VickiCO

It's Me!! I am HOME!!
I held onto that rope and came through with flying colors. NO OSTOMY! And even better, out of 14 lymph nodes 0 were positive! I had surgery Wednesday - 5 hours. I had a lot of scar tissue from my previous surgery. Dr Brilliance, my new name for him, said the prayers worked and the tumor was even smaller, and he had enough clear margins to hook me back up. I am sore and tired, but happy.

Thank you all for your support. I couldn't have done it without you.

I will post more as I am able to get up an around. I am walking a lot, that helps.

God Bless....Vicki

VickiCO said:

Oh! Oh! I almost forgot!
I have been downgraded to STAGE 2!!! I still have to do the chemo, but so what???

Vicki

JUMPIN for Joy
Oh Vicki I am so glad to hear your news and just to plain hear from you again....what wonderful news and no ostomy. Welcome home....I know there have been a ton of people here thinking about you. and NO lymph nodes.....

out to the kitchen, some clear space and a great big happy dance.

Well done Vicki,
Lots of love and hugs,
Mags

VickiCO said:

Oh! Oh! I almost forgot!
I have been downgraded to STAGE 2!!! I still have to do the chemo, but so what???

Vicki

YEA!!!!!
I'm dancing BIG TIME for you, sweet soul!!!

YEA YEA YEA YEA YEA YEA YEA!!!

NAKED HAPPY DANCE!!!!

Now, you rest up!!!

HUgs, Kathi

VickiCO said:

Downgrading
Well, the surgeon is the only one who finally stages the cancer. My oncologist and GI both assumed a Stage 3 because of the tumor size, because it broke through the wall, and it looked like a couple of nodes were engaged. They were operating off of CTs and an EUS (internal ultrasound.) Once they actually go in and see what's happening, they can make a final determination. My surgeon decided that since he found no evidence of spread anywhere, and no nodes involved, I should be at stage 2. I agree. It is unusual, but not unheard of to be downgraded, as well as upgraded.

Thanks for the hugs! Vicki

Praise God
Vicko so good to hear from you and to know that everything went great for you. Praise GOD..he does answer prayers and I know we have all been praying for you. Thanks for you message about Frank's surgery. Hope each day brings you closer to recovery and know that we will continue to remember you in each and every prayer.
Hugs,
Anna

VickiCO said:

Downgrading
Well, the surgeon is the only one who finally stages the cancer. My oncologist and GI both assumed a Stage 3 because of the tumor size, because it broke through the wall, and it looked like a couple of nodes were engaged. They were operating off of CTs and an EUS (internal ultrasound.) Once they actually go in and see what's happening, they can make a final determination. My surgeon decided that since he found no evidence of spread anywhere, and no nodes involved, I should be at stage 2. I agree. It is unusual, but not unheard of to be downgraded, as well as upgraded.

Thanks for the hugs! Vicki

yes!
Vicki,
I am so glad to hear your news! You have been in my thoughts in prayers a lot. As **** and I were flying home today I was hoping we'd hear from you!
So glad the news got better after surgery.
You go!
Aloha,
Kathleen

VickiCO said:

It's Me!! I am HOME!!
I held onto that rope and came through with flying colors. NO OSTOMY! And even better, out of 14 lymph nodes 0 were positive! I had surgery Wednesday - 5 hours. I had a lot of scar tissue from my previous surgery. Dr Brilliance, my new name for him, said the prayers worked and the tumor was even smaller, and he had enough clear margins to hook me back up. I am sore and tired, but happy.

Thank you all for your support. I couldn't have done it without you.

I will post more as I am able to get up an around. I am walking a lot, that helps.

God Bless....Vicki

Awesome news
Vicki:

Glad to hear your surgery went well. No ostomy is fantastic. I can only hope for the same. Congrats on the good news and good luck with your recovery.

Mike

VickiCO said:

It's Me!! I am HOME!!
I held onto that rope and came through with flying colors. NO OSTOMY! And even better, out of 14 lymph nodes 0 were positive! I had surgery Wednesday - 5 hours. I had a lot of scar tissue from my previous surgery. Dr Brilliance, my new name for him, said the prayers worked and the tumor was even smaller, and he had enough clear margins to hook me back up. I am sore and tired, but happy.

Thank you all for your support. I couldn't have done it without you.

I will post more as I am able to get up an around. I am walking a lot, that helps.

God Bless....Vicki

No colostomy?
Vicki:

Tell me more about the surgery and the lack of a colostomy. I will be scheduling my surgery in the coming weeks and I would like to explore all avenues to avoid a colostomy.

I wonder if your surgeon utilized any unique skills to prevent the ostomy? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Best of luck with your recovery and again congrats.

Mike

menright said:

No colostomy?
Vicki:

Tell me more about the surgery and the lack of a colostomy. I will be scheduling my surgery in the coming weeks and I would like to explore all avenues to avoid a colostomy.

I wonder if your surgeon utilized any unique skills to prevent the ostomy? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Best of luck with your recovery and again congrats.

Mike

Hi Mike
First, get yourself to Denver and look up Dr Nelson Mozia. You think I'm kidding...I am not! He is a miracle worker and the best colorectal surgeon there is. He was recommended by no less than 5 other doctors, including my own son-in-law. I was so lucky to be directed to him. Not all doctors are as skilled in the rectal area as they are in the colon. There is less space, and less clear tissue, to work with. My first surgeon (we call him Dr Doom) said, after one digital exam and three minutes of talking that I had "no hope" (rotten words for cancer survivors!) of avoiding an ostomy. I later found out he had only done one colorectal resection ever! Dr Mozia has been doing them for 28 years.

Barring that, find the best surgeon and ask a lot of questions. What I was told was that my tumor was 3-4 cm inside the anus, and spreading outward. When first diagnosed, it had reached 1 cm from the opening, but the radiation and chemo shrunk it back. Even Dr Mozia said it would be difficult to avoid a colostomy. He recommended the longest possible radiation (I had 28 treatments, I think 30 is the max) and then waited a full 5 weeks after we stopped to give it a chance to fully work. I was sent to ostomy classes, and even wore a dummy device for three days to get the feel and learn about it. Now, here is the part that is hard to explain, even by the doctors. When he actually went in, he was amazed that the tumor was nearly gone, and the tissue in the rectum was clear margins, cancer free. I believe in the power of prayer, and I also believe that, as hard as the radiation treatments were for me (I won't lie to you, I had a rough time)they worked as well. DO NOT GIVE UP ON THEM! I did cut back on my sugar intake, and stopped red meat altogether, but I really don't think that had enough time to contribute to the success.

I hope this is what you are looking for.

Vicki