First visit with the doc after CT scan

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daBeachBum
daBeachBum Member Posts: 164
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hey gang,

I got some more detail on my CT scan during my bi-weekly meeting with my doctor. All-in-all, it was the best I could possibly hope for.

There was a "marked improvemnt" in the size of tumor that had blocked my colon and "substantial interval improvement" for the tumors in my peritoneum (or "omental caking" as they call it). My lymph nodes have shown a small increase in size, and my CEA has been steadily dropping. The ascites is gone and there has been no spread to other organs.

For all the people who have a stage 4 prognosis dropped in their lap suddenly like I did, there is! hope. I was dying 3 months ago and today live an almost normal life. In some ways its even better, since this has strengthened the bonds I have with family, friends and my girlfriend and every day seems like I'm in the "bonus round".

Strength and love to you all...

Ray

Comments

  • rogina2336
    rogina2336 Member Posts: 188
    #2
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    Great news
    Awwwwesssssommmme!!! Good for you! :-)Kim
  • jjaj133
    jjaj133 Member Posts: 867 Member
    #3
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    rogina2336 said:

    Great news
    Awwwwesssssommmme!!! Good for you! :-)Kim

    I am so happy for you. That
    I am so happy for you. That is just wonderful news!
    Judy
  • Barb56
    Barb56 Member Posts: 20
    #4
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    Very happy for your good
    Very happy for your good news....keep the faith!
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    #5
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    Great news Ray.
    I read your
    Great news Ray.
    I read your 'about me' page. Could you tell me more about the colon stent? I've never heard of that.
    Roger
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #6
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    Glad to hear it!
    That's wonderful, Ray!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • daBeachBum
    daBeachBum Member Posts: 164
    #7
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    Crow71 said:

    Great news Ray.
    I read your
    Great news Ray.
    I read your 'about me' page. Could you tell me more about the colon stent? I've never heard of that.
    Roger

    stent
    The stent is a wire mesh cage that was inserted into my colon and expanded to open it up since a large tumor outside my intestine wall had compressed it greatly. Its like what they sometimes use after an angioplasty to keep an artery open.

    Since my colon had been blocked I was taking "spaghetti" poops at best. They were so worried about the blockage that they didn't feed me for 10 days in hospital (no even the TPN they eventually put me on), so I would always be ready for surgery once they made their minds up. They were worried my colon could rupture if they fed me and give me sepsis. Since I could barely eat without throwing up for a while before that I dropped almost 40 pounds total. It would have been more, except I was carrying a ton of ascites fluid at that point. I was getting a paracentesis about every 5 days or so.

    Afterwards I felt better, but had to use the bathroom almost constantly. I messed my bed and the floor a bunch of times and felt really low about it. Thankfully things cleared up after a few days...

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