Good Rectal Cancer Survivor Stories??
I am doing really well..about 3 months post treatment. Getting back into exercise, eating well. Went away last weekend to a really neat lake in the north cascades here in washington to beat the heat.
I read here often....and want to try to post more especially to new folks just starting treatment. You will get through this and come out nearly as good as new...maybe better than new in many respects.
I still struggle though with worrying about recurrence especially since I was likely stage III and had rectal cancer. I have heard that rectal cancer patients have a somewhat worse prognosis than colon cancer.
I would like to hear survivor stories of any stage III rectal cancer patients. Anyone out there lurking? ... I know many who are doing well may move on from active participation...but maybe there are some still here.
Thanks - Be Well : )
Maria
Comments
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Well, I was first dx with stage III rectal...but I am NOT young...51 on 7/29 (Saturday). AND it was squamous cell...so even more wierd!
BUT I am OFFICIALLY NED on BOTH the rectal and the breast as of 7/12 (actually, the rectal was over 5/05 with the no carcinoma found paths from the resection).
I'm fit, feisty, and fifty (one) (hehehehehehe).
No lingering side effects AT ALL...except for this 12 inch 'zipper' on my tummy, and a bright blue 'pool' on my left breast from the bc....
I have a wonderful feeling of joy that is pretty constant. No reason other than being alive to cause it....
I met many grand people, learned some valuable lessons, and am getting on with a life that doesn't involved doctor visits, IV's, etc...
Should the beast want round #3...I will VANQUISH it AGAIN!!!!! (But I would like to rest awhile beside this quiet stream...ahhhh)
Hugs, kathi0 -
Hi Maria,
It sounds like you are doing great!!!! I am happy for you and also proud of you.
You know my story (I was 49 at my stage IV Dx). Lisa Rose and Stacy were younger then I was but I will let them tell you their stories.
I think I also remember you are diabetic, right????? If that is the case, I would work on that bigtime if you are type 2. Alkalining your diet/body really can keep the cancer cells at bay, diabetes and cancer love an internal acidic environment.
Lisa P.0 -
Hi Maria!
I can't help you with a good Stage 3 story, but I can sure as heck give you a great Stage 4 survival story!
I was diagnosed at age 33. Will be 5 years clear this Oct, 2006. Mine spread to my liver...like THAT is surprising! lol
I've been hanging out on this site for over 3 yrs now, and found this place after I was done with my treatments and surgeries. I come here to show everyone that there are HAPPY ENDINGS! (yeah, that is a little play on words!) I have met SO many heroes here....scouty, Lisa Rose, Emily (2bhealed), Kerry, Kay, bud, Ross,SpongeBob, Judith, Mike, Kathi, (let's not forget Andrea, fitlisa, grandma047, pattieb, Scott, who are in a special survivor class of their own...) and so many others that I am probably forgetting for the moment.
I recently had the chance to help someone newly diagnosed. Cancer is like getting a new car (bear with me...); before you got it, you never saw anyone with it....now, they're coming out of the woodwork! This guy whose mom was just diagnosed was in awe at my story. I just said, "Aw, heck, it was just cancer, no big deal." Cancer has empowered me, as stupid as that sounds. I don't sweat the small stuff, and I don't take life too seriously.
Congrats on your success, Maria!
Stacy0 -
Hey Kathi!KathiM said:Well, I was first dx with stage III rectal...but I am NOT young...51 on 7/29 (Saturday). AND it was squamous cell...so even more wierd!
BUT I am OFFICIALLY NED on BOTH the rectal and the breast as of 7/12 (actually, the rectal was over 5/05 with the no carcinoma found paths from the resection).
I'm fit, feisty, and fifty (one) (hehehehehehe).
No lingering side effects AT ALL...except for this 12 inch 'zipper' on my tummy, and a bright blue 'pool' on my left breast from the bc....
I have a wonderful feeling of joy that is pretty constant. No reason other than being alive to cause it....
I met many grand people, learned some valuable lessons, and am getting on with a life that doesn't involved doctor visits, IV's, etc...
Should the beast want round #3...I will VANQUISH it AGAIN!!!!! (But I would like to rest awhile beside this quiet stream...ahhhh)
Hugs, kathi
Just had to comment here. My bday is on July 29th too. I'll be 50!! Happy bday!
Sorry Maria...I'm stage 4 too. I'm survivng, but still not NED. Undergoing a 4th attempt at treatment. Hopefully some day. Three years so far.
Mary0 -
I was stage 3 diagnosed on 3/17/03. I was 46. It has been a rough ride, but I am doing great now. I am a radiology nurse and sometimes share my story, especially with someone newly diagnosed with cancer. They can't believe it because they say I look so good. My life is pretty much back to as normal as I can get it, colostomy and all.
I remember being so afraid that the cancer would come back. I went to the Lance Armstrong survivor clinic at Dana Farber. I was told the fears are normal. I try not to think about it as much. I have survivor guilt sometimes. But nobody knows the answer to why me and not somebody else.
I am very busy right now. My daughter is getting married in less than a month.
You will get through this. And what you feel is normal.
I will be 50 in Jan. I now say bring on those birthdays.
Maureen0 -
Happ Birthday Mary!!!!!goldfinch said:Hey Kathi!
Just had to comment here. My bday is on July 29th too. I'll be 50!! Happy bday!
Sorry Maria...I'm stage 4 too. I'm survivng, but still not NED. Undergoing a 4th attempt at treatment. Hopefully some day. Three years so far.
Mary
Wow! Half a century old!!!!!! I went to the beach to celebrate my 50th....still in treatment then....a little wobbly.
BUT now I'm throwing myself a BIG party...inviting all the people that helped me thru, as well as my computer clients (I'm a computer consultant).
You know, the first 50 were REALLY hard work...this next 50 is going to be play, play, play! I give this same outcome as a birthday present to you, Mary!
Happy birthday to another Leo (our egos are, according to one source, as big as the all outdoors!)
Hugs, kathi0 -
Hi there, Hearing survivor stories is the best therapy anyone can have! My mom (age 58) was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer in March 2004 she just celebrated her 2 year anniversary cancer free and she is doing great! She is actually touring Italy right now! She is happy and healthy and puts the thought of a reoccurrence on the back burner. Its hard but every month that passes it gets better. Good Luck to you!Moesimo said:I was stage 3 diagnosed on 3/17/03. I was 46. It has been a rough ride, but I am doing great now. I am a radiology nurse and sometimes share my story, especially with someone newly diagnosed with cancer. They can't believe it because they say I look so good. My life is pretty much back to as normal as I can get it, colostomy and all.
I remember being so afraid that the cancer would come back. I went to the Lance Armstrong survivor clinic at Dana Farber. I was told the fears are normal. I try not to think about it as much. I have survivor guilt sometimes. But nobody knows the answer to why me and not somebody else.
I am very busy right now. My daughter is getting married in less than a month.
You will get through this. And what you feel is normal.
I will be 50 in Jan. I now say bring on those birthdays.
Maureen
Julie0 -
Hi Maria, stage 2 here and in Feb. 07 WILL BE NED 3 years out from the end of my chemo.I had the descending and sigmoid removed.I just wanted to tell you that things do get easier but I think it is only natural that we all worry about a re-occurance. I have a scope coming up next wednesday and there is no getting away from the fact that it is on my mind....such is the nature of ongoing testing.I am sure Jen is also a little on edge too but she does not show it...typical Jen...a carer who "rocks".I think that we all come to realise that our lives have changed forever. I quote Emily...."don't sweat the small stuff". Look after yourself and "believe" that things will turn out well.littlejulie said:Hi there, Hearing survivor stories is the best therapy anyone can have! My mom (age 58) was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer in March 2004 she just celebrated her 2 year anniversary cancer free and she is doing great! She is actually touring Italy right now! She is happy and healthy and puts the thought of a reoccurrence on the back burner. Its hard but every month that passes it gets better. Good Luck to you!
Julie
Ross n Jen
ps....struth....its hard to believe I have been coming here since 2003!And it is all the wonderfull friends on here that helped to keep me from losing it!0 -
I guess you have to define "survivor"...I'm 70, dx'd 10/2000, mesorectal excision w/colostomy, chemo, rads, other experimental stuff, stage IV-(mets to lungs)since 12/2003. The beast is still growing, but I'm still here..go figure. You will worry about recurrence the rest of your life; I'd take the Cable Guy's advice..."Get it Done"..or something like that. Live like your are dying-we all are..some just don't realize it. Bud0
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hey guys Happy Birthday!!KathiM said:Happ Birthday Mary!!!!!
Wow! Half a century old!!!!!! I went to the beach to celebrate my 50th....still in treatment then....a little wobbly.
BUT now I'm throwing myself a BIG party...inviting all the people that helped me thru, as well as my computer clients (I'm a computer consultant).
You know, the first 50 were REALLY hard work...this next 50 is going to be play, play, play! I give this same outcome as a birthday present to you, Mary!
Happy birthday to another Leo (our egos are, according to one source, as big as the all outdoors!)
Hugs, kathi
I'll be 35 on Sunday (the 30th)...Weee : )0 -
Hi Lisa, yes I know your story! I hope you don't mind that I mention you to people as a testimony of diet change. You are a huge inspiration for me to eat well and juice.scouty said:Hi Maria,
It sounds like you are doing great!!!! I am happy for you and also proud of you.
You know my story (I was 49 at my stage IV Dx). Lisa Rose and Stacy were younger then I was but I will let them tell you their stories.
I think I also remember you are diabetic, right????? If that is the case, I would work on that bigtime if you are type 2. Alkalining your diet/body really can keep the cancer cells at bay, diabetes and cancer love an internal acidic environment.
Lisa P.
By the way, I'm not a diabetic. I was drinking Glucerna (a Boost like nutrition drink for diabetics) last fall after my rectal resection. I had adhesionsand bowel obstruction and couldn't telerate solids. i was drinking glucerna because I hoped it wouldn't raise my blood sugar as much as Boost and feed the cancer. I should have been making my own shakes....but wasn't motivatged at the time. Anyway thats the long story..
Thanks so much for the insiparation!
Maria0 -
Hi Maria,
I am late but I just read your post today. I was dx stage 1 rectal adenocarcinoma in January 2002. I had a resection ion February 24th 2002 and so far NED since the resection. They tell me now that it is very unlikely to reoccur so they are now watching for signs that it may have spread (not that that is likely, just more likely than reoccurence).
Pretty good so far.
Taunya0 -
May Aunt had rectal cancer
May Aunt had rectal cancer Stage 3 at 77 or 78 they did surgery and gave her a colostomy bag and chemo treatments. She made them reverse her ostmy even though they told her it proably wouldn't work but it worked fine and she died of other causes at age 87.
0
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