The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

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NZJay
Posts: 640
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Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby NZJay » Tue Jul 11, 2017 4:07 am

Goodbye, dude. Loved your humour and got so many chuckles from your posts.
My deepest condolences to you, Diane
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

fumaros
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Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby fumaros » Tue Jul 11, 2017 7:55 am

Rest In Peace Frenchie. I wish you comfort during this awful time Diane.
Diagnosed 4/8/16, age 29
Colectomy 4/20/16
Stage III, T4bN1 Tumor 7x6.5x2. Muscinous Adenocarcinoma with SRC features
2/16 lymph nodes
Stage IV, Peri mets 5/2019
CEA 4/14/16 - 16.8
CEA 6/2/16 - 1.9
CEA 6/17/16 - 0.87, 7/16 - 1.33, 12/16 - 1.14, 4/17 - 0.6, 7/17 - 0.5, 10/17 - 0.9, 3/19 -5.8, 4/19 -10
FOLFOX began 6/24/16 - 11/25/16, FOLFIRI - 5/10/19
10 round FOLFOX, 2 round 5-FU & Leucovorin, 1 round FOLFIRI
MRI & CT 8/16 - NED, CT 12/16 - 10/17 - NED

ronnieciao
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Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby ronnieciao » Tue Jul 11, 2017 2:01 pm

So sad.....always enjoyed his humour and zest for life that transpired in all his posts. May he rest in peace, free from suffering. Big hugs to you, Diane.
DD of Mum, 53
Diagnosed CC Stage IVb, October 2014
Mets to liver, peri, ovaries, bones
Folfox + Panitumumab
5fu+Panitumumab
Folfiri + Avastin
Cetuximab monotherapy
Immunotherapy: Tecenriq (Atezolizumab) single agent trial: failed
Left us Feb 2017

JudeD59
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Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2015 12:16 pm

Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby JudeD59 » Tue Jul 11, 2017 2:07 pm

So sorry to read this news. Frenchie was one of a kind and we were so lucky to have gotten to know him through his posts on this board. He made me smile, made me laugh, and amazed me with his spirit and adventures. Sending my love to the family. I know he was surrounded by love because you could hear it whenever he talked about family and friends in his posts.

Judy
56 yrs old, wife, mother to 4 daughters
RC Stage II T3N0M0 DX April 2, 2015
6 cm. mid-rectum-CEA 121
Xeloda and radiation finished 06/15/15- CEA 242
CEA right before surgery 81
LAR performed 8/12/15 Temporary ileostomy
CEA 10-21-15 1.6
PET scan 11-4-15 All clear
Port installed 11/11/15
Folfox started 11/18/15
Folfox stopped due to bad reaction
Reversal 2/17/16
CEA 2/3/16 1.7
CEA 3/31/16 1.3
CT Scan 4/12/16 All Clear
Port removed 4/21/16
CEA 5/24/17 1.4

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Frenchie's Wife
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Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby Frenchie's Wife » Fri Jul 14, 2017 6:46 pm

I have been reading all of the posts that have been written since his passing and you all leave me speechless and so proud of the man I married.

I am thrilled that he brought inspiration, hope and laughter to so many people. From diagnoses to death he was not one to sit and wait for death to come find him. He always had his small goals to achieve and was positive to the end. I think that was a lesson he tried to show through his writing.

I am glad there will be this thread to come back to and read when I want to be close to him and it is a great legacy for everyone. I am sure you all help him as well during his journey.

Thank you,
Diane
Caregiver to DH 59 yr, male, Stage IV at Dx
Dx Sept 2009
Liver,bladder mets, 5 surgeries
Lots of chemo
Inoperable lung mets nov 2013
Stopped all treatments in February 2014 due to QOL issues
I am in God's hands now !!
Feb 2015 - too many new mets to count !
At peace July 9, 2017

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby Lee » Fri Jul 14, 2017 8:11 pm

(((Diane))) you continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

Yes, Frenchie was a special person around here. He will be missed by many people on this forum. This tread is a tribute to him.

Take care of yourself and PLEASE come back here often. We are here to help anyway we can. Or if you have your own stories on Frenchie (Ron), please feel free to include them here.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

bitchslapped
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Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby bitchslapped » Sun Jul 16, 2017 3:25 pm

Frenchie wrote: From diagnoses to death he was not one to sit and wait for death to come find him. He always had his small goals to achieve and was positive to the end. I think that was a lesson he tried to show through his writing.

I am glad there will be this thread to come back to and read when I want to be close to him and it is a great legacy for everyone. I am sure you all help him as well during his journey.

Thank you,
Diane



Couldn't agree more w/your statements, Diane. Ron was always forward thinking & encouraged others to focus on the positive whenever possible.

Am posting a link to the thread "Loved Ones Left Behind Ongoing" in case you may find it helpful to view how some of us have felt or are coping since the loss of a loved one, or you may even feel up to posting there. Certainly any posts in this thread w/b followed as well:
http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com ... nd#p457659

Thanks for posting that in some small way we could let you know how much Ron meant to us here on the forum & bring you some comfort in knowing this, that we understand your loss. We never get used to losing our friends here on CT.

Lee wrote:Take care of yourself and PLEASE come back here often. We are here to help anyway we can. Or if you have your own stories on Frenchie (Ron), please feel free to include them here.


Agree w/Lee 100%!

Best wishes for healing.

BS
DSS,35YO,unresect mCRC DX 7/'14,lvr,LN,peri,rib
FOLFOX+Avstn 4 Rnds d/c 10/'14
Stent 9/'14
FOLFIRI+Avstn 10/'14
Gone From My Sight 2/20/15
Me:garden variety polyps + precancerous polyp, diverticulitis
Carergver x2 DH,DM dbl occupancy,'03-'10
DH dx 47YO mCRC,'04-'07, lvr, billiary tree fried x HAI
DM dx CC 85YO,CC,CHF,stroke,dementia,aphasia

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LPL
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Location: Europe

Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby LPL » Sun Jul 16, 2017 5:02 pm

Dear Diane,
I'm so sorry for your loss!
Maybe I am speaking for many who never spoke directly to Frenchie/Ron, butt who like me read for example all his posts in this thread. It felt like I came to know him and I liked him so very much !! To me it felt like he was a very special man! I'm sure you must have a lot of good memories. It is good that we have his 'voice' saved here and can read when in need of some Frenchie views on life.
My best wishes to you Diane !
DH @ 65 DX 4/11/16 CC recto-sigmoid junction
Adenocarcenoma 35x15x9mm G3(biopsi) G1(surgical)
Mets 3 Liver resectable
T4aN1bM1a IVa 2/9 LN
MSS, KRAS-mut G13D
CEA & CA19-9: 5/18 2.5 78 8/17 1.4 48 2/14/17 1.8 29
4 Folfox 6/15-7/30 (b4 liver surgery) 8 after
CT: 8/8 no change 3/27/17 NED->Jan-19 mets to lung NED again Oct-19 :)
:!: Steroid induced hyperglycemia dx after 3chemo
Surgeries 2016: 3/18 Emergency colostomy
5/23 Primary+gallbl+stoma reversal+port 9/1 Liver mets
RFA 2019: Feb & Oct lung mets

WifeOfMike
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Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby WifeOfMike » Fri Jul 28, 2017 5:59 pm

Dear Diane,
Your dear husband was not just a friend here on CT.... He was a TRUE LEGEND. A one of a kind man, who's remarkable zest for LIFE took my breath away. I will NEVER forget him, or the laughter he brought to my heart when I would have otherwise melted into a puddle of tears. May he rest in eternal Peace with the Angels, along with my beloved husband Mike and the many friends I made along his journey with cancer. (((HUGS))) through my tears sent to you.
Vicki, WifeOfMike
Bad Ass WIFE
Hubs: CRC IVA,T3, N0, M1A
Resect/LN Mets 10/12
Folfox4/Avastin 11/12-5/13
Folfiri/Erbitux 6/13-10/13
Stivarga 12/13-4/14
Trial 4/14-/14
Trial 8/14-11/14
HOME Hospice 11/17/14
Guardian Angel 1/1/15
Cost of HOPE? PRICELESS

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Frenchie's Wife
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Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby Frenchie's Wife » Mon Jul 31, 2017 12:42 am

Hello my friends,

I continue to move forward each day.

I come here often to read all the posts left here which give me comfort. I am in the process of planning the celebration of life for Ron at the end of September. I know that is a ways away but it is giving some relatives time to get funds together for tickets to come out west for this. It will be nice as some of them have not seen each other in years.

I was wondering how many of your believe in afterlife communication? This was something Ron and l talked about a few times at length. I have always believed in it and have experienced it as well.

I was out a my friend's place today and we were sort of enjoying this nasty heat wave we have been having lately. As we were talking I noticed 5 or 6 butterflies flying around. I mentioned this to her. Her reply was that she had not seen any around in the last few days and seeing this many was unusual. Now I have to say on my way out I was talking to Ron about some stuff. Ron always enjoyed his visits out to this couples place as he called them "good people" . Maybe this was his sign to me that he was glad I was there.

Your thoughts or experiences if your care to share?

Diane
Caregiver to DH 59 yr, male, Stage IV at Dx
Dx Sept 2009
Liver,bladder mets, 5 surgeries
Lots of chemo
Inoperable lung mets nov 2013
Stopped all treatments in February 2014 due to QOL issues
I am in God's hands now !!
Feb 2015 - too many new mets to count !
At peace July 9, 2017

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Maggie Nell
Posts: 1150
Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 1:57 am
Location: Central Highlands, Victoria, Oz

Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby Maggie Nell » Mon Jul 31, 2017 11:22 am

Very very long time ago, I read a biography about the British film actress, Diana Dors, who succumbed to
ovarian cancer. She told her third husband that she would be only a whisper away.

Trust your intuition, Diane, death is but a comma in the book of life.

By the way, did you and Ron work out a secret code like Houdini had with his wife, Bess?
DX April 2015, @ 54
35mm poorly diff. tumour, incidental finding following emergency R. hemicolectomy
for ileo-colic intussusception.
Lymph nodes: 0/22
T3 N0 MX
Stage II CRC, no adjuvant chemo required.

canadiandaughter
Posts: 676
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2014 11:19 am

Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby canadiandaughter » Mon Jul 31, 2017 11:59 am

Isn't this heat nasty!! My area of Alberta has been in the heat wave for a few weeks now. We have not had any rain to speak of for over a month. I do believe!!! Mom and I went to Kelowna to visit family a few weeks ago. They were so worried about the smoke bothering my mom at her age. It cleared the day we went and came back the day we left. I feel dad cleared it out so mom and I could enjoy our 3 days there. Mom finds dimes all over the place and feels they are a sign from dad. Weird places!! Also we have an black crow that has been hanging around watching moms place since dad passed away in January. He wasn't there before!!! I say whatever brings you comfort, go with it!!! I know we are hoping to go to Calgary to a medium soon. Mom and I went before and she is very good. I have friends that lost a son tragically over 10 years ago, and going to her has helped them feel human again. She told them things that there was NO way she could guess and that were not general. Very detailed things. Hugs to you!! One day at a time, that is what my mom says! Some are harder than others but we get through them.
DD to 81 year old father
dx 24/07/14 iv cc mets liver/lung
folifiri started 19/07/14
shrinkage of all mets
growth in the liver,started folfox/avastin 80% 13/01/16
reduced to 70% due to side effects 27/01/16
First scan on folfox shows shrinkage in lungs, but liver just stable
6 rounds of vectibix-fail. 3cm growth and new spots showing Waiting for panel recommendations
At peace January 8, 2017

DebZ
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Facebook Username: Bulc

Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby DebZ » Mon Jul 31, 2017 3:49 pm

Diane,
I truly believe in signs from loved ones, even if they show in very subtle ways. My sisters and I see bluebirds as our parents checking in. And since their deaths, within 6 months of each other, we see them all the time.
48 @ diagnosis Sept 2014
MSS; Kras mutant G12D
Oct 2014: right hemicolectomy
Dec 2014-May 2015: Folfox
June 2015: clean scans
Sept 2015: scans reveal ovarian mass and liver met; Folfiri
Jan 2016: liver wedge resection and hysterectomy
April 2016: multiple lung mets; Folfiri+Avastin
June 2017: lung mets growing; switch to Folfox+Avastin
Jan-April 2018: dropped oxali; CEA rising
May 2018: back on Folfox+Avastin, add pulse steroid treatment to get platelet count up (continuously in 50s)

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby Lee » Tue Aug 01, 2017 5:47 pm

Frenchie wrote:Hello my friends,
I was wondering how many of your believe in afterlife communication? This was something Ron and l talked about a few times at length. I have always believed in it and have experienced it as well.

Diane


Yes, I do believe in this. My dad was killed in the Vietnam war many years ago. There were many times, my mother would wake up at night and feel his presence. She knew he was in the room with her.

Many years ago, I was recovering from some pretty major surgery, it was the day following surgery. I kept waking up because someone else was in the room, yet when I opened my eyes, no one was there. I knew it was my dad.

I could go on and on, many times through the years I have felt his presence. And I believe you will feel Ron 's presence as well. Not in the flesh, butt in the spirit world.

Thinking of you,

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

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LeonW
Posts: 358
Joined: Sun May 03, 2015 4:59 pm
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Re: The Grim Reaper took another swipe at me !!

Postby LeonW » Wed Aug 02, 2017 7:27 am

Ho Dianna, thanks for checking in. Have been thinking of you and Frenchie . . .

I do/can not believe in afterlife; and for me afterlife comms is unthinkable, but confess that I found solace in talking to my long deceased dad when days were difficult after the liver job back in 2013 :oops: :oops:. Since then, I talk to him and my mom occasionally. Not so much for answers, but to keep them alive that way and to bring back memories. By now it has become a private ceremony to honor days long gone.

I wish you many of such chats that you can anchor on.
Best wishes and keep enjoying the butterflies
L
Dec 2012 - CC 2 unresect liver mets, CEA 41.8 (MM 65yrs)
Jan 2013 - colectomy @ spleen 2/26 nodes IVa T3N1bM1a
Feb-Jul - 1x Xelox-7x Xelox/Avastin, shrinkage from #3
Aug - 2x PV embolization (both failed)
Sep 2013 - R liver resect, 25d hosp (liver failure/delirium, lung emboli, encephalopathy), no living cancer (pCR)
2014/15 - recovery, scopy: 2 polyps
2016 - new town/life
2018, scopy: 2 polyps
2018/20 low (1.0-1.4) CEAs/clean CTs: 4x2014, 6x2015-17, 3x2018-20
next June 2021!


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