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Denise1966
Denise1966 Member Posts: 90
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I know I'm going to become a pain in the rear for everyone real soon. But, until I get my biopsy results and my plan of attack, all I can do is think of questions to ask. Can anyone share with me what their early symptoms were? Like bowel movements, abdominal pain, bleeding, etc. For some reason, I find comfort in reading your posts and asswers. The past couple days since my colonoscopy, I don't have the diarrhea anymore, or bleeding or pain. I know I'm not miracally cured just trying to figure out if this is normal or if it is the prevacid that I'm taking. Thanks in advance for your replies.

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  • nudgie
    nudgie Member Posts: 1,478 Member
    #2
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    My History: I was 43 yrs old and DX with Stage II colon cancer with no lymph node involvement or signs of spreading in July 06. Emergency surgery on 10 July 06, started the FLOFOX Chemo Regime which includes Leucovorin (sp), Oxyplatian and 5FU. Finished in Nov 06. Had my colon resection surgery in Feb 07.

    Early Symptons: As far back as I can remember, I had always had constipation issues, but never really paid much attention. I was always physically active with weight lifting and running. Would only eat, on average, one good meal a day and drink way too much coffee and not enough water.

    Used lacatives all the time, but again never thought too much of it, until I began have abdominal pain, fullness feeling and bloating. These were my only symptoms.

    My tumor totally obstructed by colon, so my colon was really stretched to the point where it caused all my symptoms.

    Recommendations: Make sure you take control of your health and treatment. Don't always rely on the doctors. Ask any question and as many questions you feel necessary. NEVER feel intimidated by the doctors or a question. Get copies of all your reports, tests, etc and keep for your records. I have a 5" binder full of papers.

    Treatment: This all depends on the stage of the cancer, your health, age, and doctor. Again, I was DX w/Stage II and still did chemo, because my Onc Doc stated that according to his Stats and the Industry and new reports, that giving chemo to Stage II patients does help, but years ago, Stage II patients did not receive chemo.

    It was not an easy decision to make, but it all came down to talking with my family and an old saying my father used to tell me, damn'd if you do and damn'd if you don't. Also, there is always a chance if micro-cancer cells floating some where in body if you DX with cancer, so that again was a 50/50 if I do or don't.

    We are here to help, listen and support you in anyway we can. Don't every feel as you are nagging, whining or bothering anyone on this board.

    We are ONE LARGE FAMILY here :)
  • claud1951
    claud1951 Member Posts: 424 Member
    #3
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    Hello Denise and welcome.

    It's scary I know.

    Here is my story:

    I was crunching ice all the time, which I never liked to do. Found out this was a sign of anemia.
    Told Doc about it. He wanted to see if I was bleeding anywhere so first step was colonoscopy.

    11/2006..No bleeding but found a small tumor. Stage 3, 2 lymph nodes out of 28.

    I had no other signs at all. No problems going or in family history.

    Had surgery to remove 12" of colon (ascending colon on the right side with appendix), and I got through the surgery just fine! Sure it hurt for a few days but did what they said to do , Get up and move around.

    My bowels are pretty much back to normal.

    Chemo for 6 months. I'm done with chemo for 4 months and getting back to feeling much better.

    Actually, two weeks ago I could exercise the way I used to 1 1/2 years ago. I even broke a sweat!!
    That how I judge getting back to normal Ha!!!

    Just keep a piece of paper and pen with you all the time and write down questions to ask doctor.

    I'm really big on saving your energy for moving forward. You lose alot of energy when you fret (but that's normal as well, worring). Just try to "breath" and hope your answers will come soon.

    Let us know when you get your answers.

    Best of luck to you
    Claudia
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #4
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    I was diagnosed this past Nov. Stage I. Had a resection. I've had IBS for years and always had constipation, so that particular symptom didn't phase me. I did some slight bleeding, but attributed it to hemmorhoids. In the couple of months prior to diagnosis, I sometimes had fairly tough stomach pains, but again I thought it was the IBS. I also had some times when I would be at work and would get pretty dizzy. I was very tired, which was anemia, but figured it was my poor sleeping habits. The day I went to the hospital, I again had symptoms of feeling like I needed to have a bowel movement, but little or nothing was produced (that had been happening fairly often). Then I felt like I was going to have diarrhea. Went to the bathroom and produced a gush of blood and blood clots. Scary!!!! My body was trying to tell me all along, but I must be a slow learner. Now I worry if I have a twinge. Gotta find a happy medium!
  • Starleen
    Starleen Member Posts: 40 Member
    #5
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    I had had a baby the year before, so I thought my bleeding was 'roids and my constipation was just stress or diet. It just didn't seem like all the poop was coming out, and the shape was weird. Skinny, like it had to move around something big. Then the pain came. And more blood. It was horrific. I was sure I had a fissure or something like that. I went to my gp and he sent me to a gi, who said I had significant symptoms and did a colonoscopy right away. There was a 6 cm tumor. He said right then that it looked like cancer. He sent me to a colorectal surgeon even before he got the results back confirming the cancer. The colorectal took a big look inside and said he knew it, too. I knew I wasn't getting out of this. He even told me that due to its size, he thinks it went through the colon wall a little. He went through what we were going to do, gave me names of oncologists, and away I went. I got confirmation the next day, as well as getting measurements for radiation. The day after that, I was having surgery to install a port in my chest for chemo. The day after that I was getting chemo and radiation. I did that for six weeks, took a month off, and had surgery. He was right. Stage III. He took a foot of colon and the upper rectum, fashioned a new rectum, took 24 lymph nodes, one positive. After I healed, I did six months of Folfox. I finished two weeks ago. Hopefully if you have to do chemo you'll just have to do 5-FU, there aren't very many side effects with that. The radiation was tough. At first it's just humiliating--they lay you out with your bare butt sticking up. You don't feel it. After a couple of weeks, though, you start feeling the effects. You'll feel really tired. It hurts to poop. Bad. You've been burnt to a crisp inside, and also the tumor is dying and sloughing off. Stay on top of the pain and do not be shy about taking pain meds. They'll break out the big guns to keep you comfortable, so don't be freaked out when you come home with a gigantic rx for oxycontin, vicodin, etc. Take it! They help so much. They will also make sure your mental state is ok--you can't fight if you're depressed. You're oncologists will be your primary doctors and they will want to know everything that is going on with you to keep you in fighting shape. Hopefully you have a job that will allow you the flexibility to take it easy and take the time you need. You need to keep living as normally as possible. The law allows you twelve weeks of unpaid leave, but your employer also has to be understanding that you're going through something major. A good option, if you can do it, is to work at home. Stay vital, stay positive, see this as a bump in the road. Before you know it, it will be a memory, and you will be helping the next cancer newbie through your experience.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #6
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    Low back pain. Loose bowels. The final straw was when, on a Sunday night, I passed blood. 2 inch tumor in the rectum...bowel resection removed my rectum and sigmoid colon. J-pouch proceedure that made a 'new' rectum (this is my storage..lol) out of my descending colon. Almost 3 years post-treatment, still NED...
    This will be a process. Not a quick fix. But, yes, it could be that in removing that suspicious polyp during your scope, it fixed the symptoms. Now only the pathology will determine your next step....
    We are here if and when you need us...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member
    #7
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    I had no symptoms and was stage iv.
    Jo Ann
  • Denise1966
    Denise1966 Member Posts: 90
    #8
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    jams67 said:

    I had no symptoms and was stage iv.
    Jo Ann

    Thanks for sharing all your stories with me. I really can't believe how much better it feels to know that I'm not alone in this.(Not that I wish it on anyone else).
  • llb1601
    llb1601 Member Posts: 8
    #9
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    Hi Denise,

    I replied to another of your messages but here's my story.

    In September of 07 I noticed my bowel movements were thinner than usual. I thought it was because I was eating so much chocolate. I stopped eating chocolate but the bms were still thin, so I made a long overdue appointment for a colonoscopy. I am 59 and should have had one 9 years ago. Long story short, I saw the gastro doc on Oct. 30, had the colonoscopy on 11/16 and a tumor was found along with another polyp. If I had been more aware of the warning signs, I would have had the colonoscopy in September. I don't know if waiting from September until 12/11/07 to have the surgery had any effects on the tumor and will never know. Stage 111 due to 2 lymph nodes out of 16 having cancer cells. I am now a strong voice to anyone who will listen to get a colonoscopy at age 50 or before if there are any symptoms at all.

    Good Luck tomorrow.

    llb

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