What to expect?

Wow and Hello
Hi there

Read your post and had to talk with you this morning.

First, I think you are an incredibly brave and strong woman and I can feel your strength in your post. You are so young to have had to go through all of this.

I'm a stage IV myself and I'm into my 6th year...colorectal cancer, mets to liver, and possible met to pleura of the lung. So, I definitely understand how you are feeling. I think you have held it together rather remarkably.

You are taking the same type of chemo drugs that I was taking at one point - you did not say how long, but there are side effects with those drugs - neuropathy in your hands and feet, cold sensation in your throat and cold sensation touching things. These intensify the longer treatment continues.

Surprises can always come up as there are no definite answers with Cancer. But anytime that you have a concern or question, you can ask anybody on the board and you will get a response that will help you. We've all done this in one fashion or the other, so anybody talking to you has direct experience with everything from surgeries, treatments, scan reports, scan anxieties etc.etc. No subject is off limits and that's the beauty of this board and the people who live here.

I'm sorry that you are in the middle of this, but thanks for finding the board, you've made a good decision by coming here - it will be a lifeline in your darkest and brightest hours - really great people here and they amaze me everyday!

We know that you can fight this battle right along with us and share in your journey and you with ours.

Thanks for your post...I'm saying a prayer for you and I wish you all the best going forward...

-Craig

Diagnosis
I was diagnosed at the birth of our 3rd child (during a scheduled c-section) when the attending surgeon felt a lymph node beneath my uterus. Turns out I had Stage IV colon cancer with mets to my liver. That was in November 2008. I did chemo Dec/Jan and early February was scheduled for my colon resection, liver resection and implantation of HAI pump. I went back on chemo end of February and so far have completed 4 of my HAI chemo injections (2 more to go) and 6 of my 12 systemic chemo treatments. I am currently NED.

I don't know what to tell you about surprises as I had the biggest on in my life when I was diagnosed as I had not had symptoms to indicate a problem. But I have learned that I need to take one step at a time on this journey and not get too far ahead of myself. When I see older kids and get teary thinking I may not see my young ones make it that far I remind myself to not let those feelings get in the way of enjoying the time I have with them now. My doctors have told me I have a 50/50 chance for survival so I try and focus on all that is positive. I exercise, I juice, I try to eat well and definitely avoid red meat. I cut down on my stress level and don't let the little things bother me as they used to. I cherish every moment with my husband and children and feel that I have become a better wife/mother as a a result of this disease. I pray a lot.

I agree with Craig
I agree with Craig that you seem to be dealing with everything very well. You have been through alot in a short period of time. I commend you for your strength. I to am stage four with a liver thats fully involved plus mets to both lungs. We are on the same chemo cocktail, execpt I had to stop the Oxi after the 8th treatment due to an alergic reaction. I had my 10th treatment this morning. As far as side effects go, I think everyone is different. You will probably have some but not all. The cold sensitivity, fatigue, nausia, are all very common. I started with a few mouth sores after my 9th treatment, but with "Magic Mouthwash" they cleared up fast.

Whatever side effects the chemo give you, you can deal with them. I can tell that you are a strong woman. Keep up the fight and God Bless.

John