Hi, I'm new!

Hi skier! I'm Wanda. I haven't been here too long but yes, there's a lot of wonderful support. Happy to hear that the surgery went well, but 22 years old??? Bless your heart sweetie. We are all here to listen to your ups and downs and support you with our love. Lets us know how your treatments go. Huggs n prayers ~ Wanda (from Arizona USA)

Welcome to the group skier! Sad your here but glad you came.

I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer last year at age 37. I finished with treatments this past January and life is good.

This is a great place to be for people like us!!

MJay

Hi Skier.

We are always here with open arms. So sorry to hear of your diagnosis. It plain out sucks! But... we are here to help.

I was diagnosed in March of 2003 with stage 3 rectal cancer at the age of 43. I did chemoradiation for 6 weeks, surgery, then post op chemo for 4 more months.

I am officially cancer free today, one year later.
Hopefully it will stay that way!!

I will have my 3 girls scoped in their 20's just as a precaution.

You can find information, support, encouragement, nutritional advice , a shoulder to lean on, an laughs. A very important tool in your treatment. Laugh hard, laugh often, hey, laugh till you pee in your pants! ( I have to warn you that things can get a bit racey around here. Not that I have anything to do with that!)

Anything we can help you with, just give a holler.
Most of us have e-mail on this site, so you can contact us privately, if you want to.

Hang in there. You can do it.

Barb (Who left her skiing days behind long ago)

Welcome to the semi-colons. I sure do hate to see someone so young going through this -it's no fun. I was diagnosed at 31 (and considered young!) with stage IV rectal/sigmoid cancer with a met to the liver. I had a colon and liver resection and 8 months of 5FU and leucovorin (the other drugs were in trials during my treament) and 28 sessions of radiation. 6 years and 8 months later, I'm still here, no evidence of disease and about as "normal" as you can get. I can sympathize with the concerns over radiation. Did you know they can "lift" the ovaries out of the path of radiation? Or, they can take ovarian tissue, preserve it and then later implant it under the skin and it will produce eggs. There was just a story about this in the media and the lady was able to have children. I'm not sorry I had radiation even though it did impact my ovaries (granted I had 10 years on you). My rad onc. had done his post doc at Harvard on rectal cancers and radiation and how it impacted survival rates and he was very persuasive. Since rectal cancers tend to return to the site, he felt the kill and repair generated by radiation was worth it esp. at my age. Personal choice of course but the options I mentioned above had not been explored until after it was too late for me. Glad to hear you are recovering well - keep us posted.
Heidi

taraHK said:

Hi Skier03,
I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis, but warmly welcome you to this group. It has been a godsend for me -- full of practical information and also emotional support.

I was diagnosed with rectal cancer at age 44 (no risk factors, very healthy). My treatment was similar to yours (except that I did have presurgical chemoradiation -- already had 2 kids and not wanting more). I ended up being stage 3 (1 lymph node affected).

I did end up having a permanent colostomy (my tumor was very low). That was an adjustment, but is now no big deal.

I'm almost exactly 2 years post-op now, and feeling good.

I wish you all the best and please don't hesistate to get in touch or to ask ANY questions.

Tara

Welcome Skier with big huggie from oz. Stage 2 here(dx o3) with surgery and 6 months chemo following. Jen and I are continually astounded that this rotten disease is affecting so many young people! We are sure that you will find the support here very encouraging. Let us know the chemo meds you are on and how you cope. Once you start chemo be absolutely sure you tell your onc. or clinic nurses if you have ANY concerns. Everyone that suffers side effects have different stories. Making us aware of them will help you get thru this.
Welcome again to our "family", kanga n Jen

Kerry.......I find your "older" figure...figuratively and literally quite sexy(Just don't tell Jen I said that...lol!)

Wow, Skier! sorry that you have to go through this. I too have stage 3C -- 21 lymph nodes cancerous but I'm a bit older!( I have a daughter and son about your age) You are soo young which is to your advantage, I think, because you are healthy and energetic other than this--- right? I have not been given the option of radiation. Only 5FU, leucovorin and oxaliplatin. I start this Fri.Keep us posted. This is indeed a great group of real and honest people. who though we can't meet in person are connecting intimately through our experiences. Welcome! I wish you the best-- and will pray for you as well.
blessings, neelieC

Wow! I thought Mom was young at 49. I am typeless.......Avastin has got a great reputation. Mom is on it now... Being in the nodes is treatable.....Age is in your favor....Hang in there and this is a great site for info.

Hi skier!

Downhill or x-country?

Welcome to the semi-colons. We are all things to all people---silly, serious, supportive; a place to: vent, rage, cry, laugh, share--woes, fears, aches, pains, protocols, and our stories.

I am a Stage 3 lymph pos (2/19) sigmoid colon survivor. I opted not to do any chemo and used Eastern Medicine and Alternatives instead. I have been cancer free for 3 years and 7 months!! WooHoo!! :-)

I was dx'ed at 39 and the tumor could have been in there since I was 29. My sister was dx'ed at 29 and she had been sick for years. So i know all about the young age thing (for her--not as much for me). It is always a shocker. Ya gotta wonder what is going on in the world that cancer seems to be getting more younger people than before.....I mean colon cancer???

With my sister they radiated her while she was open (hers was in the sm. intestine) and covered her ovaries. Her first onc was not going to do this and told her she shouldn't have kids anyway. He was fired on the spot and she found someone who would take the precautions to ensure her ovaries would remain healthy. She went on to have a baby!! A very healthy baby girl who is now 13 yrs old.

Anyway....glad you found us.

peace, emily