New to group, surgery on the 30th of this month

fred1247
fred1247 Member Posts: 19
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello everyone, I have been lurking around just reading posts, and must say what a great place for support. I was diagnosed with rectal cancer on the 28th of July and did the 28 days of Radiation and chemo with the pump. I hope that the tumor has shrunk some from the radiation so I wont need a colostomy.My surgery is scheduled for the 30th of October. I have been going through bouts of depression and anxiety. My doc gave me an anti depressant to take to try and help getting me out of this funk. I am 59 years young and this is the first time I have had to take a lot of time off from work. I am now wondering if I will be able to return to the same job before I was diagnosed. My Chemo doc told me that I would probably need follow up chemo for 3 to 4 months, I know the additional chemo may take its toll on me after the surgery and was just wondering how everyone else held up on the chemo after surgery and if you were able to work. Thanks for listing...

Comments

  • Madre
    Madre Member Posts: 123
    #2
    First off, welcome to the
    First off, welcome to the group. I have learned so much from thses wonderful people who are living it. Sorry you have to be here. I was dx 4/4 with colon cancer, curgery 4/16 14 inches of colon and intenstines. Stages 3b (went outside tissue wall 3 out of 44 lymph nodes positive). I didn't have radiation but started chemo FOLFOX on 5/20, 12 treatments everyother week. My last treatment is 10/22 and I am going back to work 11/3. I am an administrative assistant. It was hard at the beginning, I too got depressed and wanted to give up. I was having losts of side effects but I kept calling the doctor and they were wonderful. Ended up in the ER after round 1. But there is a light at the end off the tunnel and you will get used to the new changes. Best advice, keep hydrated, keep rested, keep in touch with friends and family for support. You need them and they need you. Don't shut out your feeling and don't be afraid to ask for help. I carry the benefits for our family and being out of work since April is a hardship. We were fortunate that friends held a benefit for us and we got all caught up with medical and living expenses. We had already cashed in my husbands 401K and borrowed money from family, but I need to live now and the future will be there waiting for me and we are still young (42 & hubby 45). We made investements, used them for now (our rainy day) and we will have time to reinvest when I go back to work. I was never rich and I will not retire rich. My wealth comes from all the people around me that have been my support. Prayers go out to you. Keep checking the board and you find a wealth of information.
  • Kanort
    Kanort Member Posts: 1,272 Member
    #3
    Welcome!
    Welcome to the group that no one wants to join, but since we have no control over membership, I am glad you found us early in your journey. I remember lurking forever and how hard it was to make that first post, so I am glad you are now comfortable to ask questions.

    There are many here at all stages and ages who have worked through treatment. Since you have never taken much time off of work, I am sure your employer will understand your need to be absent periodically. Hopefully, your anxiety will subside soon and you will feel more at peace. I will be thinking of you on the 30th and praying for the best possible outcome. Keep us posted.

    Hugs,

    Kay
  • 4law
    4law Member Posts: 110
    #4
    Your story sounds familiar
    Your story sounds familiar to mine. I was diagnosed 4 years ago at age 60, and went throught chemo-radiation and after a healing period, surgery, followed by temporary colostomy and follow-up chemo. I was depressed, anxious, and scared about having cancer, having to have surgery and the thought of a bag. I read Peggy Huddleston's "Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster: A Guide of Mind-Body Techniques" and found it helpful through radiation and surgery (basically, relaxation technique that helped me deal with fears of surgery). Surgery went well but chemo following was a real drag. I was fatigued, had the colostomy reversed, and weekly chemo for several months (5FU). I wasn't able to resume full work responsibilities but did the best I could from home. My cousin told me that "in a year from now, you'll look back at all this as a horrible nightmare". She was right. I don't know what kind of chemo you will have, but straight talk with your doctors is necessary. I remember asking my oncologist if I would be in pain, he told me, without blinking an eye, "Yes, but we have pain killers to deal with it." He was right. Post surgery was rought for me, but I got through it, and I am now fine. There are so many success stories on this website to give you inspiration and courage. Please check in to keep us informed. Never give up -- things do get better.
  • JMARIE66
    JMARIE66 Member Posts: 55
    #5
    Fred,
    My husband had Stage
    Fred,
    My husband had Stage 3b colon cancer. He had his colon resection and 15" of his colon removed on 12-6-07. He was back to work before the Christmas Holiday. He did not begin Chemo until the end of January and he continued to work during treatment. I do believe this helped him keep his mind occupied and pass time. Yes, he had days where he was unable to go to the office due to fatigue. He also occasionally worked from home. He completed Chemo on 7-31-08 and his last ct scan 2 weeks ago shows no cancer. He will be seeing his doctor next week for a well check and discuss taking out the port. From my understanding he will get ct scans every 6 mths. He did have a PET scan in January after surgery and that was clean then, but we did chemo to hopefully prevent it's return. This web sit/discussion board was my life line for a long time. I would check it 10 times a day on some days. You will find allot of information, guidance, referals, and most of all support!! Best of wishes to you as you fight this disease, but as you can see~it can be done!!
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #6
    welcome to the most populated unpopular club around!
    Fred, sorry you had to find us, glad to see you did find us. You are so new to the fight, fear, anxiety, uncertainty, anger, all of it is normal and to be expected. I am 4+ years past initial diagnosis, been through 3 rounds of 12 treatment chemo, 2 full open abdominal surgeries, port in, port out, port in, various other wonderful experiences and I am still here and plan to be for a long while yet. It is very scary sometimes, very icky sometimes, but also very joyous at other times. You will meet the best people on earth during your journey and they all are willing and able to help; take them up on their offers! Take advantage of the many things available to help with the various feelings be it drugs, therapy, or a combo of them! When you are feeling good, do whatever you want. When you aren't feeling so good, give yourself permission to not do ANYTHING! We look forward to hearing more from you in the future.
    Mary
  • fred1247
    fred1247 Member Posts: 19
    #7
    msccolon said:

    welcome to the most populated unpopular club around!
    Fred, sorry you had to find us, glad to see you did find us. You are so new to the fight, fear, anxiety, uncertainty, anger, all of it is normal and to be expected. I am 4+ years past initial diagnosis, been through 3 rounds of 12 treatment chemo, 2 full open abdominal surgeries, port in, port out, port in, various other wonderful experiences and I am still here and plan to be for a long while yet. It is very scary sometimes, very icky sometimes, but also very joyous at other times. You will meet the best people on earth during your journey and they all are willing and able to help; take them up on their offers! Take advantage of the many things available to help with the various feelings be it drugs, therapy, or a combo of them! When you are feeling good, do whatever you want. When you aren't feeling so good, give yourself permission to not do ANYTHING! We look forward to hearing more from you in the future.
    Mary

    Unpopular
    Thanks, sounds like you had a rough go of it, and glad to hear that you are doing well after 4 years. I just hope I can do as well.
  • fred1247
    fred1247 Member Posts: 19
    #8
    Madre said:

    First off, welcome to the
    First off, welcome to the group. I have learned so much from thses wonderful people who are living it. Sorry you have to be here. I was dx 4/4 with colon cancer, curgery 4/16 14 inches of colon and intenstines. Stages 3b (went outside tissue wall 3 out of 44 lymph nodes positive). I didn't have radiation but started chemo FOLFOX on 5/20, 12 treatments everyother week. My last treatment is 10/22 and I am going back to work 11/3. I am an administrative assistant. It was hard at the beginning, I too got depressed and wanted to give up. I was having losts of side effects but I kept calling the doctor and they were wonderful. Ended up in the ER after round 1. But there is a light at the end off the tunnel and you will get used to the new changes. Best advice, keep hydrated, keep rested, keep in touch with friends and family for support. You need them and they need you. Don't shut out your feeling and don't be afraid to ask for help. I carry the benefits for our family and being out of work since April is a hardship. We were fortunate that friends held a benefit for us and we got all caught up with medical and living expenses. We had already cashed in my husbands 401K and borrowed money from family, but I need to live now and the future will be there waiting for me and we are still young (42 & hubby 45). We made investements, used them for now (our rainy day) and we will have time to reinvest when I go back to work. I was never rich and I will not retire rich. My wealth comes from all the people around me that have been my support. Prayers go out to you. Keep checking the board and you find a wealth of information.

    First off
    Thanks Madre for sharing your journey through dealing with this disease, I know I have a long way to go, just hope I have the strength and courage. My wife has been a great supporter. Both of my kids that are grown and gone have also rallied around old dad and that made me feel good. My company that I have been with for almost 20 years has taken good care of me, and we will see what comes after the surgery.

    Thanks
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #9
    fred1247 said:

    Unpopular
    Thanks, sounds like you had a rough go of it, and glad to hear that you are doing well after 4 years. I just hope I can do as well.

    not really
    Fred, really hasn't been that bad, there are others who have had it MUCH worse! It's just been busy ;). You definitely find yourself in situations you never thought possible at times! You just have to laugh and move on! I don't doubt one bit that you will have an easy go of it!
    Mary
  • hopefulone
    hopefulone Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #10
    Welcome and sending good thoughts
    Hi and welcome. Wishing you good luck and great results on your surgery. Keep us posted. Try to take things one day at a time and not worry about things too far ahead. Nothing is predictable and you may very well find that you may do very well after surgery and chemo.
    God Bless
    Diane
  • jenjerandkatesmom
    jenjerandkatesmom Member Posts: 37
    #11
    Glad you found this site
    I am so sorry that you have a need to be here. Unfortunately I was not aware that this was here until long after I had finished my initial treatment. It would have been so comforting to have all these people to share their experience, strength and hope as I was going through treatment. Be sure to visit often. I have no doubt that it will help. What really astounds me is the number of people who offer their prayers in your behalf! Awesome, isn't it? God be with you.-Sharon
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #12
    Fred,
    We'll be praying for
    Fred,

    We'll be praying for a very successful surgery. Please let us know when you can how you're doing.

    Welcome to the group, and I hope we can be a blessing to you.

    Gail
  • CherylHutch
    CherylHutch Member Posts: 1,375 Member
    #13
    The Journey
    Hey Fred,

    Let me echo what everyone else has said... sorry you need to join the club, but happy that you found this board at the beginning of your journey. And that is exactly what it is... a journey. There are ups and downs, hills to climb up and hills to slide down with ease. Everyone's journey is different... but then, hey, we are all unique individuals so how could our journeys be the same?

    The biggest fear with this whole cancer thing is the fear of the unknown. "What will the surgery be like?" "I've heard horror stories about chemo, am I going to be deathly sick the whole time I'm on it?" "Is the surgery and the treatment painful?" And the list of questions goes on and on... and just when you think you've run out of questions, there will be more.

    But, like I say, even though we all may have the same kind of cancer on this particular board, all our stories are different. In my case, I was diagnosed in Dec/06... not only with the tumour that had perforated through the intestine, but because of that, had severe perotonitis (infection of the abdomen) which was life-threatening on it's own, besides the cancer that had perforated through. I had 18 inches of intestine removed and didn't need a colostomy bag (although I had been prepped for that possibility). Because of the infection, I was in the hospital a lot longer than just because of the surgery... but I was never in any pain. I have a high threshold to pain but they also have good pain management drugs nowadays so there is no need to suffer in silence. If you are feeling any kind of pain or discomfort, speak up... it can usually be dealt with very quickly.

    I happen to have a great long term disability benefit from work, so I did not need to go back to work. Hahaha... ok, this does not mean I have been incapacitated for the last two years. What it means is I have had the time where if I felt I needed to rest, I could, and when my energy level was great, I could participate in all the volunteer activities I love being involved in. I did the box office for our Vancouver Outdoor Theatre both summers and loved every minute of it... which were a lot of minutes because I could be down there day and night. Heck, I would just wear a belt and have my chemo pump hanging from the belt and away I went to have fun. The theatre was very supportive of what I was going through so we had a back up plan that if I was too tired and couldn't come down, then we had back up... and do you know I didn't miss one performance? I felt so much better being out with friends and doing something useful... without the actual pressure of going to work because I had to.

    So, you will see your mileage will vary. If you enjoy your job and want to go to work, you might be pleasantly surprised to find it will be very easy for you. But also give yourself permission to be tired and never, ever be hard on yourself if you find you are plenty tired while on the chemo. Remember that the chemo is a poison we are putting in our bodies to kill off the bad guys. Unfortunately, that same poison kills off the good guys and while our bodies are regenerating the good guys, that's when we usually feel our tiredest. So think of being tired as a good thing... it means the good guys are regenerating :)

    Do keep us posted and come back often!!

    Hugggggs,

    Cheryl

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