Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

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Mys
Posts: 163
Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2010 1:06 pm

Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby Mys » Sun Jun 28, 2015 6:35 am

Five years ago, I woke up from a colonoscopy to a diagnosis of colon cancer. There was no doubt, I was near full blockage. A couple of days later I recieved a diagnosis of DCIS breast cancer and was told my colon resection would be followed by a mastectomy before chemo. The colon cancer had spread to 10 out of 26 lymph nodes.

I was in shock, and knew my prognosis was not the best. To be honest, I did´t think I would live five years. I had a one-year old son, and was terrified I would not see him grow up. In my head it was very black or white - either I would get sick and die within five years, or I would never have a recurrence and continue with my life as before after this ordeal was through. (I saw my mother die from colon cancer at age 50, and propably assumed my cancer would be like hers).

What I did not foresee, was that I would be very much alive five years after diagnosis - but with recurrent cancer. I had a lung recurrence three years ago and am NED still. Colon cancer treatment has improved in many ways the last 20 years - in fact my surgeon told me last week that had my disease been treated 20 years earlier at his hospital, I would not have recieved the lung metastasectomy. They would have given me palliative chemo, not given me curative treament. Now they say that even though I need two more years of follow up scans, my prognosis is good - and I can even finally get the DIEP breast reconstruction (a massive surgery they have posponed until they thought I was most likely long-term NED.)

I write this post not to congratulate myself or recieve support from the board, I know some can wonder why those cancer-free are posting. But it helped me a lot when I was newly diagnosed to read posts from people with similar diagnosis to mine who were alive and well five years on. I certainly did nothing to deserve surviving more than others, this feels totally random. I am not the same person as before cancer, and I miss the person I used to be. But I am alive and get to see my son start school next month.



Wishing you all the best possible summer!

Mys
CC diagnosed June 2010 (at 34), stage 3C. 10/26 lymph nodes. Simultaneous DCIS breast cancer. Lung met first seen on scan March 2012 (6mm), open lung surgery October 2012 (8mm). Biopsy confirmed metastasis. No chemo after lung surgery. NED.

Valorie
Posts: 365
Joined: Mon May 05, 2014 6:33 am

Re: Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby Valorie » Sun Jun 28, 2015 7:20 am

Congratulations! You are a warrior and have conquered! Thank you for posting - you're right, it does give hope to see stories like yours.

Val
Age 53 dx 2a CC 0/21 LN Oncotypedx score: 11
Sigmoidectomy 5/8/14
MSS No lymphovasular involvement,
6/14 PET - NED, 12/14 CT NED, 7/15 CT - NED
6/14-12/9/14 Xeloda 8 cycles
2/12/15 incisional hernia repair - Boooo!

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NZJay
Posts: 640
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2013 3:00 pm
Location: NZ

Re: Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby NZJay » Sun Jun 28, 2015 7:27 am

Thank you for your story, and for being a warrior(ess)!
May NED remain always so.
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

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cmewrrie
Posts: 168
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2015 9:03 pm

Re: Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby cmewrrie » Sun Jun 28, 2015 7:47 am

Congrats and thank you for sharing your story. Stories like this are incredibly important to hear...they provide much needed hope!
wife of DH (04/24/15 dx: age 43) Low RC T3N0M0 stage 2
4/27/15 clear CT
5/18 - 6/25 chemo/rad (ended xeloda on 6/19 due to side effects)
8/12/15 - ULAR scheduled - APR performed due to location - path showed T1N0M0
9/25 begin 5 rounds of xelox
10/30/15 - switch to xeloda only due to allergic reaction
1/22/16- last xeloda!
3/27/16 - post treatment CT - clear except soft tissue presacral area (possibly scar tissue) CEA .5
4/20/16 - post treatment colonoscopy

MSJC
Posts: 158
Joined: Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:31 am
Location: Ashland City, Tn.

Re: Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby MSJC » Sun Jun 28, 2015 7:59 am

Congrats!
Mike, 49 y/o at Dx 1/14 stage 3c
low rectal cancer 7 nodes positive
2/14 5 weeks chemo/rad. 5-fu
4/14 Lar gallbladder removed,
temp ileostomy
5/14 8 rds Folfox
10/14 reversal surgery
5/15 clean colonoscopy
6/15 clean ct scan

ilivebyfaith
Posts: 116
Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2014 8:18 am

Re: Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby ilivebyfaith » Sun Jun 28, 2015 8:01 am

Thank you for this post. Certainly gives us more reasons not to lose hope.
Carer to DH 42, DX MCRC IV mets liver,lungs 9/9/14;Wild type, KRAS/NRAS nonmutant; Folfox 3x Folfox+Vectibix 3x CTscan, liver mets gone, colon tumor 12 to 15cm, lung mets inc (31-R, 19-L); Change: FOLFIRI + erbitux 6x, colon and liver clear, progress in lungs. Change: folfirinox + Avastin 12x, lung metastasectomy, molecular profiling, folfiri + erbitux, progression, will be switched to stivarga PRAISE GOD FOR HIS FAITHFULNESS!

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Annemiek
Posts: 304
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2015 4:05 am
Location: The Hague, Netherlands

Re: Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby Annemiek » Sun Jun 28, 2015 8:23 am

May you be NED for ever more, inspiring hope in all who need it!

Annemiek

43 yr mum of a girl aged 7
10/2014 coloncancer stage IIIc
11/2014 HIPEC, tumor removed + 12 positive out of 60 ln
hysterectomy, abdominal lining partly removed
Peridonitus, stoma fitted, 6 abcesses drained in abdomen
MSS, kras
3/2015 Folfox, someones playing kill Bill inside me
9/2015 finished 12 rounds,
First scan results: NED!!!!!!!!!
4/2016 ct scan: NED!!!
7/2016 ultrasound: NED
10/2016 cr scan: NED
5/2017 ultrasound: NED 2,5 yrs!
CEA 8/2017 1.8 stable.
CT scan 11/2017 NED! 3 yrs
CEA 1.9

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

Re: Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby Lee » Sun Jun 28, 2015 3:47 pm

Congratulations and what an inspiring journey you have traveled. So glad you post it. Yes medical medicine has improved a lot in the last 20 yrs. Thank goodness.

May you always reside in NEDville.

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!

Ron50
Posts: 699
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:04 pm

Re: Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby Ron50 » Sun Jun 28, 2015 4:02 pm

Congratulations mys. A tough road but there again you had a very good reason to survive , hugs Ron.
dx 1/98
st 3 c 6 nodes
48 sessions 5Fu/levamisole
no recurrence cea <.5
numerous l/t side effects of chemo

teachpdx
Posts: 634
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:29 am
Location: Portland, OR

Re: Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby teachpdx » Sun Jun 28, 2015 6:37 pm

Congratulations and may you have many many more years with your son and get to see a grandbaby.
4/24/12 RC T3N1M0 age 53
5/23-7/2 - 26 chemorad - Xeloda
7/16 Lynch- MSH2
8/28 LAR w/ temp ileo, CR, 0/11,M0, hysterectomy
10/13 6 cycles Xeloda - completed only 1 1/2 due to HFS
3/12/13 - reversal
8/13 NED
6/15 - HFS gone!

ams5796
Posts: 2298
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:07 am

Re: Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby ams5796 » Sun Jun 28, 2015 7:08 pm

That's a really great post! I'm really happy for you.



Ann
Stage 3C (or 4?) Rectal Cancer 01/07
2/10 lung mets
3/11 VATS
6/11 VATS
7/13 lung met
2/14 SBRT
NED 8/14
5/17 scan and MRI found treated spine met

drw
Posts: 51
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2014 4:43 am

Re: Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby drw » Mon Jun 29, 2015 5:21 am

Congratulations and thank you for the post. It helps.
4/14 dx rectal cancer at 45 yoa
4/14 transanal excision
6/14 lar - 2 positive lymph nodes stage 3
8/14 started radiation and xeloda
1/15 completed chemo
2/15 Ned :)
3/15 reversal

stupidcancer
Posts: 72
Joined: Sun Nov 17, 2013 5:48 pm

Re: Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby stupidcancer » Mon Jun 29, 2015 6:07 am

Soooo happy for you! Seeing posts like yours give hope for so many especially those starting on this journey!
God bless you and your family :(
Hugs
Cora
47 yo f
Resection Sept '13
Stage 3B cc
12X Folfux 10-31-13
Red Oxi at 3 out at 8 severe neuropathy
Brain MRI 2-14-14 for vision,stuttering issues Neurologist said small stroke
3-20-14 Dr stopped chemo due to health issues
03-24-14 Clear colonoscopy!
05-06-14 Clear CT NED!!!!
11-07-14 Clear CT still NED :)
11-11-14 Clear colonoscopy
6-5-15 2 spots on CT, PET and biopsy scheduled
6-11-15 PET scan 3 mets
6-17-15 needle biopsy pos for cancer
6-24-15 met with surgeon ref to St. Louis for HIPEC

Nik Colon

Re: Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby Nik Colon » Mon Jun 29, 2015 2:57 pm

Congrats, nice to hear these stories :)

Stanfordmom
Posts: 612
Joined: Wed May 14, 2014 1:32 am

Re: Diagnosed with stage 3C CC five years ago today

Postby Stanfordmom » Wed Jul 01, 2015 2:45 am

Gosh. You have been through so much and you are so inspiring!

Thank you for posting!
DX 4/2/2014 at 44, stage 4, mets liver and ovaries
Mom to 2 boys
Three surgeries, HAI pump and lots of chemo
fighting!


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