I’m so very sorry for your loss

Just saw your post... My oncologist preferred not to commit to stage 3 or 4 (I had several enlarged iliac nodes), and instead preferred to stage me as T3N2MX (I also had some presacral changes that were not biopsied) As you know, i underwent 8 cycles of FOLFOX followed by 28 days of chemoradiation p...

I have had a permanent colostomy for 3 years (my choice, as I didn’t want to do watch and wait or deal with LARS). There is definitely an adjustment period, but I really don’t think about it much anymore. I still travel (all over the world, including remote places in Africa, South America, and India...

I had biopsy proven lymph node Mets before surgery, but after neoadjuvant folfox and chemoradiation plus targeted radiation to iliac nodes all were negative. Safest approach is to treat as if it were stage 3 based on pre op ct scan. But if the nodes responded well to pre op chemoradiation that is an...

Just to play devil’s advocate...Not every excellent/skilled/capable surgeon chooses to practice at a major teaching hospital (many choose to live and work in smaller communities for the same reasons the rest of us do)...but then again not every board-certified colorectal surgeon is equally capable. ...

My cousin (lives overseas) had peri Mets. She had HIPEC in 2013 and remains NED

We were diagnosed at about the same time and lived in the same state. She also reached out to me and was very supportive and encouraged me to be more active in advocacy. I hate this disease

I was offered watch and wait because I had a complete response to neoadjuvant FOLFOX followed by chemoradiation...but I chickened out because I wanted to minimize any chance of recurrence. I also opted out of sphincter sparing surgery because my tumor was so distal. I enjoy an excellent quality of l...

Those first few days are so hard...I had so much anxiety and couldn't ever imagine feeling normal again. But it does get easier as soon as you have a plan in place (and a care team that you trust). It is definitely worth seeking additional opinions if you have any doubts or concerns. Hang in there!

I elected to have chemo first (FOLFOX for 8 cycles) prior to having surgery when I was diagnosed in 2014. My goal was not to avoid or minimize surgery (I knew I would eject to have an APR no matter what), but rather to address the rogue cells/micrometastses ASAP. At this point I have been stable off...

My oncologist didn't check mine when I was on chemo because he said it often fluctuates a lot during treatment

I also had a very low lesion and opted for a permanent colostomy. It really doesn't slow me down at all, and I am able to travel and enjoy life. I didn't want to risk being tied to a bathroom with LARS or having to limit my diet. I use a convatec natura flange and wear a NuHope belt and can easily g...

My parents were born in Austria; my wife is German, so there is a lot of salami and other traditionally unhealthy foods eaten by my family. I, on the other hand, always strove to be healthy...a largely plant based organic diet, avoided processed meat, lots of exercise, never overweight, minimal alco...

I had a healthy diet and lifestyle before diagnosis...active, mostly plant based, never overweight...but I have taken a few steps to hopefully improve my chances if long term survival: Exercise (I try for 18,000 steps a day plus biking) Curcumin 2g daily with black pepper Celebrex 400mg every am Asp...

But how would I best be able to identify the best oncologist in my Kaisers in my area.. there are like 3 major Kaisers within 30 minutes. Do you have a primary care physician you know and trust? They will definitely have some insights about who the best local oncologist might be. And I found that t...