Long Term Stage IV survival story

Options
17Bob17
17Bob17 Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
In March 1977 at age of 32 I was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer following a barium enema and subsequent surgery. I was told that no younger patient with same illness had been seen in our central Florida area to the doctors' knowledge (no prize given!). I had a 16" resection and spleenectomy and began a year-long regimen of 5FU i.v. treatments. My platelet count rebounded very quickly and soon returned to good levels. After 3 weeks at home I resumed working as a real estate agent. At first I limited my physical activity but within 2 months, complete with a nice scar I was essentially back to normal. I continued to have good blood workups during the year of chemo. The 5FU (given in top of hand) was always hurtful but I usually felt ok with 3 hours or so after procedure. At end of the year my physicians suggested I continue for another year on the 5FU as "sort of fire insurance." I declined as it was important to me to continue with work which was doing well. I had been married for 9 years at the time and we were raising 2 kids. By the 18-month mark my wife and I decided we want to build a new home and we began making plans. We moved into a lakefront brick home with pool in December 1979. There is much more to my story but for sake of space I can say it has now been 32 years, 9 months, many barium exams and a half-dozen colonoscopies later I am fine. My last colonoscopy was Oct. 30, '09. I have had one benign polyp in all these years. I know I am a fortunate soul. I now have lived nearly as long post Stage IV as prior to it(almost 33 years). I think it's important to know that good luck can indeed occur. FYI-I don't minimize the importance of support groups, blogs, chatrooms, etc. for some people but I never wanted or needed that; "life" was motivation enough. To me a great wife and 2 small kids who needed me to earn a living left little time to worry. I just decided not to look back, have regular medical checkups and work hard on diet. I consider myself to be an expert on the consumption of whole grains and fiber. I always considered all the natural stuff I eat as little scrapers going through me, keeping all intestinal bad guys moving smartly along. Yeah I know, a little silly but something has worked. One more thing - I became a feces watcher long ago and I never flush without a look. Good luck and good health to anybody diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer.
«1

Comments

  • Kathryn_in_MN
    Kathryn_in_MN Member Posts: 1,252 Member
    Options
    Congratulations!
    Congrats and thank you for sharing your story. It is people like you that give hope to others still battling this monster.
  • luv3jay
    luv3jay Member Posts: 533 Member
    Options
    Thank you, Bob!
    What a great story!

    -Sheri
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    Options
    Congratulations
    G'day Bob,
    Great story mate. I understand your feelings about the different needs of survivors. Not everyone needs to go on boards like this and vent their feelings ,get help or just a cyber-hug when feeling down.
    I do believe that the folks on this board need to hear stories like yours. I don't think you can put a value on HOPE. It is the great unknown in cancer treatment and I believe is greatly undervalued by the medical profession. So is the active support of a loving family. Fortunately I didn't need that because I did not get much but that was ok because I actually knew the cancer would not get me(can't explain it but true} . In jan I will be 12 years clear of st3 into 6 lymph nodes like you I worked on ,life as normal,same 5fu in the back of the hand each week for a year plus levamisole. I was a little older at 48 at dx and now I am having quite a lot of auto-immune problems that they suspect are due to the cancer and chemo. But I still work every day and life goes on. I am glad you got to be there for your wife and family and wish you the best for the future,Ron.
  • jmaddox915
    jmaddox915 Member Posts: 80 Member
    Options
    Thank you so much for
    Thank you so much for posting this today. It certainly boosts my spirit and gives more hope.

    I trust in God and I claim his healing every night. I plan to post here many years from now with a similar testimony.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    Options
    Merry Christmas!
    Thank you for sharing your story!
  • ganders2
    ganders2 Member Posts: 13
    Options
    Long Term Stage IV survival story
    Bob,
    Thanks for sharing your inspirational story - I have been feeling pretty down about all this today, and reading your story is a much-needed boost.
    Thanks so much!
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    Options
    ganders2 said:

    Long Term Stage IV survival story
    Bob,
    Thanks for sharing your inspirational story - I have been feeling pretty down about all this today, and reading your story is a much-needed boost.
    Thanks so much!

    Thank you
    Thank you so much for posting. This is a great sight to give hope to all. We're not all so fortunate to have great results and I find that being here for the new cancer patients, is my way of giving back for the good fortune that has come my way. I can still remember the feeling of being alone in this journey and not knowing where to turn for answers. I thank you all.

    I hope to continue with great results, and I thank you for sharing.
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    Options
    Nana b said:

    Thank you
    Thank you so much for posting. This is a great sight to give hope to all. We're not all so fortunate to have great results and I find that being here for the new cancer patients, is my way of giving back for the good fortune that has come my way. I can still remember the feeling of being alone in this journey and not knowing where to turn for answers. I thank you all.

    I hope to continue with great results, and I thank you for sharing.

    WoW!
    32 years??? Bob, it's stories like yours that keeps me going. I try thinking the cancer won't get me, and keep that attitude as well, to keep on going, no matter what. I hope to be able to have something done to my liver, though, which would make me feel like I'm doing something more to battle it with then just chemo.

    Thanks for sharing you story, it's lovely that you're around still to tell it, and it made me smile tonight!

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • JDuke
    JDuke Member Posts: 438
    Options
    Shayenne said:

    WoW!
    32 years??? Bob, it's stories like yours that keeps me going. I try thinking the cancer won't get me, and keep that attitude as well, to keep on going, no matter what. I hope to be able to have something done to my liver, though, which would make me feel like I'm doing something more to battle it with then just chemo.

    Thanks for sharing you story, it's lovely that you're around still to tell it, and it made me smile tonight!

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna

    Thanks
    What an encouragement your story is. It gives us all hope and that is priceless. I am a central Floridian as well. Thanks for sharing and congratulations on "living life".
    Warmly,
    Joanne
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    Options
    Wow!
    Your story is very inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

    I did have one question, though. You said you didn't need support groups. How did you happen to find us now? Glad you're here!

    And by the way, I'm a poop watcher, too!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • krf
    krf Member Posts: 98
    Options
    Hi Bob- Thank you so much!
    Hi Bob- Thank you so much! My husband is 38 and was dx as stage IV in July. I am so ahppy to read your story and so hopeful for at least that many years with him!
    Kim
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    Options
    There's plenty of space!
    "There is much more to my story but for sake of space I can say it has now been 32 years, 9 months, many barium exams and a half-dozen colonoscopies later I am fine."

    I'm sure people would love to hear more about your amazing story of how you beat Stage IV colon cancer way back in the 70's. I'm sure there is a lot that could be of interest to us. Maybe there are some tricks we can use to help us!
    -p
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    Options
    Thanks so much for sharing
    Thanks so much for sharing such an inspiring story! I especially apprecate you doing it for all the people who are deep in this fight - it gives everyone hope!
  • 17Bob17
    17Bob17 Member Posts: 3
    Options
    tootsie1 said:

    Wow!
    Your story is very inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

    I did have one question, though. You said you didn't need support groups. How did you happen to find us now? Glad you're here!

    And by the way, I'm a poop watcher, too!

    *hugs*
    Gail

    You asked why I got involved in this site. I guess the Christmas spirit moved me as I looked forward to my son coming in from D.C. and my daughter and her family visiting for a big Christmas eve celebration. While I don't dwell deeply on my survival there are certainly moments when I feel especially fortunate. I think it was during a time like that when I entered my story. I thought perhaps my survival might help others who were looking for a little "chin up." The replies I first read today validate my thoughts. Who knows why I'm still here and who knows why I accessed this site in the first place? I have a very good feeling right now - I am glad this was positive.
  • This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Sandi1
    Sandi1 Member Posts: 277
    Options
    Thank you
    Congratulations and Thank you for posting such an inspirational story. I will have to let my husband read it as he was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in 2008. We have had a few bumps along the way, but now we have settled into it and are learning to enjoy life the way it is and not to take anything for granted.

    Good luck to you in your future and stay cancer free

    Sandi
  • karafranny
    karafranny Member Posts: 14
    Options
    thanx for sharing your
    thanx for sharing your amazing story. it gives me hope as i battle stage 4 colon cancer. i still have 5 more chemo tx to get through. it's been a long road but i try to remain hopeful. thank you again!!!!
  • Fb489
    Fb489 Member Posts: 69
    Options
    HI
    WoW god is smiling down at you.
    My husband is stage four with mets to his liver.
    They want him to do 5fu for 48 hours straight.
    When you were getting the 5FU how many hours was it given to you?
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    Options
    Fb489 said:

    HI
    WoW god is smiling down at you.
    My husband is stage four with mets to his liver.
    They want him to do 5fu for 48 hours straight.
    When you were getting the 5FU how many hours was it given to you?

    when I went home with the pump, Fb489
    I had 46 hours worth of stuff in there, 2 cm per hour....Steve
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    Options
    17Bob17 said:

    You asked why I got involved in this site. I guess the Christmas spirit moved me as I looked forward to my son coming in from D.C. and my daughter and her family visiting for a big Christmas eve celebration. While I don't dwell deeply on my survival there are certainly moments when I feel especially fortunate. I think it was during a time like that when I entered my story. I thought perhaps my survival might help others who were looking for a little "chin up." The replies I first read today validate my thoughts. Who knows why I'm still here and who knows why I accessed this site in the first place? I have a very good feeling right now - I am glad this was positive.

    Thank you so much
    You were right, your post will for sure brighten someones day and their hopes. I am very happy for you, and I sure hope you had the best of holidays with your family.

    God Bless you and your family
    Beth