New Diagnosis

At the beginning,I felt very
At the beginning,I felt very confused and very emotional after my husband's diagnosis.But after I started to learn on line and joined this support group,we have been doing much better beyond our imagination.These are some websites I found very helpful at the beginning,at least gave me orientation.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ESN/content/ESN_3_1X_I_Can_Cope.asp?sitearea=ESN(this is the american society website on line class for teaching people how to cope with cancer)

http://www.chemocare.com/(this is a website designed to provide the latest information about chemotherapy to patients and their families, caregivers and friends)

http://www.mskcc.org/(this is the website of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York,which is full of knowledge and specialist information)

American cancer society has a book" American cancer society's complete guide to colorectal cancer",this is really a good book,we got it from the cancer center's library.

My husband was diagnosed with stage 2A rectal cancer in May.We were very shocked and frightened at the beginning,but with time,the more I learned about cancer,and the more support I got from this discussion board,the less fear I have and the more brave I am.So far,my husband has finished the preopretive treatment(chemo 5-fu and radiation) and the surgery,they all went well.My husband had great response to preoperative treatment,his tumor got shrank by 90% before surgery.The surgery was done succfully by a very experienced surgeon,the pathology report showed the cancer was downstaged from stage2 to stage1.Now my husband is taking adjuvant chemo to make sure there is no cancer cells left over in the body.

If you have any questions or any emotional issues,you can just post your questions here, many people here are very knowledgable and experienced,they will give you answers.If you want to vent and whine,just come here,people here will give you comfort because we truly understand how you feel and we truly understand what you are getting through.Best luck and best wishes to you with the whole treatment.Take care.

Fight for my love said:

At the beginning,I felt very
At the beginning,I felt very confused and very emotional after my husband's diagnosis.But after I started to learn on line and joined this support group,we have been doing much better beyond our imagination.These are some websites I found very helpful at the beginning,at least gave me orientation.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ESN/content/ESN_3_1X_I_Can_Cope.asp?sitearea=ESN(this is the american society website on line class for teaching people how to cope with cancer)

http://www.chemocare.com/(this is a website designed to provide the latest information about chemotherapy to patients and their families, caregivers and friends)

http://www.mskcc.org/(this is the website of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York,which is full of knowledge and specialist information)

American cancer society has a book" American cancer society's complete guide to colorectal cancer",this is really a good book,we got it from the cancer center's library.

My husband was diagnosed with stage 2A rectal cancer in May.We were very shocked and frightened at the beginning,but with time,the more I learned about cancer,and the more support I got from this discussion board,the less fear I have and the more brave I am.So far,my husband has finished the preopretive treatment(chemo 5-fu and radiation) and the surgery,they all went well.My husband had great response to preoperative treatment,his tumor got shrank by 90% before surgery.The surgery was done succfully by a very experienced surgeon,the pathology report showed the cancer was downstaged from stage2 to stage1.Now my husband is taking adjuvant chemo to make sure there is no cancer cells left over in the body.

If you have any questions or any emotional issues,you can just post your questions here, many people here are very knowledgable and experienced,they will give you answers.If you want to vent and whine,just come here,people here will give you comfort because we truly understand how you feel and we truly understand what you are getting through.Best luck and best wishes to you with the whole treatment.Take care.

Yes, I know like everyone else in here how you feel...
Also dh may have needed some alone time to get his head straight on coping with you having cancer.....Yep, its gonna suck but its very doable and it will take about a year all toll but it will speed by, trust me, it will speed by. The main obstacle through this whole ordeal with you and dh and anyone else involved will be the emotional side of it, the upsets, the sudden crappy news then the upbeat news, its a rollercoaster that no one wants to ride but there is like all rides an end to it, and it will take about a year but it will end, and most times on a great note. There have been major strides in colon cancer survival rates and do not use the internet for a study guide. You will find every answer imaginable right here in this thread by people who have experienced the very thing you are about to undertake. Lots of great stories here with great endings. You have to have a great attitude which you already seem to possess, and a willingness to take baby steps in this journey, also to be sure that what you hear is what you want , in other words you become your own advocate for your care and treatment regimen. If its not right or isn't what you want then speak up. There are also all types of medications for the pain, radiation tanning (sunburn) and the Drs will give them to you. Don't suffer for anything, and let your Drs and Oncologists know everything. It is all to benefit you and your journey through this to the other side. Take full advantage of friends that want to help for thats the only way for them to say they love you . Be ok to talk about your illness to others and be open. It always helped me to talk openly about mine. It keeps the frustration from building up. and in those moments of venting, buy you a plastic trashcan to kick around, I love that exercise...lol...most of all listen to your body, it will tell you exactly what you need.....Good Luck and we'll be here anytime you need anything.........Buzzard

Hello
Hi RNDRC,
I am also an RN with ICU background, mostly heart stuff, so a diagnosis of Stage IIIB colon cancer was brand new to me.

Just wondering if the CT scan was clear (organs other than lympy node involved)?

I would ask one of your Dr's about the tracer. It seems if the tracer does not make it to the organs it can not light up any problems that might be there. Might need to repeat this. You might know this but PET scans not the best to find little bitty issues, CT is better for that. I would also call the head of the radiology department and let them know what happened. Don't think you need to be charged for another scan if they did not do it correctly.

One thing to take heart in, if the carcinoid has not moved to other organs, and only is in one lymph node your prognosis is good. There could be the chemo thing, mine would be different than yours because I am colon not rectal cancer, but it is do-able.


You do need support right now and this is great place to get some! Everyone here is very knowledgeable and helpful, so please ask, vent, what ever you need. One thing that caught me by surprise was how frank and forthcoming everyone is but I guess we are dealing with CR issues!

Let your family know that you are still you-that has not changed. I know my family watched to see if I became someone else. They were relieved that I am still Jan (although I know there are things about me that have changed, but mostly still me)

Take care and let me/us know how it is going! Folks here really do care about you. PM me if you need, we can visit. (Heck PM anyone here and they will be there for you.)
Jan