Hi Everyone,
My name is Chet Meeks. I am 32 years old. A few months ago, I discovered a lump in my lower-right abdomen. I figured it was just a "cyst." My Mom joked that maybe I was one of those people who had absorbed a twin while I was in the womb.
I went in on September 23 to have the lump removed. A CT Scan had revealed that it was in the caecum. My doctor thought it was a case of low-grade appendicitus. No body thought it could be cancer because I'm 32, have no history of any cancer at all in my family, and have always eaten a low-fat, no-red-meat, organic-veggie-heavy diet.
So we were all surprised to discover that the thing in my caecum was a tennis-ball sized mucinous adenocarcinoma, that I had tumor involvement in 6/11 lymph nodes, and that I have stage IIIc colon cancer.
The good news is that a subsequent CT Scan revealed no mets in my lungs, liver, or kidneys. So as far as new mets I'm out of the woods so far. The bad news is that I will be undergoing 6 months of chemo, either Folfox4 or Folfox6 (depending on whether or not I get into a trial). I may or may not take Avastin (any thoughts on this here?). I had my mediport put in last Friday and am still quite sore from it, but getting by. The bandage is still on and I'm afraid to take it off and look at it.
I have always been a winner in my life. I got my PhD when I was 30. I am a college professor. I was in the middle of completing my first book when this hapened. I'm competetive and in good physical shape. But now I feel helpless and afraid (even though I'm trying to stay positive). I came on here because I was hoping to meet others like myself. When I read about the courage that people on this board have, dealing with something like this at such young ages, it really gives me hope. It also makes me sad and angry. I hope that some of you will write to me and share your experiences with me.
I begin Chemo the first week in November.
I hope I'll hear from some of you. Thank you for having this forum and thanks to all of you for your courage.
Chet