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skaili
skaili CSN Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I have stage iv colon cancer. 4 yrs ago I had 1/2 of my colon removed and went thru 5fu/lecov. Last Dec after a cat scan there are spots on the outside of both of my lungs. Went thru 5fu/lecov/avast/oxiplat and did great. At end of treatment my cea was 33. 3 mths later it jumped to 200. Now I'm doing 5fu/lecov/camptosar. After 1st treatment cea is at 170. Does anyone have pity parties or is it just me?
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Comments

  • kerry
    kerry CSN Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #2
    Dear skaili,

    I too have been faced with recurrant CRC. It is a jolting experience and we ALL have our pity parties. That doesn't mean we give up, we just pull up our boot straps and get back on the horse that threw us for a loop!!

    Look for that light at the end of the tunnel!! It is shining for you.

    Kerry
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  • vinny3
    vinny3 CSN Member Posts: 928 Member
    #3
    I'm glad to see that your CEA is going down after the first treatment. That is an encouraging sign. It is certainly ok to have pity parties. But then it is time to get back and slug it out with the beast.
    We will pray for continuing response to your treatment.

    ****
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  • skaili
    skaili CSN Member Posts: 2
    #4
    kerry said:

    Dear skaili,

    I too have been faced with recurrant CRC. It is a jolting experience and we ALL have our pity parties. That doesn't mean we give up, we just pull up our boot straps and get back on the horse that threw us for a loop!!

    Look for that light at the end of the tunnel!! It is shining for you.

    Kerry

    Do you receive upbeat prognosis from your dr? My dr says that to look at me and my counts you wouldn't even know that I have cancer.
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  • spongebob
    spongebob CSN Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #5
    skaili -

    Like my friends said, pity parties are ok. Just be sure to get up afterward and wrap your arms around a good attitude. Sounds like your doc is upbeat about your prognosis and that's always a good thing. Use that strength to go singe some dragon ****!

    Cheers

    - SpongeBob
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  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover CSN Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #6
    We all have "pity parties" - it goes with the territory, especially for us Stage IV survivors (remember that "survivor" word, however). Your CEA has gone down - that's good news. Best wishes for the remaining chemo cycles.

    Take care,
    Betsy
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  • kerry
    kerry CSN Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #7
    skaili said:

    Do you receive upbeat prognosis from your dr? My dr says that to look at me and my counts you wouldn't even know that I have cancer.

    skaili,

    People have said the same thing to me - "if we didn't know you had cancer, we wouldn't have guessed it".

    My doctors have alwalys been upbeat and I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't need gloom and doom while fighting a battle, I just need to focus on that light (at the end of the tunnel).

    My doctor did tell me the other day that he didn't know how long I could be on chemotherapy. He said we treat this now as a "chronic disease" and just try to keep it in it's place. I'm ok with that, as long as I can awake each morning and have another day.

    My best to you. Please let us know how you are doing.

    Kerry
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