Just diagnosed

joyceann619 · July 2004

Hi I would like to introduce myself, I am a 38 year old MOM of three who has just been diagnosed with Colon cancer with mets in the liver. I had a bowel resection 6/16 to remove my tumor and in a few short weeks I will be placed on a modified FolFox 6 treatment. Anyone else on this treatment?
I was so glad to see this support group and I plan to be very active in it.
I've already read Lance Armstrong's books and I really want to keep positive throughout my treatment. My children are young and still need me, my daughter was diagnosed with Lyme's disease four days after I came home from the hospital. No recovery time for MOM.
I would like to know if anyone has suggestions for books on nutrition and exercise during cancer.
I am quite the fitness enthusiast and am going stir crazy with my little 1/4 -1/2 mile daily walks that I am performing now.
Keeping positive in PA,
Joyce

kerry · July 2004

Joyce,

Welcome to the "semi-colons". I'm so sorry you have to be here, but you will find this group full of encouragement, information and lots of support. You will be added to our thoughts and prayers.

I was diagnosed a year and a half ago and finished my chemo one year ago. Check out some of the personal web pages and you will find out lots of information about many of us here.

Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing. Sorry that I can't help you with the type of treatment you are going through. I was diagnosed Stage 3 and took 5FU, Leukovorin, &Camptosar. I too was very active, walking 5 miles each morning, eating healthy - all the things I thought would keep me healthy - luck of the draw, I guess.

Take care.

Kerry

AuthorUnknown · July 2004

Hey Joyce,

my name is Randy, I too am new to this cancer thing, not fun. I am just 30, so much for an over 50 disease. I am just starting to investigate helpful, non chemo therapies and Black Tea is coming up big.

and for peace of mind, find time to listen to some soothing music, ie kids at school. It helps me

Good luck and stay strong

LindaJean · July 2004

Hello Joyce,
I had surgery in March, colon resection with 1 lymph positive. Based on recommendations, I am currently on Folfox (5fu, lecv.and oxy). not sure what the 6 means. I will have my 6th (12 total) treatment this week. I go for the treatment (approx. 2 hours) and then go home with a fanny pak for 48 hours, I have a port. I have treatmnt every other week. Is this what you are considering? I'll be happy to answer anything that I can.

I am 50 and what a surprise but even more for you at 38. I have had alot of support from family, friends, and co-workers as I have pretty much worked throughout my treatments so far. I am here should you want more info.

Linda

carmen07 · July 2004

Hi Joyce - Sorry to hear about your cancer but you came to the right place.
My husband had colon surgery 10/03 and had two small lesions that spread to his liver. He was treated with the Folfox regime of oxi/lecv/5fu for a total of 8 treatments every other week. He went for two hours and went home with a fanny pack. The nurse would come to our house to disconnect, and flush his port. He responded well to this treatment. He never missed a treatment and was able to continue working. His lesions also decrease in size substantially. He just had liver surgery 6/04. We are now getting ready for after treatment. I know that Avastin is going to be introduced.
Drinking lots of water before and after treatment is helpful. It tends to dehydrate you. Also he was sensitive to cold, but only during his treatment and 3 to 4 days after. He could not drink cold items 3 to 4 days after treatment also.
Also they recommended that he use an electric shaver. So you may want to get one if you don't have one.
Best of luck to you , and if you have any questions, your in the right place.

kangatoo · July 2004

carmen07 said:
Hi Joyce - Sorry to hear about your cancer but you came to the right place.
My husband had colon surgery 10/03 and had two small lesions that spread to his liver. He was treated with the Folfox regime of oxi/lecv/5fu for a total of 8 treatments every other week. He went for two hours and went home with a fanny pack. The nurse would come to our house to disconnect, and flush his port. He responded well to this treatment. He never missed a treatment and was able to continue working. His lesions also decrease in size substantially. He just had liver surgery 6/04. We are now getting ready for after treatment. I know that Avastin is going to be introduced.
Drinking lots of water before and after treatment is helpful. It tends to dehydrate you. Also he was sensitive to cold, but only during his treatment and 3 to 4 days after. He could not drink cold items 3 to 4 days after treatment also.
Also they recommended that he use an electric shaver. So you may want to get one if you don't have one.
Best of luck to you , and if you have any questions, your in the right place.

Hiya from Australia Joyce--as always--sorry to hear of your cancer but to be here is going to be a blessing for you.There is no better place to find the comfort and support to guide you!
Chemo will take very different paths for you Joyce as we all have suffered different effects--some more fortunate than others--it effects us all in different ways.Do take the time to come here for any advice or just to vent your feelings--you are amongst many friends here.
Our very best to you--there is hope---and you will surely find that here.
kanga n Jen

Btrcup · July 2004

Hi Joyce, my name is Linda and my hubby was dx Stage IV colon cancer in Feb. He had his tumor removed and resection and started Folfox6 shortly thereafter. As of last week, his scans showed no evidence of disease! Please keep the faith and we will include you and your family in our prayers.
Linda

Fitlisa · July 2004

Hi Joyce,

Im sorry that you had to join our group but you have definitely come to the right place for information and support.

I am 42 and was just diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer in May, 2004. I had a resection a week after my diagnosis and started my chemo, also Folfox, 2 weeks after my surgery. I have now completed 6 of 24 treatments.

I too am and was a fitness freak (running/walking/weights/yoga daily) and almost went insane after my surgery not being able to do as much...but, I am now back to almost my normal routine and it makes a HUGE difference in how I am feeling both mentally and physically. I walk 40 min.minimum daily, do yoga for 30 min daily (surgeon wont let me do the weights yet tho..)

I am very much into the nutrition/mind-body aspects of my treatment also. I can recommend a book called "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" by Patrick Quillan which has become my bible. It was recommended to me by someone on this forum and I noticed in my own research that this particular book kept popping up on every search I did...Its not an easy read but if you are interested in doing more than chemo, I highly recommend it. I have never been a sugar eater or a fast food eater. I am Canadian by birth and kind of a nature freak/whole foods gal. Therefore, being diagnosed with this cancer was stunning to me as I thought it was an over-50 bad diet cancer. Wrong. I needed to feel like I was contributing to my cure, needed to feel some control over my health and the nutritional element is one that I have chosen. I also do guided meditation/relaxation and find that very helpful. People on this forum were also very inspirational to me. Knowing that I wasnt alone also made a huge difference for me.

Chemo then...I go 2 days every 2 weeks for a few hours each day to be infused at my clinic and then home each night with a fanny pack that infuses the 5-FU continuously for 46 hours..the best part of my week is when the nurse comes to unhook me on Friday afternoon!!! I did have a rough go of it for my first 4 treatments - constant nausea for 8 days, horrid fatigue, weight loss of 10 lbs in 6 days..But, the good news is that most of these side effects are manageable with meds..we finally got my tummy settled down somewhat with Emend and Marinol...you will see how your body reacts once you start your treatments. Drink TONS of water daily as it definitely helps. A positive attitude also makes a world of difference but you definitely seem to already have that going for you.

I dont have kids but I am a newlywed having been married just 6 months when I was diagnosed....we all have a lot to live for and this definitely changes our lives. I do believe that this happens to us for a reason and we might never truly know what that reason is but I know for me personally I am not the same person I was May 10, 2004 the day before my diagnosis as I am now. I will never be that person but I am now a person who appreciates every little thing and will never again put something off until later.

I know I am rambling here Joyce and for that I apologize. If you want to discuss the fitness/nutrition/mind-body elements of this further, please email me and I will be glad to give as much info as I can.

Keep the positive attitude,

Lisa

Unknown · July 2004

Hi Joyce and welcome to our whacky, caring, funny, supportive group. I am Monika, caregiver to my husband Bert diagnosed July 2003 with stage III colon cancer...complete right colon resection and just finished 10 months of aggressive chemo therapy.

You have a great attitude and that's 2/3rds of the battle in whopping and kicking this disease's butt. Stay positive, be good to yourself, don't expect too much of yourself, and learn all you can. You are your own best advocate and please, share your toughts and feelings with the folks around you who care about you so much. I find a lot of cancer patients find this difficult to do. It's so important for the communication channels to remain open. It provides much needed strength, comfort, and encouragement.

Hope to read your posts often.

Monika

ipetrou · July 2004

take a look at the Commonweal and the Block Clinic websites for some good articles and ideas. good luck and stay strong!

Just diagnosed

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