New Member Introduction

Welcome
Hi Amy,

Sorry about your diagnosis but glad you seemed to catch it before it got worse. Have you had your surgery already? Is there a plan of action for your treatment, if any?

Mine was Stage III lymph pos/zero mets in my sigmoid colon also. I had 13 inches of colon removed and then because of the lymph involvement, adjuvant chemo of 5-FU and leucovorin was prescribed to "mop up" any renegade cancer cells. I opted to not do any chemo but to follow Easter Medicine & dietary modalities of curing cancer instead after watching my sister go through end stage cancer of her small intestine when she was in her early 30's. I was 39 when I was dx'ed and my sister was 30 when she was dx'ed. No prior family history. I have remained cancer free for over 8 years now!! Yea! It's been quite a journey.

Many of us on here can completely relate to running the gamut of emotions post dx that you're experiencing. This is a great place to vent those emotions--especially if/when you find that those around you just aren't "getting it" and that can be utterly frustrating.

So welcome to the Semi-colons. Jump in and join the club. You can get to know us by reading our websites on here and we can get to know you by yours if you fill one out.

peace, emily the juice chick

Hi Amy
Sorry that you have to have this crap!!! You came to a good place. People on this board are great.
Everything you are feeling is so normal. My husband is the one with colon cancer. It is so up and down. The people here have helped us much. Best to you and keep your chin up. Paula

amyboston said:

Surgery Date
Thank you Emily, Kim and Paula.
It feels better to have support and realize that others are going through or have gone through what I am.

My surgery date is Nov 13. I thought that they would do it sooner, but they have me scheduled for pre-admission testing. I already had a blood test, etc. Will do the MRI before surgery.

They said if the lymph nodes or anything else that the MRI and pathology (???) are affected that they will do chemo, but I haven't heard from an oncologist. I have just talked to the Surgeon (she is great so far) and the nurse that handles her patients.

All of this is real new to me, I am trying to read what I can about colon cancer without scaring me half out of my wits. etc.

Thanks for the welcome, and I will look at the websites, and do one of my own (maybe next week)...

take care and blessings,
Amy

Easter Medicine??
haha, while I believe in the Resurrection, I did Eastern Medicine - NOT Easter! HA!

You normally don't hear from an oncologist until you have your surgery and stage is determined. For me, the oncologist whom I saw in the hospital was NOT the one that I ended up with for some reason. And thank god for that cuz the one that came in while I was recovering from my surgery totally talked bombing and war jargon to me and that scared me to wits end. He was talking about chemo being like smart bombs going off inside me finding the renegade cancer cells that may have set up camp somewhere else since I had lymph involvement. He made me feel like defecting and running over the boarder to Canada! haha! Personally I'm not into the whole War on Cancer approach but hey, to each her own. We all approach cancer very subjectively.

The oncologist that Mayo assigned me to was VERY kind and supportive of my decision to not do any chemo and do it with alternatives instead. I thought this was so very open and progressive of him. If he hadn't been supportive, I would have searched until I found one who was. Even my surgeon (who is from overseas) was highly interested in my doing Traditional Chinese Medicine and said his grandmother used to use TCM also.

Ok, I'm completely digressing here...when what I want to say is that yeah, a lot about cancer can be very scary. Don 't feel alone in that. We're all here to help you navigate through your fears. Many of us have cried a river of tears in fear (my littlest one was 21 mos old when I was dx'ed and I have 5 kids--I surely wasn't ready to check out). So make sure when you get your oncologist that you trust her/him and that s/he doesn't scare you more. Stats can be very scary and remember their often old. I pretty much ignored mine until I beat it. :-)

peace, emily

Welcome to the board
Hi Amy,
I just wanted to say hello. I am a Stage IV 11 year colon cancer survivor. I have been clear 11 years. So ask questions, take pen and paper at hand to all appointments. Ask a friend or family member to go with you to appointments because during the emotional roller coaster we tend to have everything thing go in one ear and out the other. Even though its important or nerves get the best of us.

This is a fabulous place to be, to be cared for, to share, let of steam, cry, whine, get angry and be damned get even better yet; get the damn beast Cancer. So pop in a snack and drink at your side, sit down read all the posts I guarantee your gonna find a few here, that totally get what your going thru.

Nice to meet you, Make it a Great Day!!!
Goofyladie (Cass)

2bhealed said:

Welcome
Hi Amy,

Sorry about your diagnosis but glad you seemed to catch it before it got worse. Have you had your surgery already? Is there a plan of action for your treatment, if any?

Mine was Stage III lymph pos/zero mets in my sigmoid colon also. I had 13 inches of colon removed and then because of the lymph involvement, adjuvant chemo of 5-FU and leucovorin was prescribed to "mop up" any renegade cancer cells. I opted to not do any chemo but to follow Easter Medicine & dietary modalities of curing cancer instead after watching my sister go through end stage cancer of her small intestine when she was in her early 30's. I was 39 when I was dx'ed and my sister was 30 when she was dx'ed. No prior family history. I have remained cancer free for over 8 years now!! Yea! It's been quite a journey.

Many of us on here can completely relate to running the gamut of emotions post dx that you're experiencing. This is a great place to vent those emotions--especially if/when you find that those around you just aren't "getting it" and that can be utterly frustrating.

So welcome to the Semi-colons. Jump in and join the club. You can get to know us by reading our websites on here and we can get to know you by yours if you fill one out.

peace, emily the juice chick

Freudian Slip?
A Freudian Slip is what Sigmund wore under his dress ;-)
Well Em, you're into carrots and all so why not Easter (Bunny) medicine?

Welcome To the Family amy!
Hi Amy-
I have Stage 4 Colon Cancer- Had surgery 1 week after DX, Mets to all lobes of liver. I'm on cycle 11 of chemo, not sure how many I will have at this point. Pet Scan in a few weeks to determine if they can resect part of liver, and then other therapies. I have responded well to chemo-

The folks on this board are a WONDERFUL resource of information, support and love. It's not a club we would ever choose to be in, but it's so very critical to be part of a group that "gets" what we're going through.

No limits on the questions or support you need- ask away, vent away, share.

((HUGS))

Peggy

Welcome!
Hi Amy,
I was diagnosed with stage 4 cc. 2 years ago, I have mets to spine and lungs. I am currently in treatment. I am 39 years old. You came to the right place. We are here for you! Keep us updated when you get more information. Let us know what treatments you will be having.
Hugs,
Karyn