Older members please shout out

Trubrit said:

You have my prayers

I am sorry to hear this and hope that the PET is picking up shadows and not anything worse.  

Are they doing a colonoscopy as a followup? 

Keep us informed. 

Tru

Thanks Tru, Yes my colonoscopy is tomorrow 3/18.  Also getting set up for a 2nd opinion at Mayo Clinic AZ if necessary.  I really appreciate your prayers.

Hello Carol and all. I first signed on this forum in 2012, after being diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer. I'm now 6 years NED. 

i too keep all my fellow cancer warriors in my prayers and yes, I haven't posted in quite a while. Life sue keeps me busy too. Five adult children and ten grandchildre, along with a demanding job keeps me hopping. Add a few home projecte to the list and sometimes it feels like too much.

it's good to see a few names I know in this post, and mentions of a few I knew who have passed. 

((Hug))) to Wolfen. Johnybegood was a good friend to me when I was really battling. 

Blessings to you all!!!

Phil

Hi Everyone,

I guess I would be considered "old" but I will take it.  I am 9 years NED and been a part of this forum for all that time.

I am NED, I just love to write that as I was not sure during the process.  You do go to some dark places with colon cancer.

All the best to everyone.

LindaK. said:

Hello

Hello everyone, I joined this group after my husband was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer in December, 2012.  It was so good for me to have this group for all my questions and concerns.  My husband passed away 11/2/14 so I am 6.5 years a widow.  It's crazy how our roles reversed after his diagnosis.  He was always an optimist and I was more of a "realist"  Well, I had to become the optimist, I didn't even realize it really until after he passed.  Looking back, I think what a fool I was, believing his first incompetent oncology group.  What did we know?  We beileved them and followed everything they said.  When people say "Do your homework" it irritates me a little.  How were we to know what to question at that time?  Our daughter is a nurse and she rcommended this oncologist because she had seen his bedside care when people were dying in the hospital. Can't look back with regret, but I still wonder "what if..."  A former supervisor of mine was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer around the same time my husband was diagnosed.  Almost 10 years later, this man is retired and living life to the fullest.  Life is not fair

3 months after he finished 12 rounds of Folfox he started having new issues.  Went to all his doctors (surgeon, GI, oncologist, PCP) and no one would order a scan or test.  Only a very caring NP at the GI doctor's office was helping him.  He ended up back in the ED in January, 2014 with another tumor, surgery and then became stage 4.  Lazy oncologist whose office was in the same building as the hospital FINALLY came to see him 4 days after his surgery and after I called the office the day of the surgery to tell them.  Yes, I am still bitter about this.  After 21 days in the hospital, we RAN to a local highly rated oncology hospital and never looked back.  a PET scan was ordered at the first visit (never had one before) and Folfiri was started the next week.

Things did not go so well for him, several hospitalizations, lots of pain, etc.  In September he was sent home on home hospice and passed away 6 weeks later.  

I have been doing fine.  I plan to retire in 15 months.  Both my parents have passed away also since.  My parents lived very frugally and both wer 91 when they died.  They were able to give my 4 siblings and I enough money to live comfortably.  When my financial advisor ran my retirement plan, he said there was a 99% chance I would live comfortably to age 91 myself.  I am not saying this to brag, but when he told me, I burst into tears - my reaction being sad my husband wouldn't be here to enjoy it with me.  

Life goes on

I'm glad to hear so many people here doing well.

Linda

Don't fret about being bitter. I know you are not wallowing in it, and cutting yourself off from life - I have seen that; and it is a terribly waste of a life. 

enjoy your retirement.  

Tru