The Colon Club

I know we've read that many Stage III's no longer post because it's boring to keep repeating 'I'm NED' or they have survivor's guilt, but I'd like to hear from Stage III's who have been disease free since dx. )

Roll Call Please!

I'm Diane and I've been NED since Jan. 7, 2009.

Well....I'm hoping not to kinx myself since I have a CT scan in 30 minutes, but....
DX September 2004 --Stage IIIA with 2 nodes +
Started chemo Nov. 2004
Finished "reg" chemo June 2005
Surgeon considers it 5 years NED
ONC considers me 4 years NED (if I "pass" my test today).

question....when is stage III considered "cured" ? Ever? or are we in remission indefinitely until it returns (if it does)?

I'm Ann and I have been NED since May 1,2007.

It will be Two Years NED for me on Jan 30th 2010.

My husband is NED since 7/31/07.

NED since surgery - November 2007. Knock on wood. Last CT was August 2009; next one in February 2009.

Update February 2011 -

Spots showed up on lungs - CT scan February 2010
June 2010 - CT scan - improvement - next scan; 6 months
December 2010 - PET/CT and diagnostic CT - lymph node in pelvis lit up plus one in chest and spots on both lungs
January 2011 - PET/CT and diagnostic CT - lymph node in pelvis not lighting up; lymph node in chest still lighting up + spots in lungs; though not huge change from December 2010
February 2011 - VATS to right lung - 2 spots removed; 1 cancer 1 not cancer; lymph node left as a 'measure' of how effective chemo will be (lymph node is in a bad spot - will do chemo first).
If response to chemo is good, I may be a candidate for another VATS procedure or targeted radiation in the future.

Continue to live life from treatment to treatment, scan to scan.

Hi everybody ! I have been NED since January 3rd 2008

Been luckily NED since surgery as well, Aug 07.
My last scans, xrays & blood work were ok in Oct.

Tomorrow I have my appointment at Sloan and I am praying that I will be 5 years and 4 days NED from Stage IIIC.

Lori

I was diagnosed in April 2004, guess I've been NED since August 2004 (5+ yrs) when I had my surgery. I finished chemo in February 2005. On my last visit to my Onc, in August 2009, she said she didn't want to see me again until Aug. 2010; I have been seeing her every 6 mths for the past 2 years. I will be seeing my surgeon sometime next year for my colonoscopy, I did not have to see her this year, a first in 4 years as I had scopes every year for the first 4 years. I was diagnosed rectal cancer IIIC.

Lee

It will be one year NED for my husband on December 11, 2009 and we hope it stays that way!!! Next CT scan is in April, 2010.

-Nanette

I have been NED since July 2005 (surgery); CT scan In January 2010 hopefully will confirm that status!

Sue

I was diagnosed as stage IIIA in October, 2005 and have been NED since. It is still scary for me, though, whenever I need to have some type of screening.

My scenario sounds EXACTLY like SusanNore. Dx and surgery July 2005, chemo and radiation completed March 2006. Next yearly scan is Jan 2010.

Also stage IIIa and NED since July of 2008