Is there anything more I should be doing?

[NZJay]

Hi Guys (and Gals!),

Just feeling a bit stressed out, maybe have been reading too many stories of recurrence. Also, at 16 months post-resection, I am nearing the most common period for this to occur. As a Stage 3c I know the odds are not particularly in my favour.

I had my surgery, chemo - which ended up being only low-dose Xeloda due to extreme toxicity... and I eat fish and exercise. But I feel lazy, like I'm not helping myself.

Not sure what I really am asking for, I guess just personal opinions on what further you'd do in my situation - if anything. I just don't want to end up in a recurrent situation and then hear about some widely accepted post-chemo supplementation etc which I didn't take part in.

I've asked my oncologist about prophylactic HIPEC but they didn't show any interest.

So please, hit me with any suggestions which have at least moderate grounding in reality .

Cheers and best wishes to all who have been or are in the battle.

[elise]

I'm still on the high-dose Vit D and Celebrex train. Though it didn't make a difference for me in the end :/ But at least I tried!

[midlifemom]

The biggest factors I seem to hear are vitamin d and exercise.
Good luck!

[behconsult]

Good question. Sorry you are in the "waiting for the other shoe to drop" we travel through. Aside from supplements I have found comfort in the individualized breakdown of the stats. See figure 2. Hence recurrence might not be as high as you think. You might also check out

http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/26/3/380.full


viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10574&start=465

[BrownBagger]

Try to find a way not to worry about it.

I think stress is a serious health threat.

[WifeOfMike]

LIVE LIFE..... WITHOUT ANY REGRETS
Hugs,
Vicki

[Delinda2]

Boy, do I hear you. I'm IIIC too & had my surgery in April last year. I've finished chemo too & am due for blood tests & see onc in 3 weeks. I'm really concerned because I've developed a place on my stomach that's very sore & tender. Onc is gone, speaking at conventions & I'm leery of seeing someone else, so guess I'll wait. Anyway, I wonder if there is anything we can really do to turn the tide. I kind of feel that if it's going to return, it will. No one knows how or why one person wins and another loses. But waiting for that other shoe to drop sucks. When do you check in next with your onc?

[testing765]

Hi. I had resection surgery in 9/14 and finished folfox in 3/15. I can identify with the way you feel. I am already worried about recurrence. I think focusing on the present moment and taking it one day at a time can help. I take cimetidine and vitamin D currently as supplements. I may add low dose aspirin and curcumin at some point in time. Have you tried a support group, therapy or meditation. I know that you like to exercise, so keep up with that. I think a lot of our fear of recurrence is based on anxiety and feeling a lack of control over our own bodies. You will be ok.

[Delinda2]

Oops, sorry NZ. I got so wrapped up in what we worry about that I didn't answer your question. I take vitamin D3 and one 81mg aspirin, on my onc's recommendation. Good luck.

[Frenchie's Wife]

Just a thought here.
Has all this worring and stressing helped your medical condition in any way ?
Are you cherishing the fact that at this very point in time you show absolutely no signs of having a recurrence ?
Your looking at this from the wrong end of the telescope !!
The other way, the other way !

[lpas]

I so hear you on the stress about recurrence. I feel it and I'm not even done with chemo yet. Have you read the book "Anti-Cancer"? It has some really good (research-based) recommendations. An interesting read too.

[Delinda2]

Frenchie, thank you for the reminder that there is another side to the coin. For me, it's as if I'm afraid to get my hopes up. I have a long history of getting whacked on the head when I least expect it. But don't get me wrong, it doesn't consume my every thought or anything like that. It's just an awareness that I'm in a very high risk group. (You would shudder if you saw my pathology report.) No, it doesn't help or change my condition. I just try to enjoy each day that I can. I think it's realistic to understand that for most people with my status, a recurrence would not be a surprise. If it doesn't happen I'll be happy to shout, "I was wrong!" If it does, I won't be shocked & shattered. I'm not giving up at all, just prepared to cope with whatever happens. And I do appreciate your reminder. Your spirit and attitude are amazing - I admire you so. XXOXO, Delinda

[KWT]

Brownbagger and Frenchie make a couple good points.

[iitg.ritesh]

I also feel same as Jay

[purplekangaroo]

I'm the same, its hard going really hard. I'm also 16 months out from a 3c diagnosis but have an enlarged thymus gland which they will be removing so I can't say I'm cancer free until I get the pathology. I'm also dreading what they may find when they open me up but knowing is better than not.

Frenchie has some good words of advice, we all should try and remind yourselves of them sometime