Diagnosed 4/8/09 with BOTH Adenocarcinoma of Rectum and Adenocarcinoma of Esophagus. Started Chemo

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Comments

  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #22
    Fernando H said:

    I plan on losing cancer myself, can't rely on it to do it for me
    Cheryl,
    Cant say I am happy to hear about nerve loss, but that will make me less "nervous", no?

    Anyway, so be it.

    Gail, this a great pivotal point in my life. What I am going through is alot of discovery of the subject at hand and having a different view of everything else in life.

    I plan to document my experience here. Actually would be a good way to have friends read everything and be up to speed rather than having the same conversation 9 times a day. I would never get anything done and I've actually got a new job that has been supportive, but I've got to produce throughout this ordeal.

    I'm not going anywhere... too many bills to pay! (ha ha ha)

    Caring Bridge
    Fernando, there is a site called Caring Bridge where you can document your journey, and invite your friends and family to come and read it. It has been a Godsend to me, as I have a large and scattered family, and friends all over the world. I don't have to keep telling the same thing over and over, and they can follow how I am doing. You can also download your postings, which I plan to do for a journal when this battle is finished.

    WOW..you are really getting bombarded! I wore a 24/7 pump for 6 weeks, but only 5FU. It was relatively easy.I was having many more issues with the radiation at the time, so maybe I just didn't notice!

    Good Luck and many hugs.... Vicki
  • Fernando H
    Fernando H Member Posts: 30
    #23
    VickiCO said:

    Caring Bridge
    Fernando, there is a site called Caring Bridge where you can document your journey, and invite your friends and family to come and read it. It has been a Godsend to me, as I have a large and scattered family, and friends all over the world. I don't have to keep telling the same thing over and over, and they can follow how I am doing. You can also download your postings, which I plan to do for a journal when this battle is finished.

    WOW..you are really getting bombarded! I wore a 24/7 pump for 6 weeks, but only 5FU. It was relatively easy.I was having many more issues with the radiation at the time, so maybe I just didn't notice!

    Good Luck and many hugs.... Vicki

    Blog sites
    I had actually started a blog on this site, but did not find it very attractive to invite family and friends to. And in retrospect, documenting things here is not the proper venue.

    I will leave this for questions and support of fellow fighters.

    So thanks for the suggestions. I've just been on Caring Bridge and it looks like a nice place. I will look into Facebook as well as you can set privacy settings and I can use it for many other networking things too. Twitter, maybe...

    Update: I am in the office today, came in late (9am) as I was groggy this morning. I've got my fanny pack (CADD Legacy - Plus) delivering the 5FU. Felt a little nausea at 9:30, took the Compazine generic and am cruising along now.

    Thanks for the suggestions and heads up on side effects that may or may not occur. I'ts an important point Cheryl.

    Vicky, the pump is only 5FU for 5 weeks. The other medications listed there are applied at my weekly visit for refil of the pump and service. Also the Oxaliplatin is once a week during that visit.

    You know, the planned service visits to keep the warranty in line. I need at least another 50 years or 50,000,000 miles, whichever comes first.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #24
    Fernando H said:

    Home now, all is normal, sleepyness is gone
    Well today's session went well. I don't feel sick at all. I hear it may be a week until the accumulation of toxicity is built up. Bring it on. Yes it is rather aggressive, but I've agreed with the doctors to take it aggressively to nail both cancers at the same time with the big guns as long as I can handle it. Day one: so far, so good. 27 more to go!
    Git 'er done!

    You GO, dearheart!!!!!
    Yes, it will be a bit of a struggle....but, you have that cutie in your pic to fight for!!!!

    Before you know it, it will be 1 more to go!!!!! And then NONE!!!

    HUgs, Kathi
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #25
    Wow
    Sounds like you have your plate full with medicine for the next 5 weeks. Its good that they are being aggressive with this treatment. You have a great attitude so this will help you getting through it. I'm glad the first day went well for you.

    Kim
  • Fernando H
    Fernando H Member Posts: 30
    #26
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Wow
    Sounds like you have your plate full with medicine for the next 5 weeks. Its good that they are being aggressive with this treatment. You have a great attitude so this will help you getting through it. I'm glad the first day went well for you.

    Kim

    Kathi, I have another cutie
    Kathi, I have another cutie as well who is 3 and a half. Thanks!

    Kim, as aggressive as possible is what I asked for.
  • lil lady
    lil lady Member Posts: 36
    #27
    Fernando H said:

    Kathi, I have another cutie
    Kathi, I have another cutie as well who is 3 and a half. Thanks!

    Kim, as aggressive as possible is what I asked for.

    dx recently no mets and no lyphm nodes will be starting Tomo therapy and chemo on monday it was good to find this site I'm scared and need all the encouragement i can get
  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #28
    lil lady said:

    dx recently no mets and no lyphm nodes will be starting Tomo therapy and chemo on monday it was good to find this site I'm scared and need all the encouragement i can get

    Welcome to both of you!
    Welcome Lil Lady and Fernando! So sorry you are here, but if you have to be in this position, this is the best place to come.

    Lil lady, if you have no lymph nodes you are in a better position than you might think. A lot of people (including me) hear the "C" word and everything else is just "blah, blah, blah." All you can hear is CANCER! CANCER! CANCER! Well it's treatable, fightable and you have many, many years left! Fear is the killer and the sapper--if you give in to it you will have a harder time than if you keep a fighting attitude and your sense of humor.

    Fernando, you have the absolute right attitude. Don't give an inch to cancer! I love your humor and git-up-'n'-go!

    I am a two-fer, as well, albeit a bit staggered. Four months after I stopped chemo for the colon cancer I was dx'd with endometrial cancer. Luckily, the only chemo called for was for the colon. Just wanted to welcome you both and let you know that you can ask anything here as long as we don't get dirty (or at least too dirty.) I love this forum--it saved my spirits over and over again. People here are great!

    Don't either of you be strangers.

    Hugs and prayers,
    Kirsten

    Keep up the battle cries, even if you have to shout around the compazine:-)
  • Fernando H
    Fernando H Member Posts: 30
    #29
    kmygil said:

    Welcome to both of you!
    Welcome Lil Lady and Fernando! So sorry you are here, but if you have to be in this position, this is the best place to come.

    Lil lady, if you have no lymph nodes you are in a better position than you might think. A lot of people (including me) hear the "C" word and everything else is just "blah, blah, blah." All you can hear is CANCER! CANCER! CANCER! Well it's treatable, fightable and you have many, many years left! Fear is the killer and the sapper--if you give in to it you will have a harder time than if you keep a fighting attitude and your sense of humor.

    Fernando, you have the absolute right attitude. Don't give an inch to cancer! I love your humor and git-up-'n'-go!

    I am a two-fer, as well, albeit a bit staggered. Four months after I stopped chemo for the colon cancer I was dx'd with endometrial cancer. Luckily, the only chemo called for was for the colon. Just wanted to welcome you both and let you know that you can ask anything here as long as we don't get dirty (or at least too dirty.) I love this forum--it saved my spirits over and over again. People here are great!

    Don't either of you be strangers.

    Hugs and prayers,
    Kirsten

    Keep up the battle cries, even if you have to shout around the compazine:-)

    Another 2-Fer!
    Thanks Kirsten, I look forward to further discussion. It has been a great source for me.

    Lil Lady, welcome, don't be scared, in fact, get angry towards the tumor and fight it head on.

    When things come against you, instead of complaining and giving up, your faith and resolve causes you to rise up and say, "No weapon formed against me shall prosper!"

    Take it in stride and joke about it. Cancer does not deserve any more grief from you than the treatment itself. Don't let it do anything else but change you for the better. It's only been a month since I found out and I've made DRASTIC changes to my being.
  • scouty
    scouty Member Posts: 1,965 Member
    #30
    Durn Dude
    My first thought after reading your first post was Dang it has it in both ends!!!!!!!

    I love your attitude and am thrilled you found this site. I've been here over 5 years now and am a stage IV survivor that had some pretty dismal stats thrown at me years ago. I'd like to think that the people that were on the board back then know that they helped me save my life physically, mentally, and emotionally. If y'all don't then know it now!!! I've lost dear friends from here since then but know they want me to remain and carry the "torch".

    So along with my fellow semi-colons gone on ahead with me, welcome and kick some **** cell butt!!!

    Lisa
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #31
    lil lady said:

    dx recently no mets and no lyphm nodes will be starting Tomo therapy and chemo on monday it was good to find this site I'm scared and need all the encouragement i can get

    Welcome, Lil Lady!
    We are the best 'been there/done that' group around!!!!

    I'm dancing for 'no mets, no lymph nodes'!!!! Rest, take good care of yourself, and keep HYDRATED!!! I drank 4 QUARTS of water a day...day before, days of, day after treatment...flush the chemo from places that don't need it...like your kidneys and bladder!!!

    Time for my funny:

    Because of my water drinking, I was always getting up during infusion and using the restroom. But, the anti-nausea drugs would make me fall asleep. One time, I drempt that I had wet myself, and woke up, thinking it was REAL!!! Embarassed, I fumbled out of the recliner, got caught, and fell on my face...the whole time mumbling about wetting myself. The nurse hurried over, trying to help, got me untangled, and I raced to the restroom. I was NOT wet...probably passed some warm (sorry) gas...lol! So, I'm thinking how am I going to face these people in the treatment room...I opened the door, bowed deeply and said "I'm here all day, my next set is in an hour!". We all laughed soooooo hard!!!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Fernando H
    Fernando H Member Posts: 30
    #32
    scouty said:

    Durn Dude
    My first thought after reading your first post was Dang it has it in both ends!!!!!!!

    I love your attitude and am thrilled you found this site. I've been here over 5 years now and am a stage IV survivor that had some pretty dismal stats thrown at me years ago. I'd like to think that the people that were on the board back then know that they helped me save my life physically, mentally, and emotionally. If y'all don't then know it now!!! I've lost dear friends from here since then but know they want me to remain and carry the "torch".

    So along with my fellow semi-colons gone on ahead with me, welcome and kick some **** cell butt!!!

    Lisa

    Funny stuff Kathi, Lisa, thank you
    Like I said, just one would not have been balanced (an even number is so much more like me).
    It goes along with my anal self (pun intended).

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