mhalpin12 wrote:Hello, this is my first time posting to the board ... I understand that staging is extremely important. When is that done? With the biopsy, or only after surgery is done and the tumour removed? Is there any way to tell the stage at this point? Also, is that CT scan completely reliable as far as telling if the cancer has spread? What other tests can/should be done? Thank you so much for any information you can give. I'm deeply grateful... Michelle H.
mhalpin12 wrote:Questions:
-I checked my labs and saw that a CEA was done. Result was 1.9, with positive being over 5. What exactly does this mean? Is this is a good indicator of anything?
-Lab work showed INR Value as low: .98 where low normal starts at 2.0 . What is this test and what does it mean? I've Googled it but can't understand it.
-Is there a place on this board or those who wish to pursue alternative therapies? Some of the alt. therapies I've read about do not seem sound, but there are others that do. Any information welcome.
-Someone mentioned changing diet and exercise in order to help me through surgery and fight the cancer. I would like more specific information about where to go on this topic.
mhalpin12 wrote:Thank you for the information about Cimetidine. I will be reading more and asking for this before surgery. Thank you also for information about other tests that should be considered before surgery. I'm making note of everything. And finally, thank you for information about staging, and especially about how old the survival rate statistics are. I had a breakdown last night while reading those online, so it's nice to know that they aren't the harbingers of doom that they seem. I guess I just have to wait until surgery is done, the tumour and lymph nodes are tested, and see where I am.
Chemo scares me to death. As I said, I have 4 children, and my youngest is 18 months old. One of my children is autistic, and my youngest is showing early signs of autism as well. I homeschool all of my children, and while we are on summer break now, school must start in the fall. The thought of being sick with chemo or dying of cancer, all while trying to take care of my family and homeschool and be the wife, mother, and homemaker that I am....it's overwhelming.
I've dealt with chronic health issues in the past few years, and I don't like or trust most medical professionals; they have been very little help. I see a doctor of Chinese Medicine and Acupunture regularly and have felt quite well for the past year and a half. It's hard to believe there has been colon cancer present all that time. Is there a place on this board or those who wish to pursue alternative therapies? Some of the alt. therapies I've read about do not seem sound, but there are others that do. Any information welcome.
Someone mentioned changing diet and exercise in order to help me through surgery and fight the cancer. I would like more specific information about where to go on this topic.
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