I think it just depends on each individual. Some folks have to try chemo first to try and shrink tumors to make surgery a more viable option. I'm following the same course of treatment as you. I have surgery tomorrow. Chemo to follow if needed. I would want a port. It really does make giving infusio...

I will go against the grain and say it's okay if your mom wants to have here surgery done by her general surgeon. The most important thing is that she sees a doctor she is comfortable with. My own colorectal surgeon who is a leading surgeon in this country has told me it's not a complicated surgery ...

((hugs)) I just posted a pity party myself yesterday. It feels good to get it out. I'm still very early in my journey. I haven't yet had my resection. I try to stay busy. The last week has been particularly bad. I came home from thailand for treatment. It was easy to stay busy with the novelty of be...

I'm in Ohio but I would do it if I was near you. I am 31 and it was shocking to me to get it so young. I hope you find a couple of people. What a good message and it's great that your local news channel is willing to do a story on it.

Warning. Whining coming. I just need to vent about how bad my day has been. I try not to burden my husband too much because he has to live this nightmare with me and I do try to keep things as normal as possible for my 6 year old. But today blew. I've had alot of pain and diarrhea. I had to take vic...

I really can't advise on treatment options as I am still very early in my own journey and haven't done much research. As for the oxycodone and pain management I can share my experiences as a nurse as pain management is very important. Do take as much as you need. You do not become addicted to pain m...

Ivona - My iron supplement is called ferli 6. It contains ferrous fumerate, folic acid, and a vit b of some sort. I had to google all the different drugs seperate as the exact info on this particular supplement was all in thai. Information I gathered seems to suggest that the ferrous fumerate is eas...

In my opinion, no. I wouldn't think that one day of heavy bleeding would cause anemia. I've had heavy periods my whole life and I've never been anemic until I got the cancer. I don't know if losing part of your colon affects the body's ability to absorb iron. How much iron are you getting in your di...

I have learned from my oncologist that anemia is a classic sign of right sided colon cancers so it appears to be the cancer. I did feel terrible when I was hospitalized. I felt like I was dying. The transfusions were amazing. It's incredible how good you can feel so fast when you hgb goes from 5 to ...

I have been dealing with anemia for a year. It was the first sign of my cancer. This past summer I was hospitalized with a hgb of 5 and given 4 transfusions. At that time they could find no measureable ferritan in my blood. My level was 0. The hematologists tell me it can take up to two years to bui...

Thanks Terry. I have braces so I wouldn't be chewing gum anyway. And I am a nurse too so I do understand the importance of walking in recovery. I am going to try my best to be a good patient. Although I am a nurse, abdominal surgery is not my specialty. I spoke with the surgeon's nurse today so I ha...

I have not researched fully the chemo options in thailand. Bangkok has a certain first class hospital that is well renowned throughout south east asia. Flying to singapore is a possibility though as airfare is very cheap and it's a short flight. I just had really hoped it wouldn't come down to chemo...

Thanks for the personal experiences. It helps to hear that others have made it through okay. I hope to fly home a month after surgery. My husband's company is paying for first class tickets so hopefully it will be tolerable for me. The seats turn into beds so to speak so I can lay down and rest. I c...

Hello again! I have some more questions. I appreciate all the help I've gotten in my previous posts. Just a quick update. I did go to OSU and meet with a Dr Martin and I am pleased with him. I am enrolled in a study using some sort of ultrasound probe during surgery. I am scheduled for my right hemi...

I have an appointment on March 2 with Dr Martin at OSU. I am happy to hear that someone else has had such a positive experience with him. My husband googled him and he seems to very well liked and very experienced. This is my second opinion as I do have one from the thai doctors. Although I take wha...