Hi everyone!

sunfish
sunfish Member Posts: 13
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi all! My good friend, suzannchili, tells me I missed quite a wild weekend in Austin! I do hope to meet you party animals in Nova Scotia.....:-)
I am a 36 year old mommy, diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer last summer. I had the resection in July, started chemo in September - just after my son's 1st b-day! - and I just finished chemo on Feb. 17, 2006. My hands & feet are still numb, but other than that I am feeling pretty darn good!
I look forward to getting to know you good people, and to becoming a part of this inspirational community.
Thanks,
sunfish

Comments

  • DK2006
    DK2006 Member Posts: 126
    #2
    Hi Sunfish,
    Welcome to our group(but sorry you have to be here). Congratulations on finishing/doing chemo with a infant! You are an inspiration. I still have 3 more treatments to go, and looking forward to being done with chemo. How long did it take you to start feeling more yourself after chemo stopped? Best wishes! Donna
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #3
    hi sunfish!

    Welcome to the Semi-colons.

    A good way to get to know us is to read our web pages on this site and make one for yourself so we can get to know you too! (well maybe you made one--I haven't checked)

    My littlest one was 20 months old when I was dx'ed. I have 5 kids. It's not an easy gig going through cancer when you have little ones (oh when ever is it easy.....) but IMO it makes it harder with young'uns.

    That was almost 5 years ago (August) and I'm still going strong!

    I am surprised though that you went through chemo since Stage 2 is not necessarily needing chemo--that's how they do it at the Mayo Clinic.

    I was Stage 3 and opted out of the chemo.....but that's another story...

    so again, welcome.

    peace, emily who's hoping to make it to NS even though her party animal is tame these days
  • sunfish
    sunfish Member Posts: 13
    #4
    DK2006 said:

    Hi Sunfish,
    Welcome to our group(but sorry you have to be here). Congratulations on finishing/doing chemo with a infant! You are an inspiration. I still have 3 more treatments to go, and looking forward to being done with chemo. How long did it take you to start feeling more yourself after chemo stopped? Best wishes! Donna

    Hi Donna,
    I started feeling better right away - I think it was partly psychological - yay, it's over! - I continue to feel better every week, but not quite back to 100% normal yet. Maybe once the numbness goes away... during treatment I had cold sensitivity & tingling that would go away after a few days. I only started this numbness with my very last treatment, and unfortunately it's not subsiding. The doctor says that happens sometimes, it can take a few months. Are you on the Oxaliplatin, 5-FU, and Luekavorin regimen - 3 day treatments every other week? Hang in there - with 3 more to go you can do it, you are almost there! :-)

    Jackie
  • sunfish
    sunfish Member Posts: 13
    #5
    2bhealed said:

    hi sunfish!

    Welcome to the Semi-colons.

    A good way to get to know us is to read our web pages on this site and make one for yourself so we can get to know you too! (well maybe you made one--I haven't checked)

    My littlest one was 20 months old when I was dx'ed. I have 5 kids. It's not an easy gig going through cancer when you have little ones (oh when ever is it easy.....) but IMO it makes it harder with young'uns.

    That was almost 5 years ago (August) and I'm still going strong!

    I am surprised though that you went through chemo since Stage 2 is not necessarily needing chemo--that's how they do it at the Mayo Clinic.

    I was Stage 3 and opted out of the chemo.....but that's another story...

    so again, welcome.

    peace, emily who's hoping to make it to NS even though her party animal is tame these days

    You go girl, coming up on your 5 year date - I love hearing that!
    When I was diagnosed, they told me that I was a "controversial" case - to chemo or not to chemo... they said the cancer was gone after surgery, but recommended 12 treatments. My onco put it in laymen's terms for me, and said that if I didn't do the chemo, it "probably would" come back, but if I did it, it "probably wouldn't". That was all I needed to hear! He also said that insurance coverage varies from state to state, and not all would cover chemo for stage 2. I don't quite understand that logic - my plan is in several states, so I have to wonder if someone in another state with the same plan would be denied chemo for stage 2? We live in NY.
    I will definitely take a look at the web pages, and get to work on mine.
    Thanks for the warm welcome!
    Jackie
  • DK2006
    DK2006 Member Posts: 126
    #6
    sunfish said:

    Hi Donna,
    I started feeling better right away - I think it was partly psychological - yay, it's over! - I continue to feel better every week, but not quite back to 100% normal yet. Maybe once the numbness goes away... during treatment I had cold sensitivity & tingling that would go away after a few days. I only started this numbness with my very last treatment, and unfortunately it's not subsiding. The doctor says that happens sometimes, it can take a few months. Are you on the Oxaliplatin, 5-FU, and Luekavorin regimen - 3 day treatments every other week? Hang in there - with 3 more to go you can do it, you are almost there! :-)

    Jackie

    Hi Jackie,
    Yes, I'm on 5FU, leucovorin, and oxalipltin. This last treatment(#9) has been a tough one as it's taken me 6 days to recover. I've been feeling very discouraged...3 to go seems insurmountable. Thanks for the encouragement! Donna
  • sunfish
    sunfish Member Posts: 13
    #7
    DK2006 said:

    Hi Jackie,
    Yes, I'm on 5FU, leucovorin, and oxalipltin. This last treatment(#9) has been a tough one as it's taken me 6 days to recover. I've been feeling very discouraged...3 to go seems insurmountable. Thanks for the encouragement! Donna

    I know how you feel, Donna. For me, I think my worst was #10. I remember feeling very sick and depressed throughout that one, and then being very afraid to start #11, thinking that it would get even worse. The good news is that it didn't! #11 was much much better, and #12 was one of the easier ones I ever had. You've made it this far, Donna, and you can keep going. You are a strong person - even stronger after the last 9 treatments. Remember how long ago #1 was? Remember the anxiety - how can I get through this, what will it be like? You've almost finished now, and it's likely that it won't get any worse for you. You know what to expect from it - you're a pro bynow! Hang in there - you are in my prayers. :-)
  • suzannchili
    suzannchili Member Posts: 134 Member
    #8
    Glad to see you on the message board! These guys are great! Check out Lisa Rose's post regarding ColonPalooza4 and let's start making plans!
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #9
    Welcome to the semi-colons!
    Try B-complex vitamins for the numbness...worked for me. Also drink lots of water...flushes the system...
    I'm going to try to make CP4, too!
    Hugs, Kathi
  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    #10
    My mother is also stage II and is going through chemotherapy right now in the form of oral pill Xeloda. The oncologist said the same thing that the probability of cancer coming back is less with the chemotherapy. So, I decided to give it a try (I am her conservator).
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #11
    Hi Jackie -

    Welcome to our site - though of course I am sorry you have to be here. I hope you will participate often as it is a great group and has helped me immensely.

    Finishing chemo feels great! I'm done too, although being Stage IV "done" has a little bit different definition - more probability that it might resume but cool right now!

    Take care.

    Betsy
  • fedester
    fedester Member Posts: 753 Member
    #12
    hey sunfish,
    welcome to your extended family. i also had stage 2 with no nodes involved. i did 5fu and lec for 6 months once a week. again welcome.
    all the best
    bruce
  • StacyGleaso
    StacyGleaso Member Posts: 1,233 Member
    #13
    Hi Jackie,

    I was a 33 yr old mom of 3 when I was diagnosed with stage 4. This Oct, I will be 5 yrs clear. THERE IS HOPE!

    Keep fighting, and see you in Halifax!

    Stacy
  • sunfish
    sunfish Member Posts: 13
    #14
    suzannchili said:

    Glad to see you on the message board! These guys are great! Check out Lisa Rose's post regarding ColonPalooza4 and let's start making plans!

    Will do - thanks! :-)
  • cherriann
    cherriann Member Posts: 155 Member
    #15
    hi sunfish,
    now that you have joined our group keep us updated because like everyone said its like a family. take care, cherri
  • jerseysue
    jerseysue Member Posts: 624 Member
    #16
    Hello and welcome I was dx with Stage IV one year ago. I'm a 42 year old mommy with 4 little ones and 2 big ones (not my boobs).
  • fedester
    fedester Member Posts: 753 Member
    #17
    jerseysue said:

    Hello and welcome I was dx with Stage IV one year ago. I'm a 42 year old mommy with 4 little ones and 2 big ones (not my boobs).

    sue,
    be careful spongebob will have a reply to your post about the 2 big ones :)
    all the best
    bruce
  • jana11
    jana11 Member Posts: 705
    #18
    Sunfish! Hi. Welcome, but wish you didn't have to be here... for that matter, me neither.

    I am 35 years old, and love meeting other people in my exact age group. It is awful how many "young" people are affected with this horrid disease.

    Glad you have finished your treatments! BIG STEPS.

    jana
  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #19
    jerseysue said:

    Hello and welcome I was dx with Stage IV one year ago. I'm a 42 year old mommy with 4 little ones and 2 big ones (not my boobs).

    Oh Sue,

    chuckle, chuckle!!!!!

    Kerry
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #20
    Welcome to the group. I finished folfox (same chemo 'cocktail' as you) mid-December. The numbness has gone from my fingers now completely. Toes/feet still numb but I think improving. I'm taking B6. Best wishes.
  • Lisa Rose
    Lisa Rose Member Posts: 598 Member
    #21
    Hi Sunfish,

    Like everyone else I just wanted to welcome you to our CSN family. . . At age 40 I was diagnosed with rectal cancer Stage 3 now 4 years later I'm doing fine.
    My husband Andy & I are hosting Colon Palooza 4 in Halifax this fall so if you have any questions please feel free to write us.
    The link below is a short clip from Palooza 2 in Las Vegas last fall. My son Andrew made it and dedicated to Kanort ( Kay ) because she is our Mary Tyler Moore...

    http://media.putfile.com/Mary-Tylor-Moore-Semi-Colon-Edition


    Lisa Rose

Discussion Boards