I received what was the standard of care for calendar 2009, the year I was diagnosed (See below). Since then I've had no recurrence, but my bowel movements have changed over the years. For the first 5+ years, I would have frequent bouts of constipation for 5 to 7 days, followed by urgent diarrhea. M...

HORRIBLE! We joined this site about the same time (2010), and although we never met, he did respond to a few of my e-mails with helpful advice. Since he was alive much longer than would be expected, I assumed he would be living a normal life span with occasional bumps in the road. I will remember hi...

Apparently patients with Stage I to Stage III cases will always survive-providing they do not progress to Stage IV. Makes me think of whether I would still be alive if I had waited awhile before going to the doctor. My Stage III tumor was large, and according to the doctor it had been around for a f...

I have periodic bouts of diarrhea followed by constipation, which is now controlled most of the time by diet, Metamucil and Imodium. The medical literature refers to this problem as LAR syndrome, which apparently is experienced by 90% of people getting a temporary ileostomy. However, my primary doct...

Congratulations. For me, it has been 7+ years. I still get occasional periods of constipation followed by diarrhea. But what the hell! Tis better to be alive with bowel problems than deceased free of problems.

Instead of putting Metamucil into liquid, I mix it into the food with each meal- about 1/2 teaspoon each time. I never have any choking or other unpleasant reaction in the years I have been doing this. I also usually drink 2+ glasses of water or tea during the day to minimize the gas. If I have loos...

This article is from today's NY Times (3/29/2017) --

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/07/heal ... unotherapy

I have been visiting this site since 2010 and, although I have been NED for awhile, I still get lingering bowel problems. It would be interesting to speak with others in a similar situation in Brooklyn (I'm at Kings Highway & Ocean Ave). The local hospitals near me* do not seem to have a relevan...

I stopped after I completed my last follow-up visit to the oncologist, who was the doctor ordering the scans.. My gastroenterologist said I should phone him 5 years after my last colonoscopy. If I have no suspicious symptoms at that time, he will recommend that I suspend colon exams. I am 70+ years,...

After 6 years of LARS which was not improving with time (contrary to medical guidance), I began to add Metamucil to all meals and snacks. This led to tremendous improvement, although it increased my gas output -- both belching and farting. To me, this was a satisfactory trade. I no longer hesitate t...

I was diagnosed 7 1/2 years ago, and last saw my oncologist a few years ago. He indicated the chance of a recurrence are remote. Apparently,there is a big difference between rectal cancer that is local vs. metastatic. Local cases are going to survive; the metastatic cases have a much more difficult ...

And happy holiday to you too. Good to see an old-time ColonCluber in good shape.

I've had a number of electrocardiograms in the 6+ years since I finished Xeloda treatment, and results are always OK. I have less energy since completing treatment, but I guess this may be due to ageing. The only residual symptom I still have, is discoloration of the skin on one foot.

Good to see a new message from you, even though the message is mixed. I don't often come across new messages from alumni who joined in the 2008-2010 period; although I noticed that BevG. is also among the respondents to your note.
Good luck.

Anti-histomines (ex:Benedryl) are effective in dealing with general itching, and Calmoseptine helped with anal itching. Both are cheap OTC drugs.