had one sore in mouth in the beginning. Then i did ice therapy on extremities and sucked on ice for entire treatment time. For nausea i used an aromatherapy nose inhaler of ginger (was advertised as motion sickness therapy). I used it right before therapy and t worked wonders and I still occasionally use it. I kept up on B complex supplements which i believe helped with my energy. I never felt tired or exhausted to the point i couldn't do anything but i am also in a trial of immunotherapy so maybe that helped. I never stopped exercising (I run and lift weights) except after surgery when i just walked. I hope this helps you and feel free to reach out. Good luck in your journey. You'll do fine! 

Hello Andrew. I've been on Capox since January. I rinse and gargle 3-5x a day w just warm water, salt and baking soda and haven't had any mouth or throat sores. Also, have found that using the Urea Lotions on my hands and feet has kept the Hand and Foot Syndrome at bay. At first only used lotion every other day, but now on round 4 of 6 of treatment, I apply it 3x per day. Flexitol is the Urea lotion brand I use.

Only other advice I can give is enjoy every morsel of the good days and give yourself Grace to rest on the bad days! Good luck and God bless you and your family.