i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

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manicmaria
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Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2015 7:37 pm
Facebook Username: maria horton current

i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby manicmaria » Fri Mar 13, 2015 8:19 pm

Hi ALL !!!!

So here's MY story...... I'm a 55 year old wife and mother of 3 daughtesr..... 34, 28 and 18.
Went for routine colonoscopy...... and woke to being told I have cancer.... that was Feb. 17th.
I had surgery March 2nd..... removing 12 inches of my colon, resectioned, and 38 lymph nodes removed.
Of those 38, 26 were cancerous. Further tests showed no spreading to any organs.
I am Stage 3c.
I see my surgeon Monday to have my 23 staples removed and set date for port to be inserted for chemo.
Tuesay I see my oncologist to go over my chemo treatment, which will be for 6 months,
once every 2 weeks, carry pack that runs for 48 hours and then is removed.

I am a bubbly, crazy, positive person...... and my only reaction has been that I WILL beat this...
that cancer picked the wrong bitch to piss off.
And then........ I started reading stuff on the web..... and survival rates........

IS this a death sentences... just prolonging the inevitable, or is there really hope ?

Steph20021
Posts: 553
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:58 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby Steph20021 » Fri Mar 13, 2015 8:42 pm

I don't know the stats for your stage but everyone always says don't look at the stats anyway. I am sure with surgery and chemo you will be in the best position possible to beat the bugger!! How is your post surgery healing going? Please keep us posted, and best of luck.
DX 1/31/14 @ 33- SPS-T4a(invades visceral peri), N2a(6/106 LN), M1a(ovary) (Stage 4a) MSS; BRAF V600E
2/1/14-subtotal col, lost R ovary, temp ileo
3/14-9/14- folfox; sepsis
11/14-CT/PET: L ovary met, pelvic met, (?)ghost liver met(?)
12/14-folfiri -13 rds kept me stable from 3/15-6/15
8/15-HIPEC, NED
09/15- cea 0.9
05/16- recurrence in abdo wall and lymph nodes
01/17- pulmonary embolism
02/17- 1 wk radiation to abdo wall
08/16- on folfiri
01/18-folfox
11/18- Beacon trial-encorafenib & cetuximab

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Kick'nAssCancer'sAss
Posts: 248
Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2014 4:38 pm

Re: i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby Kick'nAssCancer'sAss » Fri Mar 13, 2015 8:55 pm

Rule #1 STAY AWAY FROM DR GOOGLE
Rule #2 STAY AWAY FROM DR GOOGLE

he had me dead and buried five times when I was dx
53M Dx RC Halloween 2013
CT & BONE scan
MRI/T3N0M0 1 suspicious LN
5 wks chemo/rad
LAR open TME Feb 26/14
temp bag
0/24 nodes pCR/pathological
Folfox (8) Mar 28-Jul 4 /14
Aug/14 clear CT scan
Aug 27/14 reversal
Feb/15 clear scope
July/15 Feb/16 Feb/17 Feb/18 clear CT scans
Feb/18 clear scope
Sept 19 clear CT scan & DISCHARGED :P
Mar/23 clear scope
CEA 1.6 @ dx
1.6,1.4,1.7,2.4,2.9, 2.7 2.3 2.5 2.2 2.1 2.5 2.6 2.7
2.7 Sept 19
0-4 normal
https://kickingasscancersass.blogspot.com/

justin case
Posts: 4269
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:26 am
Location: Katy, Texas

Re: i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby justin case » Fri Mar 13, 2015 9:17 pm

muskokamike wrote:Rule #1 STAY AWAY FROM DR GOOGLE
Rule #2 STAY AWAY FROM DR GOOGLE

he had me dead and buried five times when I was dx

I'd like to agree with my buddy Mike,
Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Google had me buried many times. Rule # 3 listen to what he said. You have received the standard treatments, and are well on your way to the rest of your life. Stay positive for your own benefit.
Michael
7/11 diagnosed Stage 2 colon and rectal cancer
chemo/rad
lar/temp ilio
Reversal & port removal
21 round of chemo Folfox 9tx, 5fu 12 tx
Last treatment July 2012

peanut_8
Posts: 2340
Joined: Sun May 25, 2014 1:31 pm

Re: i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby peanut_8 » Fri Mar 13, 2015 9:49 pm

First of all mancimaria, get that death sentence crap out of your mind. You have to much to live for. There are very effective treatment options for stage 3 cancer patients. We can help you with some of the side effects you MAY GO THROUGH with treatment. Everyone is different, but some things tend to happen with FOLFOX, which sounds like what you are going to get.

So take a deep breath and get ready for the next 6 months. You can think of it as 6 months to the cure. Yes, you can be cured.

We are very supportive here, and can help you in many ways. Just let us know what you need.
peanut
female, diagnosed Jan 14, RC stage 2a, age 56
MSS
April 14, 28 chemo/rad with Xeloda
June 14 adjuvant Xeloda 6 rounds
currently NED

Nik Colon

Re: i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby Nik Colon » Fri Mar 13, 2015 9:52 pm

Definitely not a death sentence. I am stage 4a and in no way does it mean I can not be cured! Stay positive!

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ANDRETEXAS
Posts: 662
Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2014 11:01 am
Location: Austin, Texas (University of Tennessee alumnus)

Re: i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby ANDRETEXAS » Fri Mar 13, 2015 10:14 pm

Statistics for the most part are totally useless. Stay away from them. No. 1 - STAY POSITIVE. Now go kick cancer's ass. It can be done, and you will do it... Andre
2/10/14 - Colon resect
2/13 - DX- Stage IIIb
6 of 18 lymph nodes cancerous
3/7 - Port placed
3/11 - FOLFOX (12 rds w/full oxi)
8/14 - Chemo finish
8/25 - CT- Inc
9/5 - clean PET
12/10- clean CT

3/2/15 - Clean colonoscopy & port removed
3/4 - clean CT
9/21- clean CT

3/23/16 - clean CT

2/22/17- clean CT

3/21/18 - clean CT
4/1 - clean colonoscopy

3/11/19 - clean CT
9/23 - Five-year release - Annual visits now !

4/13/23 - clean colonoscopy

ONE DAY AT A TIME !

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

Re: i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby michelle c » Fri Mar 13, 2015 10:21 pm

Welcome! Sorry you have to be here though. Stay away from dr Google - it only heightened my anxiety so I highly recommend you stay away! :) Listen to your doctors and ask them questions - again do not ask Dr Google :)
There is definitely hope for you and that you can beat this. All the best to you. Let us know how you go - you will find lots of support here.
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

tammylayne
Posts: 2177
Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2010 9:24 am

Re: i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby tammylayne » Sat Mar 14, 2015 1:05 pm

Numbers- stats - are just that,,,numbers. There are SOOOOO many other factors that need to be taken into consideration, you simply cannot paint everyone with the same brush. Among other things,,,it serves no purpose - you end up just borrowing trouble :shock:

What is happening, what is real and current brings enough worry and anxiety. Worrying about numbers that are outdated in many cases, will not give you a true picture of what is happening. Plus,,,YOU art NOT the people the numbers are based on. You are you. I remember my oncologist telling me that published Articles are based on 5 year survival numbers...he has been using 10 year survival rates for years now, because that is more accurate. People are living much longer. Treatments are working better, and there is always the hope that new trials will bring what we are really looking for...LONG LONG LONG term survival...or better yet, a cure.

Chunk it down. You are looking at the port as your next hurdle....deal with that. When chemo starts...deal with that - ONE treatment at a time. IF side effects come along...deal with those...IF and WHEN they happen...not today when you are focusing on the NOW.

I don't know about you, but when I had my kids...everyone was quick to share all the bad...scarey stories versus the ones about easy labours...easy deliveries. Sometimes I think it is human nature to share the nasty. I remember someone on this board saying the people that beat it....don't come around much to share the good stuff...they are busy living life...as they should be. What I am saying is that there may not be that proper balance between the positive and the negative stories. There are lots of both....and yours has not yet been written...so try not to jump to a scarey ending. :wink:

Yup...easier said that done...I know...we know. But if you can try to incorporate this thinking at least some of the time...your journey will be a little less stressfull.

"Dum Spiro Spero" .....While I breath...I hope.

Many many gentle hugs to you...
51 F
'06 Stage 1 CC,
'10 Stage 3 Rectal

"You never know how strong you are until you have to become your own hero."

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

Re: i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Sat Mar 14, 2015 2:52 pm

I agree with everyone else don't look at survival statistics on google. I had 23 staples too. Just focus on one step at time. Getting your port in and starting chemo. I didn't have chemo but there are many on this board who have. They will be able to answer your questions and will be there to support you!
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! :)

rp1954
Posts: 1853
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:13 am

Re: i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby rp1954 » Sat Mar 14, 2015 6:49 pm

Close, early attention to nonstandard options and frequent blood biomarkers were important to us. Even right now, perioperative cimetidine might still be useful for best results long term.

At first, we were told stage III. We had to arrange extra biomarker tests on blood series and tissue for ourselves. The more data you can show, the more experience you can probably bring to bear here.
watchful, active researcher and caregiver for stage IVb/c CC. surgeries 4/10 sigmoid etc & 5/11 para-aortic LN cluster; 8 yrs immuno-Chemo for mCRC; now no chemo
most of 2010 Life Extension recommendations and possibilities + more, some (much) higher, peaking ~2011-12, taper chemo to almost nothing mid 2018, IV C-->2021. Now supplements

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Sleen
Posts: 318
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:41 am
Location: Detroit
Contact:

Re: i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby Sleen » Sat Mar 14, 2015 9:02 pm

Yes, there is hope! You have come to the right place.
Good luck on your journey--you can see in my sig that your story and mine have some similarity, and I am brimming with hope :D
my blog: Cancer Riot

NED since April 2016!
April 2016: lower left lung lobectomy. NED
8 mo. f/u: 1 of 7 tumors progressed.
6 mo. f/u PR confirmed (Jan 2016)
Jul 2015: NIH TIL trial NCT01174121 NCI/NIH Surgery Branch FAQ
Dec 2014 confirmed stage IV w/bilateral lung mets
FOLFOX + Radiation (bladder)
KRAS G12D :: MSS
dx Sep 2013 @47yo: IIIc T4b N2b MX [bladder invasion, 17/21 lymph nodes]

Married 33 yrs. kids: 27, 24, 20, 15, 13
SE Michigan home schooler, unemployed mechanical engineer, and programmer.

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chrissyrice
Posts: 1171
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2010 8:44 am
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Re: i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby chrissyrice » Sat Mar 14, 2015 9:23 pm

I think the best statistics are all of here on this board.

Lots of us are still here and NED ... we are here for you.
DX 10-31-09 Surgery 12-1-09 Sigmoid Colon
Stage IIIb T3,N2,MX; Chemo Feb 2010-Aug 2010; 4 rounds Folfox; 8 rounds 5FU +LV
12/2010 PET/CT Scan, Cancer Free
7/2012 CT Scan NED 2 years
10/2013 NED 3 years
8/2014 NED 4 years
Recurrence 6/2015: iliac lymph node(s)
8/2015 Surgery: 3 cm tumor removed+iliac artery graft
3/2016 CT Scan Stable
6/2016 Stable
9/2016 Stable
12/2016 Stable
3/2017 Stable
Recurrence 6/2017
12/2017 Surgery removed all cancer w/ clean margins
07-27-2018 Cancer-free for 7 months

nbrandt
Posts: 474
Joined: Sun May 01, 2011 7:42 pm
Facebook Username: craig.brandt

Re: i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby nbrandt » Sat Mar 14, 2015 9:42 pm

Just want to share my Oncologist told me I was in the group most likely to recur because I had colon cancer in both the right colon and my appendix 3C colon cancer. BUT my sister told me you do not need to know the statistical number, instead just know that in the stats there are those who make it and that can be you. So my advice is to prepare for the fight, use my prayer words: courage, hope, health. Take one treatment at a time. I feel fortunate to be here NED four and one-half years.
NB
DXCCT3N2aMx 5/20LN
Folfox10/10-4/11
Scan 10-13-10,4-4-11,7-4-11,9-22-11,4-9-12,9-24-12,10-1-13,4-9-14,9-17-14,9-10-15,9-15-17NED,
CEA 1. Pre .6 7-4-11 .7 9-22-11 .6
1-13-12 .9 4-9-12 .7 9-24-12 .6 1-4-13 .8 10-1-13 .8 4-9-14 .7 9-17-15.8
Courage, Hope, Health

DanInMN
Posts: 87
Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:18 pm

Re: i'm newly diagnosed....... HELP !

Postby DanInMN » Mon Mar 16, 2015 12:38 am

Three years ago I wrote a very similar post and got the same advice you are hearing. It is good advice. The stats you are seeing are outdated. More importantly, they are not broken down to the level where you can see statistics about people like you, with your history, general health, etc.

I am sorry you are going through this. Be hopeful. Take one step at a time. Lean on people, including those here, when you can. I'll be thinking about you.
Dan - Male - Age 41
3/5/2012 - Colonoscopy - dx: sigmoid colon cancer
3/29/2012 - Colon Resection - growth through wall, 1 of 23 nodes, 4 tumor deposits - dx: Stage 3b
5/7/2012 - Begin Folfox
10/10/12 Finish Folfox
10/22/12 CT scan = NED
4/17/17 Lung nodule discovered to be colorecretal cancer met
5/12/17 Met removed


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