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No more chemo! Yay!

Patrusha
Posts: 488
Joined: Jun 2006
Dec 09, 2006 - 10:10 pm

Saw the oncs yesterday and gave them a chance to talk me out of stopping Folfox after only five infusions. Candidly one of the oncs said I may have received the benefit of the Chemo just in those five infusions. Balancing that with the bad stuff (esophagus problems, possible heart problems, and memory problems) and the CON side was definitely outweighing the PRO side. So I dropped out of the study I was in.

I'll still get the usual care: bloodwork every three months and colonoscopy in July, one year after my surgery. They said they'd do the CT scan in January to ease my fears about the liver "cysts" they found back in July....

An interesting thing about the CEA count one of the oncs told me, too. I told him I didn't think CEA was a good indicator for me because it was only at 1.5 before surgery and just below 1 two months later when I started chemo. He said that a lot of times people who had low CEA like me would then have much higher CEAs in metasteses, especially in the liver. I thought that was kind of interesting and thought I'd pass that along.

I get my port out next Friday! Yay!!! I was a little surprised they didn't want to keep it in for a while, "just in case," but they said the chance of possible blood clots wasn't worth leaving it in. I am not sad to see it go.

So, that's my good news. I feel good about this decision and know it is the right one for me. I'm just listening to that ", small voice" inside of me that just keeps saying, "everything is OK. Get on with your life."

So I am. Love to all.
spongebob's picture
spongebob
Posts: 2599
 Joined: Apr 2003
Dec 09, 2006 - 10:23 pm

Pat -

That's AWESOME! I am so happy for you and so glad you are listening to that inner voice. I have said it before, but I think it bears saying again; I think that innervoice is really God whispering in our ear.

Be well and, as my daughter will shout shortly i am sure, NAKED HAPPY DANCE

(don't count on me doing one personally... well, unless you have dollar bills... DOH... gonna get banned for sure now...!)
valeriec's picture
valeriec
Posts: 350
 Joined: Oct 2006
Dec 10, 2006 - 1:01 am

Well said SB, hats off to you. I, too, believe that innervoice is God whispering in our ear. We just have to be still sometimes and listen.
ValerieC
(and your right-you are probably about to be banned-lol)
Patrusha
Posts: 488
 Joined: Jun 2006
Dec 10, 2006 - 9:04 pm

I have some dollar bills, SB!!! LOL!!! The still small voice is definitely the Lord. He never shouts.. just waits for us to shut up long enough to be "heard."
scouty's picture
scouty
Posts: 1976
 Joined: Apr 2004
Dec 09, 2006 - 11:50 pm

Patrusha,

You have "killed many brain cells" debating about this for so long. YGG (you go girl), inhale, exhale and move forward with as much positive energy as you can muster.

Interesting about CEA, thanks for sharing that.

I hope you are working on your diet and other lifestyle "stuff" so the ******* cells continue to hate your bod.

Let me know if there is anything else I can do to support you.

Lisa P.
Patrusha
Posts: 488
 Joined: Jun 2006
Dec 10, 2006 - 9:06 pm

I must confess, Scouty, that my diet of late has been atrocious. I am getting back on track, slowly but surely.
KathiM's picture
KathiM
Posts: 8077
 Joined: Aug 2005
Dec 10, 2006 - 1:23 am

YEA YEA YEA YEA YEA YEA YEA!!!!!

NAKED HAPPY DANCE!!!!

I love my 'inner voice'...told me that the 4th Adriamycin was too much...Your story sounds so close to mine...and here I sit, 2 years post dx...NED!

Hugs, Kathi
KathiM's picture
KathiM
Posts: 8077
 Joined: Aug 2005
Dec 10, 2006 - 1:31 am

And, You are one of the bravest, strongest people I know...I am proud to call you 'friend'!

Hugs, Kathi
Patrusha
Posts: 488
 Joined: Jun 2006
Dec 10, 2006 - 9:07 pm

Awwww, sniff. I can't wait to get my first official dancing with NED dance card.... pehaps in January after my CT scan, eh?

ron50's picture
ron50
Posts: 1720
 Joined: Nov 2001
Dec 10, 2006 - 2:56 am

Hugs Pat:) Ron.
Patrusha
Posts: 488
 Joined: Jun 2006
Dec 10, 2006 - 9:08 pm

Hugs back atcha, Ron!

betina61's picture
betina61
Posts: 644
 Joined: Aug 2006
Dec 10, 2006 - 7:48 am

Hi Patrusha, you are not going to be anymore my chemo buddy, but you don't know how happy I am for you,enjoy your Holidays and the rest of your healthy life. lots of hugs
Patrusha
Posts: 488
 Joined: Jun 2006
Dec 10, 2006 - 9:10 pm

Hey, Betina, I'll still be your chemo buddy in spirit and I'll continue to pray for you as you keep traveling the chemo road. You have a great Christmas!
Moesimo's picture
Moesimo
Posts: 1080
 Joined: Aug 2003
Dec 10, 2006 - 9:09 am

Woohoo!!!

I didn't get all my chemo either, and I am still here and NED. It has been almost 3 1/2 years since my surgery.

Go out and celebrate,

Maureen
Patrusha
Posts: 488
 Joined: Jun 2006
Dec 10, 2006 - 9:11 pm

Now that's what I want to hear!!! I did celebrate. Hubby and I went out for breakfast and just spent some nice quiet time together. It was long overdue....
Russell05's picture
Russell05
Posts: 60
 Joined: Nov 2006
Dec 10, 2006 - 11:39 am

Great news Pat. I had not gotten all my chemo that they said I needed. But as it turned out I must have gotten enough. So far almost 2 yrs. port removed still ned. Yay again for you.

Russell

Patrusha
Posts: 488
 Joined: Jun 2006
Dec 10, 2006 - 9:13 pm

That's what I like to hear, Russ.... chemo can work even if you don't go the entire route. That is so encouraging....
goldfinch's picture
goldfinch
Posts: 737
 Joined: Oct 2003
Dec 10, 2006 - 12:51 pm

Woohoo!!! Congratulations!
Mary
Patrusha
Posts: 488
 Joined: Jun 2006
Dec 10, 2006 - 9:13 pm

Thanks, Mary. Hope you are feeling well these days!
jams67's picture
jams67
Posts: 927
 Joined: May 2006
Dec 10, 2006 - 1:51 pm

I've been and still am married for many years, almost 40! Anyway, moving forward from cancer must feel like being divorced and then thinking about dating again. You look around and wonder, "now what?" Well the music is turned up high, and NED wants to dance until your shoes fall off. Glad to hear your good news! jams
Patrusha
Posts: 488
 Joined: Jun 2006
Dec 10, 2006 - 9:15 pm

He he he! I wondered where that loud bass-thumping was coming from, jams! I'll take your advice and party.
Betsydoglover's picture
Betsydoglover
Posts: 1254
 Joined: Jul 2005
Dec 10, 2006 - 6:01 pm

Hi Pat -

I think you made a great decision. You had five treatments, you are Stage II, you are having side effects. I'll bet you have gotten the most benefit from treatments already - I'd have dropped out if I were you. SO - WOW - DONE with cancer treatment and being Stage II that means you can go on with a normal life. How wonderful!

Your CEA info is interesting and I shall remember that.

Take care, have fun, be happy and celebrate,
Betsy
Patrusha
Posts: 488
 Joined: Jun 2006
Dec 10, 2006 - 9:17 pm

Thanks, betsy! I don't know how normal my life will be (it has never been normal before!). But I'm willing to give it a shot! LOL!
nudgie's picture
nudgie
Posts: 1483
 Joined: Sep 2006
Dec 11, 2006 - 8:14 am

CONGRATS!!!!! I am happy you got good news. Keep us posted on the upcoming tests, etc.... You and I were in the same boat with Chemo treatments. I stopped mine at 6 cycles of FLOFOX.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
Patrusha
Posts: 488
 Joined: Jun 2006
Dec 11, 2006 - 7:24 pm

I'm telling you, Nudgie, it's almost like we're twins. Diagnosed same stage, same time, surgeries close together, chemo.... I think we're even married about the same number of years... 24. Wierd.
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