Port is in - Fight is starting

VickiCO
VickiCO Member Posts: 917
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I got my port in yesterday afternoon. They gave me good knock-out drugs, for which i am very thankful. Yes, I am sore, but mostly from my shoulder. I have sever tendinitis and bursitis, and apparently they manipulated the shoulder during surgery, for the xrays. Anyway, I HURT today, but my eye is still on the prize.

My docs all got together and decided to start me on the chemo/rad regime sooner. I think we start Tuesday (11/18) The sooner, the better I say!

Mike49, how are you today? Everything OK with your port?


Vicki

Comments

  • Mike49
    Mike49 Member Posts: 261
    #2
    I am OK
    My procedure was pretty straight forward, it took about 45 minutes and I was on enough sedative and local anethetic not to feel much. It woke up sore yesterday afternoon and its already better this morning. Don't get me wrong its sore, but I celebrate progress of any kind. I am glad your port went in without to much pain also.

    I am still in a watch and wait to start chemo, I have wound issue from the surgery on 10/15 that has to completely heal before they will schedule chemo. Its close, just not done yet.

    I will be getting the twelve courses of FOLFOX when they clear me to begin. I am ready and eager to start fighting, I physically feel like I have been fighting starting with the surgery.

    Have a good day.

    Mike B.
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #3
    Mike49 said:

    I am OK
    My procedure was pretty straight forward, it took about 45 minutes and I was on enough sedative and local anethetic not to feel much. It woke up sore yesterday afternoon and its already better this morning. Don't get me wrong its sore, but I celebrate progress of any kind. I am glad your port went in without to much pain also.

    I am still in a watch and wait to start chemo, I have wound issue from the surgery on 10/15 that has to completely heal before they will schedule chemo. Its close, just not done yet.

    I will be getting the twelve courses of FOLFOX when they clear me to begin. I am ready and eager to start fighting, I physically feel like I have been fighting starting with the surgery.

    Have a good day.

    Mike B.

    Post Op Chemo
    Im doing Oxiliplatin/Leucouvrin/5fu.........I will start my 5th treatment Monday...Just give me a shout and I'll help with what to look out for as ya go.....Chin up guys and gals ..its almost over..... :-)
  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #4
    Here we go...
    I met with the oncologist yesterday. I start my radiation and chemo tomorrow morning. Dr was very encouraging. He said IF this round shrinks the tumor enough, and IF that pesky lymph node is negative, my after-surgery chemo could be more 5FU and not FOLFOX. I am holding onto that and willing this tumor away.

    BTW - I got my first CEA reading as well. It is 0.68. WOW! That low with an active cancer! I hope that means something.

    Mike & Mike, are you guys on track? How are you doing? I feel much better today, although my port site is still sore. I am allergic to aspirin and all anti-inflammatory drugs, so the healing is slow. Vicodin is my friend!

    Vicki
  • menright
    menright Member Posts: 256 Member
    #5
    VickiCO said:

    Here we go...
    I met with the oncologist yesterday. I start my radiation and chemo tomorrow morning. Dr was very encouraging. He said IF this round shrinks the tumor enough, and IF that pesky lymph node is negative, my after-surgery chemo could be more 5FU and not FOLFOX. I am holding onto that and willing this tumor away.

    BTW - I got my first CEA reading as well. It is 0.68. WOW! That low with an active cancer! I hope that means something.

    Mike & Mike, are you guys on track? How are you doing? I feel much better today, although my port site is still sore. I am allergic to aspirin and all anti-inflammatory drugs, so the healing is slow. Vicodin is my friend!

    Vicki

    Good luck today
    Vicki:

    Good luck today. I just finished my first treatment yesterday. I was hooked up to an IV for 6-hours. Be sure to bring lots of reading material or a computer. I could have used more things to busy myself.

    My regemin is Xeloda by pill twice daily. Then a Erbitux IV weekly at the clinic and the kicker drug is Oxaliplatin by IV every 3-weeks. I have not opted for the port and will see how the weekly IV's go before I decide.

    I wish you well today and pray for little if any side effects for you.

    Mike
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #6
    menright said:

    Good luck today
    Vicki:

    Good luck today. I just finished my first treatment yesterday. I was hooked up to an IV for 6-hours. Be sure to bring lots of reading material or a computer. I could have used more things to busy myself.

    My regemin is Xeloda by pill twice daily. Then a Erbitux IV weekly at the clinic and the kicker drug is Oxaliplatin by IV every 3-weeks. I have not opted for the port and will see how the weekly IV's go before I decide.

    I wish you well today and pray for little if any side effects for you.

    Mike

    Get a portable DVD player!
    I watched sometimes 2 DVDs while in treatment. The best purchase I made! Good luck with your continued treatments.
    mary
  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #7
    Good Luck Mike!
    I wanted the port. I am getting 5FU and the 24/7 low dosage appealed to me. I figured I will be poked and prodded so much for the next few months, I might as well go for the port right from the start.

    Let's compare notes over the next few weeks. It's good to have buddies!

    Vicki
  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #8
    msccolon said:

    Get a portable DVD player!
    I watched sometimes 2 DVDs while in treatment. The best purchase I made! Good luck with your continued treatments.
    mary

    I am a reader
    Mary,

    I have stocked up on books. I may change to audio books to make it easier. I am a speed reader and often go through 5 books a week anyway. Thank heavens for Amazon and Borders online... then I will donate the books to our small town library that has a tiny budget.

    Because of the pump, I guess, they tell me my visits will be only an hour or so each week.

    Vicki
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #9
    You GO, girl!!!!
    My port was placed on the same day I started chemo...not the best thing, but there you go!

    Hey, MY CEA was .7 before treatment started...and look where I am today!!! (Well, hummmmm, recovering from a nasty head cold...BUT I stood up to those squattie potties in Turkey...well, actually, bent over...Oops! TMI...lol!).

    Drink plenty of fluids the day before and during chemo...it helps flush the stuff from places it doesn't need to be...

    I've got your back, dearheart!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #10
    VickiCO said:

    I am a reader
    Mary,

    I have stocked up on books. I may change to audio books to make it easier. I am a speed reader and often go through 5 books a week anyway. Thank heavens for Amazon and Borders online... then I will donate the books to our small town library that has a tiny budget.

    Because of the pump, I guess, they tell me my visits will be only an hour or so each week.

    Vicki

    books
    I also am a reader, but when I was doing the long chemo, the pre-meds made it impossible to concentrate on a book. Sometimes I couldn't concentrate even on the DVD! Now all i am getting is Avastin, which is 30-45 minutes so i just bring something to knit!
    mary
  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #11
    Hi Kathi!
    I am so glad you are back in time for my journey. There are many, many good people on this board, and I have formed a pack with Mike & Mike49, but you were the first to respond to me, and encourage me and I am happy to see you here again.

    Now I am off to get my tattoos....

    Vicki
  • Mike49
    Mike49 Member Posts: 261
    #12
    Glad you've got started
    Mike, Must feel good to be started on your treatment. I see the Onc and the surgeon today. I may go back to work soon and hopefully be on Chemo in the next 10 days, my wound is getting smaller and smaller.

    Great to hear your on your way.

    Mike

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