cptmac wrote:I was diagnosed on July 22, 2004. Easy to remember that day, it was my 43rd birthday.
I was given six months to live but told I could die at any minute. While I was driving around to get my medical records to go to a top notch hospital, a car tried to pass me on the shoulder in heavy traffic and hit me, rendering me transportationless when I needed to head out of town.
Here I am, 53 + years old. I stopped all chemo in 2005.... I'm still NED after all these years.
The good news is, not only did I have the worst day of my life, I had the worst birthday in my life. Everyday is a blessing after that day.... So far, knock on wood, no day has been as bad as that one.
Glad to be alive!!!
susanh wrote:Hi,
My diagnosis seems similar to yours. I had a right hemi and liver resection (gall bladder, appendix, illeocal valve gone too) 3 weeks after diagnosis. Then I had 12 cycles of FOLFOX plus Avastin. Additionally, I participated in a 4 month Phase 1 vaccine trial.
I've been NED since surgery in August 2010 and I really don't have any residual side effects from the surgery or chemo. For me it was very important to keep my life as normal as possible. Continuing to work and stay active through treatment was absolutely the best choice for me as it gave me something to focus on outside cancer. I have a desk job so continuing to work was very doable. I have not changed my eating or drinking habits. The only thing I've added is an aspirin a day.
My scan 2 weeks ago was clean and my CEA < 1. I've been very lucky.
Best of luck to you as well.
dianetavegia wrote:I understand the anxiety.
I don't Exactly Fit in with your group because I became a Stage IVa 3 years after my original dx which makes me Oligo-recurrent and I only had one small liver met at that time, so a quick hepatic resection and NO CHEMO after the resection. NED again since April 11th, 2012.
My anxiety is not as severe as it was after my recovering from the resection (full and open) with NO pain meds but it's taken 3 years to slightly calm down. I take anxiety medication like a vitamin every morning.
I have blood work March 23rd, a CT w/o and MRI in early April and get the results the next week. For the month before the tests and the week awaiting the results, I'm mush. For the first two years, I'd be at the walk in clinic up to 3 times a week with an imaginary illness. That seems to have passed, tho I will worry about little things and wait it out. I'm talking some pretty stupid stuff, too.
Some days I have to repeat 'Cancer may kill me, but not today'. Other days I spend hours listening to praise music or southern gospel on Youtube.
The stats can help me focus. Single small met. Under 3 cm. More than 2 years post dx. No co-morbidity. Low CEA, etc..........
I read a new paper about 3 weeks ago that said at 6 years 48 days post HR, a patient has ZERO % chance higher than the general population of having cancer. My onc told me that at 5 years post HR, he will release me and consider me cured. I can continue with CEA's every 6 months with my primary since my CEA went to 4.4 then 6.4 when I had the met. Very sensitive CEA so anything that popped up after that would be caught, hopefully, very early.
Anxiety is horrible. Anxiety can cripple you and steal ALL your joy. I lost interest in everything. I stopped making nice meals, keeping the house spotless, gardening, crafts, reading. I spent many days Googling and reading. Now I avoid Google except for pretty pictures for my daily blog. NO NEWS. No Dr. Oz. No medical shows at all. Avoid all negativity and realize that I'm 64 and plan on living to be 103 so I need to get on with life.
I hope to have the same luck as you did cptmac. Awesome survivor story. By the way you have the exact same handle as someone on another forum I frequent (a watch forum). I don't suppose that's you?
Dress In Blue Girl wrote:I haven't been on this site in a while. But wanted to reach out. please read my signature. I have been ned for 9 1/2 yrs.
I have a few friends clean for 5 plus yrs, stage 4 ,that have never done online. I hope that gives you some hope, good luck.
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