5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

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michelle c
Posts: 1929
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:58 am

5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby michelle c » Mon Dec 08, 2014 2:10 pm

Hi all,

I just saw my oncologist and as I'm five years from completing my chemo treatments he said that he no longer needs to see me. He made a point of saying that he would be happy to see me somewhere else though :D My onc is amazing, he gave me a hug and said that my GP can follow up 6 monthly CEA and CA19-9 tests. He said that there is no need for me to see him and keep paying him money :D No need for any more CT scans. Bit nervous about that but I won't miss the scanxuety. I am still having tumour marker testing, at least or a while.

I am posting because I remember when I was a newly diagnosed stage III and how much I longed to read stories like this. I was so anxious and scared...especially as I had three young children. Hopefully, someone will read this and gain some encouragement and hope from this.

Although I am not going anywhere, I am so grateful for this wonderful website and all you wonderful people....people who I have not met personally but know through here. I consider you my friends, friends help each other and are there for each other, offer support, a shoulder to cry on, listen, understand, and offer advice. Unfortunately, I did not find this website until my treatment finished - I'm surprised how I didn't find it earlier, all the googling that I was doing :? :shock: Big mistake! I wouldn't advise anyone to do this. I guess I felt that the more I knew, the more it would help me....wrong. It only heightened my anxiety.

I remember posting on this site and the help and advice that I received was readily forthcoming and it helped me very much. I remember no longer feeling so alone. I felt a connection. I knew that if I needed advice about anything relating to my cancer, to post here, there was always someone who had experienced the same or knew how to help.

I am taking part in a study which is aimed at people who are diagnosed with colon cancer before the age of 50. They are trying to find out if there is a common link/gene. I have signed the consent form and given a blood DNA sample so far. I am happy to help with anything to help find a cause/cure.

My heart goes out to each and everyone of you, thank you from the bottom of my heart....I am willing and wish to help anyone if I can.

Love Michelle xx
Last edited by michelle c on Thu Dec 18, 2014 6:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
May 25 2009 Dx with CC (sigmoid colon) 2 days after my 44th b'day
CEA prior to surgery 4.7
Jun 3 2009 LAR - Stage III 3/10 lymph nodes
Jul 6 - Dec 10 2009 - 12 cycles FOLFIRI
Genetic testing - inconclusive for Lynch
Jul 2012 port removed & hernia repair

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: 5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Mon Dec 08, 2014 2:27 pm

Congratulations on five years! I also find this site helpful! As you can see from my signature I have had surgery and am awaiting pathology results.
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

lpas
Posts: 1010
Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2014 11:11 pm

Re: 5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby lpas » Mon Dec 08, 2014 3:34 pm

Thank you so much for posting this, Michelle. It absolutely does help to hear these kinds of stories.

Congratulations on 5 years cancer-free!!
11/14 Dx sigmoid CC @ 45yo
12/14 Colectomy + hysterectomy
Stage IIIB, T3N1bM0, 2/20 nodes, MSS, G2, KRAS(A146T), TP53, SMAD4, ERBB2, CEA 1.0
2/15-7/15 XELOX & celecoxib
2/19 clean scope
11/19 clean CT
Ongoing cimetidine & other targeted supplements
Mom to a 6 & 8yo

Dori W
Posts: 34
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 2:30 pm
Facebook Username: Dori Woodhouse

Re: 5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby Dori W » Mon Dec 08, 2014 3:38 pm

Congratulations!!
Diagnosed stage 3C signet ring colon cancer in May, 2008
14 out of 18 positive lymph nodes
Final treatment in November, 2008
NED ever since
I used to have an account under "Dori," but I've lost access to it.
You can view my old posts here: search.php?author_id=1446&sr=posts

Don.in.Dallas
Posts: 179
Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2014 10:43 pm
Location: Dallas, Texas USA

Re: 5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby Don.in.Dallas » Mon Dec 08, 2014 3:55 pm

Congratulations! Many thanks for posting. I hope one day to make the same post.

Success to you!
Male 56 at DX 05/14
05/14 Resection, 3.2cm sigmoid CRC Stage IIIb, 2/17 nodes, T3N1M0
06/14 PET scan clear, portacath install
06/14 Begin FOLFOX6 12x, End 01/15
09/20 Still NED!
----
Previous: Laryngeal cancer
33 x rad
NED since 12/09

Valorie
Posts: 365
Joined: Mon May 05, 2014 6:33 am

Re: 5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby Valorie » Mon Dec 08, 2014 3:57 pm

Congratulations!!!! That is awesome news. I have one more day and I will be done with 8 rounds of Xeloda. I'm feeling pretty perky over that so you must be flying with joy over your five year mark. I'm glad you shared the news. For those of us at the beginning of the journey, it's great to see a success story. Congrats again!!

Valorie
Age 53 dx 2a CC 0/21 LN Oncotypedx score: 11
Sigmoidectomy 5/8/14
MSS No lymphovasular involvement,
6/14 PET - NED, 12/14 CT NED, 7/15 CT - NED
6/14-12/9/14 Xeloda 8 cycles
2/12/15 incisional hernia repair - Boooo!

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singingholly
Posts: 1133
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:37 am
Location: Northern Italy

Re: 5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby singingholly » Mon Dec 08, 2014 4:33 pm

Cheers Michelle! And thank YOU, for this and all your posts, and for still being around here with us...
Hugs
Olivia
Dec2011 sigm IIIst res T3N1(2/18)M0 Xelox
Oct2012 5liv.mets Dec 2012 liv.res
Jan2013 1liv.met Folfiri+avastin
Jul2013 liv.res Folfiri+/av
Feb2014 10+2lu.mets & 1abd node Folfoxiri+SBRT
Sep2014 Res rx l. BUT spot on diaph:SBRT
Dec2014 3+6lu.mets.Immuno

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NZJay
Posts: 640
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2013 3:00 pm
Location: NZ

Re: 5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby NZJay » Mon Dec 08, 2014 4:44 pm

That's freaking awesome, I am so happy for you! Congratulations on making it through the dark days, and may you have many sunny ones ahead :)
11-13 Dx CC
SPS T4b(touched stomach organ),N1(3/23),M0(Stage 3B)
11-13: resect + partial gastrect
2-14: 1 Tx Cape + Oxy; renal failure, colitis
4-14: 7 Tx Capecitabine
1-15: clear CT
7-15: clear scope
1-16: clear CT
3-17: clear CT
10-17: clear scope (5 year gap now!)
CEA@dx: 8.4 / 6-15: 4.0 / 10-15: 4.2 / 2-16: 4.9 / 7-16: 4.9 / 11-16: 5.0 / 6-17: 4.5
NED since resection

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horizon
Posts: 1669
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 10:10 pm

Re: 5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby horizon » Mon Dec 08, 2014 11:35 pm

I always appreciate people sharing their stories. I hope I can make a post like this one day.

I made the same mistake with Dr. Google at the beginning. That was the worst thing I could have done.
I'm just a dude who still can't believe he had a resection and went through chemo (currently 13 years NED). Is this real life?

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Bev G
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Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2010 11:19 pm
Facebook Username: Bev Golde
Location: Quechee, VT

Re: 5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby Bev G » Tue Dec 09, 2014 10:23 am

Dear Michelle,

I am so happy to read of your wonderful news! You have always been such a pleasure on the board and I have really enjoyed knowing you through the years. That you are "cured" is the best news we could ever hear from you! Keep it up...forever! And, please do stick around the board.

Love,

Bev
58 yo Type1 DM 48 years
12/09 Stage IV 2/22 nodes + liver met, colon resec
3 tx FOLFIRI, liver resec 4/10
9/10 6 mos off chemo, Neg PET&CTC CEA nl
2/11 finished total 10 rounds chemo

9/13 ^17th clean PET/CT NED for now

jens22
Posts: 1013
Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2010 9:26 am
Facebook Username: jspirio
Location: Long Island, NY

Re: 5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby jens22 » Wed Dec 10, 2014 9:02 am

I can't wait to join your club!!! Congrats and Good health!!
Colonoscopy 3/10 for ? hemmorrhoid.
Diag Colon Cancer 3 days later
Colon Ressection 3/30/10
Stage 3B 5/14 Nodes positive.
Power Port and 7 months of Chemo
Port removed 11/11
8 negative Cat Scans..... 10 years cancer free and Discharged from Sloane Kett!!
Diag age 47 , now 57 Mom of 3 boys.

Barry014
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 10:46 am

Re: 5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby Barry014 » Wed Dec 10, 2014 1:06 pm

It's hearing these stories that makes me feel much better about my own situation. Congratulations on the great news.
43 yr old male with Stage 3B colon cancer. Surgery-resection 7/15/14 - 6 of 17 lymph nodes positive. Adjuvant chemotherapy in 8/14 - modified Folfox6. Oxiplatin, Leucovorin, 5-fluororacil, then 5 -Fu infusion over 46-48 hours via pump.

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dianetavegia
Posts: 2731
Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 8:47 pm
Facebook Username: Diane Weldy Tavegia
Location: Villa Rica, Georgia

Re: 5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby dianetavegia » Wed Dec 10, 2014 7:24 pm

Absolutely Awesome!
I am a bit jealous because I'd hoped to make it that far with no recurrence but I'm almost at 3 years post HR so maybe, maybe in 2 years!

Congrats!!!!
Stage III cc surgery 1/7/09. 12 tx FOLFOX
Stage IV PET = 1.5cm liver met. HR 4/11/12

14 years since dx and 11 years post liver resection.
Pronounced CURED and discharged by onc

“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.” Psalms 30:2

basedballguy
Posts: 32
Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2011 7:53 pm
Location: Ontario

Re: 5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby basedballguy » Wed Dec 10, 2014 8:33 pm

Wow that's great news. I'm just a year behind you!
Diagnosed CC 20/04/10
Surgery left hemicollectomy 12/05/10
temp iliostomy
Diagnosed stage IIIA 1/31 lymphnodes
12 sessions folfox chemo completed 16/12/10
Reversal scheduled 02/02/11
Reversal completed with GREAT SUCCESS!

Cured
Posts: 581
Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:53 pm
Location: MO

Re: 5 years + since diagnosed with colon cancer - stage III

Postby Cured » Thu Dec 11, 2014 11:26 am

Congratulations Michelle!
Thanks for the encouraging post.
7-18 Stg 4
5-08:Stg 3 Rectal: 6/14 Nodes
Ace Surgn Remvd 90%Rectm,lots of Colon-Full Incision
Ileo Rev'd 6 Mos.
Radian+5fu Pre-Surg
FOLFOX 8 Cyc,1-09
Clear Scope 8-17; CEA 2-18
Glory to God! Healed by prayers of many: for 10 yrs
7-18: tumor pressing brain Remove
Met to lung. CEA 6.9
Folfiri
CEA 4.5 after 1 chemo
8rds CEA 3 1.8, 2.3,1.7 then up:32
12rd Folfiri
Avastin ev 2 wks
Seizure Anti-seiz meds work-no driving for 6m
4-20PET: Lng spots=Chemo
2-21 tumr gth =Folfiri
Radiation 7-22


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