Good news--touching base

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SandiaBuddy
SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Hi friends:

I have been off the board for a few months, but thought I would visit with some good news.

For those of you who do not know me, I had a colectomy in March 2017, 3b, and tried chemo, rejected oxilaplatin after one treatment, but did capecitabine (Xeloda) until it caused heart-attack like symptoms.  I had a CT scan about two months ago which was supposed to say if I was clear of cancer, but the results came back either that I was fine or had a new, 2.6 inch tumor in my colon, with the added statement that it could be digestive matter.  (As an aside, if you are going for your first post-surgery CT scan, I would recommend colonoscopy prep [24 hour liquid fast and laxatives].  I did just as the doctors told me, no food for four hours and 32 ounces of liquid, but apparently they cannot tell feces from a tumor, so it would be best to go with a clear colon).  I spent two months of sleepless nights figuring either I was dying fast or fine, until the insurance company finally approved a colonoscopy which came back a few days ago saying there is no tumor and I am currently free of cancer.

I have been real busy remodeling a house, which just sold, something I did to make up for some of the money I lost in medical bills.  I hope to live my life to its fullest for whatever days I have left.

My heart goes out to all those I know and do not know and their trials and triumphs on this forum.  I do not plan to visit as much as I have in the past, but when I find some interesting research or have a few mintues to spare, perhaps I will be back.

Thanks to all of you for your help and support.

SandiaBuddy

Comments

  • Ruthmomto4
    Ruthmomto4 Member Posts: 708 Member
    #2
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    I was wondering how you were!

    I am very happy to hear you are well! I hope that continues for a very long time! Glad the house flipping went well, I love that kind of stuff. Best wishes to you!!!

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #3
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    Woo hoo!

    What wonderful news. Sorry it came with a couple of months fretting, though. 

    I think you deserve our speical little man.

    image   Tru

  • plsletitrain
    plsletitrain Member Posts: 252 Member
    #4
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    Hi Sandiabuddy

    I have been wondering about you and I look forward to the informative stuff you post and will be posting.  I think we're batchmates here.  Also had colectomy and diagnosis on March 2017.  Also 3B.  Not sure if you remember me or some others but I posted for a few months here and decided to stop posting, although I visit the site everyday for anything I might learn.  I was prescribed 12 cycles of chemo but I stopped at 7.  Xeloda was fine to me but the oxaliplatin was a tough one.  My decision not to go further with chemo was not made overnight, and it wasn't because of the side-effects either (although the oxaliplatin did make me suffer for a few days). I had my reasons so I stuck to the Eastern way (TCM) and made some lifestyle change.  I'm still trying the plant-based diet but the most I mustered was 5 days no-meat.  I'm hoping I will be able to completely make a total lifestyle change so the cancer won't come back ever again.  I had my PET scan two weeks ago and I'm also cancer free.  I hope this continues for the longest time.  My advice to those who are still about to undergo chemo: be aware of the side-effects but NEVER ever let it control your mind.  I believe the power of the mind is the strongest weapon we can have to overcome this so if our mind says we're weak, then we will be weak.  But if we say we can beat this, then we can beat this.  Have faith in God (if you believe in one), have faith in yourself, and believe that you will come out of this triumphant. 

    More power to you sandiabuddy and here's to hoping we'll still bump to each other on this forum in the next 50 years! 

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #5
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    Very Good News

    That is just good news.  That two months must have been absolutely horrible.  The waiting game is something that is so hard when wondering if it came back.  I'm so glad to hear that everything was clear.  Now go and enjoy a Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year.

    Kim

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,427 Member
    #6
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    Happy To Hear

    imageimage

  • Canadian Sandy
    Canadian Sandy Member Posts: 784 Member
    edited December 2017 #7
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    Glad to hear the good news.

    Glad to hear the good news. Thanks for coming by to let us know.

  • airborne72
    airborne72 Member Posts: 296 Member
    edited December 2017 #8
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    Worth the wait, but...

    That is tremendously good and relieving news!  I wish you all the luck with your health, fortune and happiness inspite of the first two.  However, in this case it is in conjunction with those two.

    Your active presence on this list helped me through my neoadjuvant days.  For that I am appreciative.  Enjoy your newfound outook on life with a cancer-free colon.  Stay in touch.

    Jim

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #9
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    plsletitrain said:

    Hi Sandiabuddy

    I have been wondering about you and I look forward to the informative stuff you post and will be posting.  I think we're batchmates here.  Also had colectomy and diagnosis on March 2017.  Also 3B.  Not sure if you remember me or some others but I posted for a few months here and decided to stop posting, although I visit the site everyday for anything I might learn.  I was prescribed 12 cycles of chemo but I stopped at 7.  Xeloda was fine to me but the oxaliplatin was a tough one.  My decision not to go further with chemo was not made overnight, and it wasn't because of the side-effects either (although the oxaliplatin did make me suffer for a few days). I had my reasons so I stuck to the Eastern way (TCM) and made some lifestyle change.  I'm still trying the plant-based diet but the most I mustered was 5 days no-meat.  I'm hoping I will be able to completely make a total lifestyle change so the cancer won't come back ever again.  I had my PET scan two weeks ago and I'm also cancer free.  I hope this continues for the longest time.  My advice to those who are still about to undergo chemo: be aware of the side-effects but NEVER ever let it control your mind.  I believe the power of the mind is the strongest weapon we can have to overcome this so if our mind says we're weak, then we will be weak.  But if we say we can beat this, then we can beat this.  Have faith in God (if you believe in one), have faith in yourself, and believe that you will come out of this triumphant. 

    More power to you sandiabuddy and here's to hoping we'll still bump to each other on this forum in the next 50 years! 

    Hello and welcome back

    Our friend NewHere has also started TMC and may benefit from some of your information and thoughts on it.  He is battling recurrence, and any help would be appreciated. 

    Its good to see you again, and to hear your good news. Keep up the good work and stay Cancer free.

    Tru

  • Mikenh
    Mikenh Member Posts: 777
    #10
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    Sounds like a great report

    Sounds like a great report and you must be in overall good physical shape to be remodeling houses.

  • Lily Flower
    Lily Flower Member Posts: 260 Member
    #11
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    Good to hear you have been

    Good to hear you have been NED, Sandiabuddy. Thank you for all the research and great information you had provided and shared with us in the past and I hope you will drop in every now and then. Wish you all the best for all your future endeavors. Bon voyage!

  • Woodytele
    Woodytele Member Posts: 163
    #12
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    Great to hear

    Fantastic news, thanks for sharing the positivity !!

  • plsletitrain
    plsletitrain Member Posts: 252 Member
    edited December 2017 #13
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    Trubrit said:

    Hello and welcome back

    Our friend NewHere has also started TMC and may benefit from some of your information and thoughts on it.  He is battling recurrence, and any help would be appreciated. 

    Its good to see you again, and to hear your good news. Keep up the good work and stay Cancer free.

    Tru

    Hello Tru

    Thanks for your kind words.  I have read through Newhere's journey and as much as I wanted to be a wealth of knowledge like John was, I can't understand my herbalist as he is pure chinese and I don't speak Chinese.  I only rely on his prescriptions which I cannot understand.  All I have is faith.  I will tell Newhere what I went through though as a story of hope.  Thank you very much for your concern Tru, you are such a kind soul.  God bless you.

    To Newhere: I'll send you a PM.

  • lizard44
    lizard44 Member Posts: 409 Member
    #14
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    Great news

    So happy to hear the good report!

     

  • danker
    danker Member Posts: 1,276 Member
    #15
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    NED

    Great to hear.  May we all be NED forevermore!!!

  • darcher
    darcher Member Posts: 304 Member
    #16
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    NED

    That's always great to hear from a board member.  Congrats!!!

  • PamRav
    PamRav Member Posts: 348 Member
    #17
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    So glad

    to hear you are NED. May you always be so.  I appreciated all your well researched posts.  

    Dont be a stranger!!!

  • Cindy225
    Cindy225 Member Posts: 172 Member
    #18
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    Wondered Where You Were!

    Great to hear from you and all is good.  Keep the research coming when you can... 

    Cindy

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #19
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    plsletitrain said:

    Hi Sandiabuddy

    I have been wondering about you and I look forward to the informative stuff you post and will be posting.  I think we're batchmates here.  Also had colectomy and diagnosis on March 2017.  Also 3B.  Not sure if you remember me or some others but I posted for a few months here and decided to stop posting, although I visit the site everyday for anything I might learn.  I was prescribed 12 cycles of chemo but I stopped at 7.  Xeloda was fine to me but the oxaliplatin was a tough one.  My decision not to go further with chemo was not made overnight, and it wasn't because of the side-effects either (although the oxaliplatin did make me suffer for a few days). I had my reasons so I stuck to the Eastern way (TCM) and made some lifestyle change.  I'm still trying the plant-based diet but the most I mustered was 5 days no-meat.  I'm hoping I will be able to completely make a total lifestyle change so the cancer won't come back ever again.  I had my PET scan two weeks ago and I'm also cancer free.  I hope this continues for the longest time.  My advice to those who are still about to undergo chemo: be aware of the side-effects but NEVER ever let it control your mind.  I believe the power of the mind is the strongest weapon we can have to overcome this so if our mind says we're weak, then we will be weak.  But if we say we can beat this, then we can beat this.  Have faith in God (if you believe in one), have faith in yourself, and believe that you will come out of this triumphant. 

    More power to you sandiabuddy and here's to hoping we'll still bump to each other on this forum in the next 50 years! 

    Diet

    Rain: I have found the pesco-vegetarian to be a good compromise.  Studies also show it to be the healthiest, if I recall right, for avoiding recurrence.

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #20
    Options
    Thank you one and all

    Thank you one and all for your good wishes and kind comments.  I'm off to hike the Grand Canyon again this weekend, but in the new year I hope to refresh my research and may once again be annoying you with arcane research posts.  Cheers and Happy Solstice to all.

  • Mikenh
    Mikenh Member Posts: 777
    edited December 2017 #21
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    SandiaBuddy said:

    Diet

    Rain: I have found the pesco-vegetarian to be a good compromise.  Studies also show it to be the healthiest, if I recall right, for avoiding recurrence.

    Pescatarian is a longevity

    Pescatarian is a longevity diet. Veggies can cause problems with ileostomies as raw veggies don't get much processing.

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