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Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ December /2023

Posted: Sat May 30, 2015 4:58 pm
by CRguy
OK so I know I have been here for a few years...
AND I have spewed and waxed poetic ...
AND I have a few relevant topics in which I have some experience....
BUTT I am after all just another ColoRectal Guy. Right ?

I've written, rewritten and pruned my signature info probably 20 times since I first registered.
Everything I thought was important I included when I thought it was important to do so, and a lotta times I just honoured fellow members...past and present.

I recently had a request to share some more info about "my Journey" from a newer member.
Knowing all my homies here and all the stories we are all following, I didn't think my own info was really all that earth shattering.

BUTT upon reflection ... we all have something to share and it would not be in keeping with the very spirit of this forum for me not to do so as well.

HERE, only because a new friend ‪jalusa‬ asked ...... is the exec summary CR Journey :

August 2006 - lower GIT / "backdoor" issues, doc appt, tests all OK, age 55
February 2007 - definite fecal blood, scheduled colonoscopy, blood tests
May 2007 - colonoscopy / biopsy confirms rectosigmoid adenocarcinoma, CT, MRI, many blood tests follow
June 2007 - 6 weeks neo-adjuvant chemoradiation with Xeloda ( 3600 mg/day ), blood tests, CTs
August 2007 - TME via LAR of primary tumour, originally Stage IIIC, temp ileostomy, pCR ( pathological complete response to chemo-rad )
September 2007 - pelvic abscess, more blood tests, cultures, mega antibiotics, IVR drain placed
October - abscess resolved, started adjuvant chemo with Xeloda ( 4000 - 5000 mg/day ) declined FOLFOX at that time
February 2008 - JOINED THE COLON TALK FORUM !!!!!!! ... oh yeah, and had ileostomy takedown

Until October 2009 - many bloods, ultrasounds, Xrays, many CTs, many recheck appts
... WHEN an eagle eyed Radiologist spotted a "WTF is that" in upper left lung on a survey xray .... NOT a CT !
Back into diagnostic mode : PET scan, repeat CT scan, MRI, referral to thoracic specialist, more blood tests etc.etc.etc.

April 2010 - VATS wedge resection of a "clean margin" confirmed mCRC tumour, diagnosis of a benign bronchogenic cyst, power port implanted
( removed 3 years later )

June - November 2010 - FOLFOX 12 cycles, many bloods, scans, appts. etc.

November 2010 - May 2015 : follow up monitoring with CT, MRI, chest xray, exams, blood panels, CEA / CA19-9
May 2015 - suspicious "new" area of question in liver. Info updated later in this topic but appears to be a fat mass fatty infiltration.
May 2015 - June 2016 : ultrasounds and CT, bloods
Oct 2016 : bloods and routine follow up colonoscopy
Sep-Nov 2017 : bloods, ultrasound, xrays (CAP)
Sep-Nov 2018 : bloods, ultrasound, xrays (CAP), chest CT
Dec 2019 : bloods, ultrasound, xrays (CAP)

( typically my "blood panels" include GGT, AlkP, ALT, AST, Bili, LDH, CBC with differential and 6 month to yearly total cholesterols, LDL, HDL,TG, FBS, HA1c, PSA, CK, CRP, BUN, creatinine and eGFR. )

As of November/2023 Update, my tally of the number of times I've had these things done appears to be :

CT = 14 ( CAP = chest/abdomen/pelvis )
CT = 2 chest/abdomen
CT = 3 abdomen/pelvis
CT = 2 head
PET = 1
MRI = 2
colonoscopies = 8
sigmoidoscopies = 2
chest/abdominal xrays = 12
abdominal ultrasounds = 10
cardiac ultrasound = 2
electromyogram = 2
full blood panels = 41
monitoring mini-panels = 19
CEA = 35 tests done( not a marker for me, never over 1.4 )
CA 19-9 = 14 tests done, all normal
CRC related surgeries = 5
FOLFOX = 12 cycles
Xeloda = 10 cycles

I'll try to keep the above list up to date !

... and NOW finally I don't have to write all this stuff down again....
I am just going to refer everyone HERE ... so thanks to my buddy for making me get it all together in one place now !
If you think there is something I can help with or need to clarify, please post here or PM me.
I have now included a link in my signature which leads to this post.

( Found another mini-review in this topic from 2013
and there is always the Calling ALL Colorectal CANUCKS ! topic for a little more light reading :shock:
and of course my "journey" with FOLFOX Hi I'm FOLFOX...how do you like me so far ? :twisted: )

Cheers and Harmony to all
CRguy still on the Journey

Re: Review of my Journey so far

Posted: Sat May 30, 2015 5:09 pm
by ANDRETEXAS
Looks like you've kept the medical field alive by yourself. :D

Re: Review of my Journey so far

Posted: Sat May 30, 2015 5:11 pm
by CRguy
I do get a few frequent flyer points from some of the docs :mrgreen:

Re: Review of my Journey so far

Posted: Sat May 30, 2015 7:00 pm
by elise
I love it CR guy :) I've been here for a while and had pieces a lot of it together but still nice to get a tidy outline :)

Elise

Re: Review of my Journey so far

Posted: Sat May 30, 2015 7:06 pm
by Nik Colon
Thx for the details :)

Re: Review of my Journey so far

Posted: Sat May 30, 2015 7:37 pm
by rp1954
It's a great example, CRguy.

Re: Review of my Journey so far

Posted: Sat May 30, 2015 8:05 pm
by justin case
Oh hell,
I have nothing to do for a year, so please send me your medical history, and I will make sure there are no mental instabilities included in your files :roll: :roll: :roll:
One needs organization,
8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

Re: Review of my Journey so far

Posted: Sat May 30, 2015 8:34 pm
by Teddi
Thank you. I have been curious.

Teddi

Re: Review of my Journey so far

Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 10:12 am
by vilca11
Thank you, CR - impressive journey and will give hopes to many others. I was curious about your story too, just did not want to intrude questioning you about it... I can conclude from your story, that you will not need more space in your signature - you will stay NED now until your destined hour somewhere in 80s. Congrats on winning in such a long taught fight - my respects!
Hugs. Vilca

Re: Review of my Journey so far

Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 10:43 am
by CRguy
Thank you all for your support. I will be doing my best to keep moving ahead, BUTT truthfully ... there are so many folks here who have gone through way more than I have and they are to be congratulated for moving forward on their own Journey, and for sharing more with us than I have lately.

Harmony and strength to all
CRguy

Re: Review of my Journey so far

Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 10:55 am
by peanut_8
Thanks CRGuy. Love that Feb 2008 was such a happy month.
peanut

Re: Review of my Journey so far

Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 12:48 pm
by Cb75
<3

Re: Review of my Journey so far

Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 3:13 pm
by Girl111
Very impressive

Re: Review of my Journey so far

Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 9:53 am
by jalusa
Thanks.

Re: Review of my Journey so far

Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 10:07 am
by RNWife
Cheers, cheers CHEERS !! You have been such a tremendous help to us :D