New to the Battle

menright
menright Member Posts: 256 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I am 46 and Dx with colon cancer. Trying to work through the uncertainty of both treatment and what it means long-term for me and my family. Married with two kids, Son is a freshman in college and daughter is a sophmore in high school.

This discussion board looks like a great resource and a place for hope.

I live in Connecticut. My treatment is at the St. Francis cancer center in Hartford, CT. Any specific advice or experience at this facility is welcomed.

I wish us all well and hope and pray we all become NED's.

Mike
«13

Comments

  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #2
    We are in this together!
    Well Mike,

    I was DX Oct 22, so we are on track with each other. This is a great group and I have found solace here. I am a bit older - 58 - with a great husband, grown daughter, wonderful SIL and 3 grandsons. The baby is only 7 months and I want to dance at his wedding!

    As my oncologist says "Keep your eye on the prize...CURE"

    Vicki
  • fred1247
    fred1247 Member Posts: 19
    #3
    New to Battle
    Mike I am a bit older 59 to be exact when I was diagnosed with colon cancer July 28th of this year. This is a great group of people to bounce things off of. It is easy to become confused and depressed when you hear the news, but stay strong for your family. My kids are grown and gone and you need to be around to bounce those grand kids on your knee. All the best of luck going forward, this is a tough journey for anyone and our prayers are with you and your family.
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #4
    Welcome
    I was also 46 when diagnosed with rectal cancer 5 1/2 years ago. Life will never be the same. I was so scared. I have remained NED since my surgery. If you have any specific questions just ask. We have all been there. I have a great husband and my kids were 14, 17 and 21. Now they are 20, 24 and 27 and the oldest is married. Life did get better after all the treatments and surgeries.

    Good luck.
  • dave03
    dave03 Member Posts: 2
    #5
    Been there and did'nt like it
    First what level are you? and when do they want to start? do they have the equipt. radiation; to zero in and not do damage to surrounding area? You need to know this now. My advise is get a good quality internal cleanse from the nutrition place and start now.Second NO RED MEAT, NO DAIRY, No WHITE pasta, bread, rice, flour..if it's white stay away from it.Drink lots of claen water 8 glasses a day. No tap water!. Get a good juicer. The Juice Man was right all along. one that you can fit large carrots, apples into. take seeds out of apples add handfull of parsley ,2 apples and 4 carrots; juice. Drink down right away. 8 glasses a day. every day don't care what the doc. says. Look up max Gearson on the net .Get his book. My doctors told me to get my affairs in order before I went to the OR. That was in 2003. I made it through the surgery and my wife made me juice every day and brought it to the hosp. The doc's and nurse's laughed. Im still kicking.They don't like alternative medicine.Take care. its your body! I'll look in again.
  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #6
    Hi Mike,
    Thanks for replying
    Hi Mike,
    Thanks for replying to my post. I hope it helped you to see that others have gotten past what you are experiencing right now. Maybe you can share these stories with your family. I hope for the best with your liver biopsy coming up. I hope it is not cancer, but if it is, hopefully it can be resected or otherwise dealt with. I know things are scary right now and you are like, How did this happen to me? Who the ____ knows, but you can take charge of the situation. You don't have to rush into anything rash right now either. Take in the information, make sure you feel comfortable with the doctors and the answers you are given. Once you have gotten through the hard part (surgery/chemo, etc.) you can start working on what you can do to STAY healthy. Dave gave some good advice here. Don't be afraid to get a second opinion if need be, and feel free to ask whatever you want on this forum! There are loads of people here who can help.
    Keep us posted on your progress.
    Susan H.
  • kimby
    kimby Member Posts: 797
    #7
    Welcome
    Hi Mike. I was diaganosed stage IV August 2007 at 43. I'm still in treatment but making progress! Married, 3 sons....

    You will find wonderful support here and (hopefully) NED will stick around,too!

    Nice to meet you,

    Kimby
  • menright
    menright Member Posts: 256 Member
    #8
    VickiCO said:

    We are in this together!
    Well Mike,

    I was DX Oct 22, so we are on track with each other. This is a great group and I have found solace here. I am a bit older - 58 - with a great husband, grown daughter, wonderful SIL and 3 grandsons. The baby is only 7 months and I want to dance at his wedding!

    As my oncologist says "Keep your eye on the prize...CURE"

    Vicki

    Dance
    Thanks Vicki. I too want to dance at my kids and someday grandkids weddings.

    CURE seem like a real possibility. Thanks for your encouragement and best to you in your battle toward the NED club.

    Mike
  • menright
    menright Member Posts: 256 Member
    #9
    fred1247 said:

    New to Battle
    Mike I am a bit older 59 to be exact when I was diagnosed with colon cancer July 28th of this year. This is a great group of people to bounce things off of. It is easy to become confused and depressed when you hear the news, but stay strong for your family. My kids are grown and gone and you need to be around to bounce those grand kids on your knee. All the best of luck going forward, this is a tough journey for anyone and our prayers are with you and your family.

    Prayers to you as well
    Fred:

    Thanks and I will accept your prayers and offer you the same in your battle.

    Mike
  • menright
    menright Member Posts: 256 Member
    #10
    Moesimo said:

    Welcome
    I was also 46 when diagnosed with rectal cancer 5 1/2 years ago. Life will never be the same. I was so scared. I have remained NED since my surgery. If you have any specific questions just ask. We have all been there. I have a great husband and my kids were 14, 17 and 21. Now they are 20, 24 and 27 and the oldest is married. Life did get better after all the treatments and surgeries.

    Good luck.

    NED encouragement
    Thanks for your story. I look forward to getting started with treatment and surgery so that it can someday soon be done, where you are today.

    Thanks,

    Mike
  • menright
    menright Member Posts: 256 Member
    #11
    shmurciakova said:

    Hi Mike,
    Thanks for replying
    Hi Mike,
    Thanks for replying to my post. I hope it helped you to see that others have gotten past what you are experiencing right now. Maybe you can share these stories with your family. I hope for the best with your liver biopsy coming up. I hope it is not cancer, but if it is, hopefully it can be resected or otherwise dealt with. I know things are scary right now and you are like, How did this happen to me? Who the ____ knows, but you can take charge of the situation. You don't have to rush into anything rash right now either. Take in the information, make sure you feel comfortable with the doctors and the answers you are given. Once you have gotten through the hard part (surgery/chemo, etc.) you can start working on what you can do to STAY healthy. Dave gave some good advice here. Don't be afraid to get a second opinion if need be, and feel free to ask whatever you want on this forum! There are loads of people here who can help.
    Keep us posted on your progress.
    Susan H.

    Support is good
    Susan:

    I appreciate your comments and look forward to using this forum for our mutual good.

    Best of luck and my prayers to you for good health.

    Mike
  • Mike49
    Mike49 Member Posts: 261
    #12
    Another Mike
    I am not that much older than you (49) or further along, I was diagnosed in September, Right Hemi-Colectomy on October 15th and still recovering. I am getting ready for Chemo and I both eager to start the fight and nervous and scared. I will be here if you want to talk, or share. I have two boys 12 and 10 and a stepdaughter 7. I have long term plans and lots to look forward too as do you. Hang in there, we are stronger than we believe. Just read some of these stories at this site, it will make you see we can do this.

    Mike B.
  • menright
    menright Member Posts: 256 Member
    #13
    kimby said:

    Welcome
    Hi Mike. I was diaganosed stage IV August 2007 at 43. I'm still in treatment but making progress! Married, 3 sons....

    You will find wonderful support here and (hopefully) NED will stick around,too!

    Nice to meet you,

    Kimby

    Progress is good
    Kimby:

    I am eager to claim I too am making progress. Still in the diagnosis review with one test after another. Tomorrow is the liver biopsy. Wish me luck!

    Keep me updated on your progress.

    Mike
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #14
    Welcome
    Hi Mike,

    Welcome to this board, although I am sorry you have cause to be here. You are right, this is a great place for both information and support. It has been a goldmine and godsend for me.

    I was diagnosed 5.5 years ago at age 44 with stage III rectal cancer. I am still alive and kicking! My kids were 10 and 12 when I was diagnosed -- now they are 16 and 18, and I've enjoyed every second those teenage years!!

    My treatment after diagnosis was chemoradiation followed by surgery followed by more chemo. Good luck to you in your journey and don't hesitate to post here anytime.

    Tara
  • menright
    menright Member Posts: 256 Member
    #15
    dave03 said:

    Been there and did'nt like it
    First what level are you? and when do they want to start? do they have the equipt. radiation; to zero in and not do damage to surrounding area? You need to know this now. My advise is get a good quality internal cleanse from the nutrition place and start now.Second NO RED MEAT, NO DAIRY, No WHITE pasta, bread, rice, flour..if it's white stay away from it.Drink lots of claen water 8 glasses a day. No tap water!. Get a good juicer. The Juice Man was right all along. one that you can fit large carrots, apples into. take seeds out of apples add handfull of parsley ,2 apples and 4 carrots; juice. Drink down right away. 8 glasses a day. every day don't care what the doc. says. Look up max Gearson on the net .Get his book. My doctors told me to get my affairs in order before I went to the OR. That was in 2003. I made it through the surgery and my wife made me juice every day and brought it to the hosp. The doc's and nurse's laughed. Im still kicking.They don't like alternative medicine.Take care. its your body! I'll look in again.

    Juice
    Dave:

    Thanks for the input. I am uncertain at this point about the Stage of cancer. If it proves to be in the liver then I guess that would mean stage IV. I hope and pray this is not the case.

    I have a juicer somewhere in the cupboards. My brother shared the book "Fit for Life" and I tried the juice thing once before. Maybe it is time again.

    Thanks,

    Mike
  • menright
    menright Member Posts: 256 Member
    #16
    Mike49 said:

    Another Mike
    I am not that much older than you (49) or further along, I was diagnosed in September, Right Hemi-Colectomy on October 15th and still recovering. I am getting ready for Chemo and I both eager to start the fight and nervous and scared. I will be here if you want to talk, or share. I have two boys 12 and 10 and a stepdaughter 7. I have long term plans and lots to look forward too as do you. Hang in there, we are stronger than we believe. Just read some of these stories at this site, it will make you see we can do this.

    Mike B.

    Mike to Mike
    Thanks Mike.

    I do plan to use this site for our mutual good. Keep me informed of your progress.

    Mike E.
  • menright
    menright Member Posts: 256 Member
    #17
    taraHK said:

    Welcome
    Hi Mike,

    Welcome to this board, although I am sorry you have cause to be here. You are right, this is a great place for both information and support. It has been a goldmine and godsend for me.

    I was diagnosed 5.5 years ago at age 44 with stage III rectal cancer. I am still alive and kicking! My kids were 10 and 12 when I was diagnosed -- now they are 16 and 18, and I've enjoyed every second those teenage years!!

    My treatment after diagnosis was chemoradiation followed by surgery followed by more chemo. Good luck to you in your journey and don't hesitate to post here anytime.

    Tara

    Treatment
    Tara:

    I think my treatments will mimic yours. I look forward to sharing our journey and providing and receiving hope and encouragement.

    Mike
  • trainer
    trainer Member Posts: 241
    #18
    Hi from another Mike
    This is a great place and it's a wonderful extended family. You've come to the right place for support and hope and information. I couldn't have done it without the good thoughts and suggestions from everyone.

    Despite the top drawer medical treatment, there was still a decided lack of helpful information from my medical team. I don't know if I was expecting too much or if lawyers have everyone so scared to say anything anymore. Nevertheless, this group will jump right in.

    I was dx 9/9, had surgery 10/20 and spent a week in recovery in the hospital. The surgeon tried using the daVinci lap assist method, which is totally awesome, but couldn't find any evidence of cancer, so the team opted to slice and dice and go in the old fashioned way. Even though they could locate the site which was marked by the colonoscopy doc, they could find no cancerous tissue and the path tests proved this out.

    All this is really a rotten experience, I just don't know how to explain it any other way, but this web site is a Godsend and I'm glad you found it.
  • menright
    menright Member Posts: 256 Member
    #19
    trainer said:

    Hi from another Mike
    This is a great place and it's a wonderful extended family. You've come to the right place for support and hope and information. I couldn't have done it without the good thoughts and suggestions from everyone.

    Despite the top drawer medical treatment, there was still a decided lack of helpful information from my medical team. I don't know if I was expecting too much or if lawyers have everyone so scared to say anything anymore. Nevertheless, this group will jump right in.

    I was dx 9/9, had surgery 10/20 and spent a week in recovery in the hospital. The surgeon tried using the daVinci lap assist method, which is totally awesome, but couldn't find any evidence of cancer, so the team opted to slice and dice and go in the old fashioned way. Even though they could locate the site which was marked by the colonoscopy doc, they could find no cancerous tissue and the path tests proved this out.

    All this is really a rotten experience, I just don't know how to explain it any other way, but this web site is a Godsend and I'm glad you found it.

    Cancer gone
    Your story is what I hope and pray for. I have heard of the possibility but love to hear from someone who had it happen. I take it you had treatment before surgery which took care of the cancer?

    Thanks,

    Mike
  • Patti1
    Patti1 Member Posts: 109 Member
    #20
    Interesting Tidbit
    Mike,

    I am so sorry that you and your family have to facew this battle,you
    can win. Thank you so much for your posting. I wanted to share an interesting
    piece of information with you. Dennis and I are both from Ct, Dennis was
    born in Hartford Hospital and my son and I were born in St Francis. We live
    in Florida now, been here for 16 years now. I will pray for you and your family

    Patti
  • Faith88
    Faith88 Member Posts: 55
    #21
    thinking positive thoughts
    mike
    I pray for you that there are no mets to the liver.
    My DH went through this same thing with the liver scan, and it showed no mets.
    His was stage 3 and recovering 1.5 years now. It's a battle that can be won.
    Keep the faith.

    Faith88

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