Your biggest misconception

13»

Comments

  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #42
    Shayenne said:

    Me Too Ron!!
    ...You were always an inspiration to me, and still are, as is Kathi and Phil, you make me look forward to living with the cancer with smile on my face.

    I had the same misconception as Tina did, that I'd me bald, and skinny (though I needed to lose a few pounds at the time, but didn't want to lose it that way.) I though my kids would be watching me suffer watching me throw up blood and puke everyday, that I'd be in insufferable pain everyday, that I'd be bedridden and not able to do anything anymore.

    Now, my 15 year old even told me that if she was ever diagnosed with cancer, she wouldn't be afraid anymore, because she can see how the chemo isn't hurting or ruining my life, and I'm glad my kids are seeing that, I try to make it like it isn't the worse thing in the world, and people all around the world still have it as worse as I do, living in poverty and disease, who don't have the medicines we have, and are suffering worse then us, and she knows that too, and we are more fortunate then they are.

    But yeah, cancer isn't what I though it be.

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna

    Still the same person....
    I didn't realize how strong I could be.....and I didn't realize how my 9 siblings saw me, so much strength, kindness and so giving even in a time that most would have folded. I was in awe of them for telling me that I have been this way since I was little and that they looked up to me since the day I decided to leave home and joint the service at the age of 19 (we were so guarded and protected... I grew up in the foothills of California, way out and was bused to school, it took over an hour to get there.

    Yes, I was surprised that chemo didn't change me, that I took it a day at a time, one step in front of the other....no matter how I was feeling. (this did come from my mom who raised 9 kids by herself, and who only thought of us).
  • KelliA
    KelliA Member Posts: 6
    #43
    adamommy said:

    No Side Effects Huh?
    Holly you are truly lucky. I have heard so many horror stories about the side effects of chemo. I just got my mediport implanted yesterday and I am scheduled for my first treatment on July 19. To say the least I am scared to death not knowing what to expect. I am still recovering from my colon resection surgery which I had almost a month ago. However, I think I am freaking out more at the thought of starting chemo than I did for the surgery. With the surgery I knew what to expect afterwards but with the chemo I don't have a clue and thats whats so scary.

    God Bless You All
    ADAmommy

    Hello Ada. I know what your
    Hello Ada. I know what your going through, I got my port two weeks ago and have my first chemo treatment on July 19th too. I had my surgery on June 7th. So I feel somewhat normal. I knew what to expect with surgery but this is different. I wish you lots of luck. Remember we are all fighters and won't give in to cancer.
  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    #44
    adamommy said:

    No Side Effects Huh?
    Holly you are truly lucky. I have heard so many horror stories about the side effects of chemo. I just got my mediport implanted yesterday and I am scheduled for my first treatment on July 19. To say the least I am scared to death not knowing what to expect. I am still recovering from my colon resection surgery which I had almost a month ago. However, I think I am freaking out more at the thought of starting chemo than I did for the surgery. With the surgery I knew what to expect afterwards but with the chemo I don't have a clue and thats whats so scary.

    God Bless You All
    ADAmommy

    I am like some of the
    I am like some of the others, no real side effects, I worked all during chemo and still had a life, heck I never even had to use the anti nausea medication. I know that the fear of the unknown is the worst, but we have all been there and can hopefully set your mind at ease about what is to come. My first treatment I took someone with me and after that I realized that I could better use the time in the treatment chair for something other than keeping company. I took myelf to treatment, got a pillow and a blanket and took naps, then when it was over I took myself home. I grocery shopped with the chemo bag, went out to dinner and all that stuff. You can do it!
    Kathy
  • dorothywestin
    dorothywestin Member Posts: 7 Member
    #45
    Lifeisajourney said:

    Expectations
    So many. My mom died of breast cancer at 30, so I thought for sure I would get breast cancer, not colon cancer. Especially since I have had colonoscopies since 50. Three years between was too long. I thought I would die, I am still alive. Thought chemo was more doable, everyone else seem to make it thru, lose of hair maybe. Golly that was an experience.....Cancer has been a really confusing experience, still trying to figure it out, but glad to be surviving..Pat

    Misconceptions
    Just beginning the journey as I start chemo/radiation at Moffitt on Monday, July 19 for rectal cancer T3-N0-M0...will be taking the chemo pill called Xeloda - from what I've read and what the doctors told me, I expected the pills to be HUGE. Much relieved after seeing them. My Centrum multivitamin is twice as large! I can do this.

    The other misconception I had was the radiation table....I'm not on my back, I'm on my stomach with the head to pelvic area above my legs and feet. We did a run through on Friday and it was extremely painful for my back and pubic area. I could barely get myself on and off the table. It will only be about 10 minutes each day so I know I can endure but I truly thought I'd be comfortably laying on my back and zap, zap, in and out.
  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    #46
    dorothywestin said:

    Misconceptions
    Just beginning the journey as I start chemo/radiation at Moffitt on Monday, July 19 for rectal cancer T3-N0-M0...will be taking the chemo pill called Xeloda - from what I've read and what the doctors told me, I expected the pills to be HUGE. Much relieved after seeing them. My Centrum multivitamin is twice as large! I can do this.

    The other misconception I had was the radiation table....I'm not on my back, I'm on my stomach with the head to pelvic area above my legs and feet. We did a run through on Friday and it was extremely painful for my back and pubic area. I could barely get myself on and off the table. It will only be about 10 minutes each day so I know I can endure but I truly thought I'd be comfortably laying on my back and zap, zap, in and out.

    I know the position well!!!
    I know the position well!!! make sure you have them cover you when you get into the position and when you get up, it makes the experince with your bare butt in the ait a bit more tolerable.
    Kathy
  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    #47
    dorothywestin said:

    Misconceptions
    Just beginning the journey as I start chemo/radiation at Moffitt on Monday, July 19 for rectal cancer T3-N0-M0...will be taking the chemo pill called Xeloda - from what I've read and what the doctors told me, I expected the pills to be HUGE. Much relieved after seeing them. My Centrum multivitamin is twice as large! I can do this.

    The other misconception I had was the radiation table....I'm not on my back, I'm on my stomach with the head to pelvic area above my legs and feet. We did a run through on Friday and it was extremely painful for my back and pubic area. I could barely get myself on and off the table. It will only be about 10 minutes each day so I know I can endure but I truly thought I'd be comfortably laying on my back and zap, zap, in and out.

    I know the position well!!!
    I know the position well!!! make sure you have them cover you when you get into the position and when you get up, it makes the experince with your bare butt in the ait a bit more tolerable.
    Kathy
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #48
    khl8 said:

    I know the position well!!!
    I know the position well!!! make sure you have them cover you when you get into the position and when you get up, it makes the experince with your bare butt in the ait a bit more tolerable.
    Kathy

    Originally I was tattooed for lying on stomach but then it
    was decided to do me laying on back, so new set of markings and ultimately anothye set in front were etched in me. Watch out for loss of hair and skin burn in radiated area--tell radiologist ASAP of any problems; Aquaphor and silverdine will/might prove comforting later (or soon, depends on your reaction)...It was somewhat uncomfortable on back being that tumor was at end of **** and I'd oftentimes ask for a diaper under me, just in case.....Best of results for you......steve
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #49
    dorothywestin said:

    Misconceptions
    Just beginning the journey as I start chemo/radiation at Moffitt on Monday, July 19 for rectal cancer T3-N0-M0...will be taking the chemo pill called Xeloda - from what I've read and what the doctors told me, I expected the pills to be HUGE. Much relieved after seeing them. My Centrum multivitamin is twice as large! I can do this.

    The other misconception I had was the radiation table....I'm not on my back, I'm on my stomach with the head to pelvic area above my legs and feet. We did a run through on Friday and it was extremely painful for my back and pubic area. I could barely get myself on and off the table. It will only be about 10 minutes each day so I know I can endure but I truly thought I'd be comfortably laying on my back and zap, zap, in and out.

    Dorothy:Ask for a face pillow....
    It REALLY helped me! I, too, was belly down, in a positioning mold...there were times, I felt like a cake they were making!!! ROFL!!!

    Have you told them it's so painful? There are usually things they can do to help...my rad/oncologist was a fantastic guy...did everything he could to make it easier on me...even changed my position slightly, so that my arm with the IV pump 5FU could be supported easier during treatment...

    I'm sending good, strong vibes your way, Dorothy!!!! You CAN and WILL get thru it!! Just always be kind to yourself, you are number one right now!!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Kathryn_in_MN
    Kathryn_in_MN Member Posts: 1,252 Member
    #50
    I thought
    I thought I'd sail through everything and fight with all I had, without too much difficulty. I've always gotten through surgeries well - being much more active than other people much earlier. And I did that - I got through colon resection in record time for healing. I beat cervical cancer with perseverence - medical procedure after procedure, followed by a hysterectomy and another procedure. I won. I knew Stage IIIc, which turned out to possibly be IV, colon cancer would be a bigger fight than my early staged cervical cancer. But I didn't really know what I was in for.

    I have a very high tolerance to drugs - it always takes more for me than most people. So I thought chemo would be easier for me than others. WRONG! If it could go wrong, it went wrong for me during treatment. I had just about every side effect, and had them to extremes. Add in infections after port insertion, and port removal, pulmonary embolism, allergic reactions to oxaliplatin and 5-FU, extreme GI problems, strange syndromes, and neutropenia, and I was a mess. I pretty much lost 9 months of my life.

    BUT - I would gladly give up 9 months to have many more years!
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #51
    adamommy said:

    Please explain
    When you said you didn't make it through all 12 doses of the oxaliplatin what happened? Did you start to have a bad reaction?

    Not Rare
    to not make all 12 rounds of OXI, so dont be scared, I only made it to round 7, then had to switch to another kind. But I am NED over a year now and I am very thankful...

    Stay strong..keep your faith...

    HUGS
    Beth
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #52
    KelliA said:

    Hello Ada. I know what your
    Hello Ada. I know what your going through, I got my port two weeks ago and have my first chemo treatment on July 19th too. I had my surgery on June 7th. So I feel somewhat normal. I knew what to expect with surgery but this is different. I wish you lots of luck. Remember we are all fighters and won't give in to cancer.

    Good Luck tomorrow
    You will do great. I remember my first day at chemo July 12 2007, I sat there and cried like a baby I was so scared when I walked into the chemo room. I still get teary eyed thinking of that day, but I was lucky to have great nurses and a great Chemo staff.

    Good Luck and remember it will be over before you know it and you will be back on track with your life...God bless you..

    Beth
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #53
    KelliA said:

    Hello Ada. I know what your
    Hello Ada. I know what your going through, I got my port two weeks ago and have my first chemo treatment on July 19th too. I had my surgery on June 7th. So I feel somewhat normal. I knew what to expect with surgery but this is different. I wish you lots of luck. Remember we are all fighters and won't give in to cancer.

    Good Luck tomorrow
    You will do great. I remember my first day at chemo July 12 2007, I sat there and cried like a baby I was so scared when I walked into the chemo room. I still get teary eyed thinking of that day, but I was lucky to have great nurses and a great Chemo staff.

    Good Luck and remember it will be over before you know it and you will be back on track with your life...God bless you..

    Beth
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #54
    Kathryn_in_MN said:

    I thought
    I thought I'd sail through everything and fight with all I had, without too much difficulty. I've always gotten through surgeries well - being much more active than other people much earlier. And I did that - I got through colon resection in record time for healing. I beat cervical cancer with perseverence - medical procedure after procedure, followed by a hysterectomy and another procedure. I won. I knew Stage IIIc, which turned out to possibly be IV, colon cancer would be a bigger fight than my early staged cervical cancer. But I didn't really know what I was in for.

    I have a very high tolerance to drugs - it always takes more for me than most people. So I thought chemo would be easier for me than others. WRONG! If it could go wrong, it went wrong for me during treatment. I had just about every side effect, and had them to extremes. Add in infections after port insertion, and port removal, pulmonary embolism, allergic reactions to oxaliplatin and 5-FU, extreme GI problems, strange syndromes, and neutropenia, and I was a mess. I pretty much lost 9 months of my life.

    BUT - I would gladly give up 9 months to have many more years!

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • just4Brooks
    just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
    #55
    Dead man walking!!!
    Like most of us here on the board I thought I was a dead man walking and that my days are numberd. Well, Thet just might be true but I dont dwell on it like I thought I would. Cancer changed my life.. Only now I know how to live!! I also got to meet some really neat people.


    Love you guys
    Brooks
  • chicoturner
    chicoturner Member Posts: 282
    #56
    As I sit here tonight
    As I sit here tonight sipping my contrast for tomorrow's CT scans, I realize that I didn't know I could be as strong as I have been! I remember being scared to the point of numbness. I was dx 3/08 stage 4 cc. I am still fighting and I guess I would say I am surprised at what I have learned about myself. I feel good and yet am still on treatment. I didn't think that could happen!! I really want to encourage everyone to just keep fighting!! Jean

Discussion Boards