Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

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dianetavegia
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Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 8:47 pm
Facebook Username: Diane Weldy Tavegia
Location: Villa Rica, Georgia

Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby dianetavegia » Mon Aug 10, 2015 12:08 pm

It's two months til I have my next liver MRI and chest CT and get the results back. I always get a bit of anxiety when they call with the scheduled dates. It usually subsides after a day or so then returns a week or 10 days prior to the test and results.

HOWEVER........ I just realized Aug. 15th celebrates 6 years since my final disconnect from that evil FOLFOX which has left me with L'Hermitte's Syndrome, Mechanical Allodynia from toes to mid thigh and partial finger prints.

So, I will celebrate THAT and be thankful that I didn't have chemo after my liver resection 3 years and 4 months ago. I am now 6 years 7 months and 3 days from my colon resection. I'm thankful for every day God has seen fit to give me!

Diane
Stage III cc surgery 1/7/09. 12 tx FOLFOX
Stage IV PET = 1.5cm liver met. HR 4/11/12

14 years since dx and 11 years post liver resection.
Pronounced CURED and discharged by onc

“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.” Psalms 30:2

jalusa
Posts: 221
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2015 9:26 am

Re: Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby jalusa » Mon Aug 10, 2015 12:17 pm

Congrats! I hope I can get there.

Can you tell me about your hands please? Mine have been getting worse and I have been off of oxi for 3 months... Have yours gotten better?
Hoping to get to resection with HAI pump.
Failed PVE - Searching for options
Chemo for life

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dianetavegia
Posts: 2731
Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 8:47 pm
Facebook Username: Diane Weldy Tavegia
Location: Villa Rica, Georgia

Re: Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby dianetavegia » Tue Aug 11, 2015 9:43 am

My hands DID get better, tho after 6 full years, my finger tips still tingle and I sometimes have trouble with small things like tiny buttons or picking up coins. ATM's won't read my fingers at times but I lost all my fingerprints for several years.

I was volunteering with Civil Air Patrol and had to have FBI clearance. After three refusals, a prison guard told me to soak my hands in warm water for an hour or so, lather up with hand lotion and then go for my prints. I also had to send a letter from my onc listing the ingredients in FOLFOX and possible side effects. They accepted me that time.

My feet never got better tho I got used to the 'wet sand' sensation. The allodynia came on slowly and only bothers me when I go to bed at night and the sheet rubs across my legs. If I rub my legs hard, like putting on lotion, the sensation subsides. I won't take meds for it since it's harmless.
Stage III cc surgery 1/7/09. 12 tx FOLFOX
Stage IV PET = 1.5cm liver met. HR 4/11/12

14 years since dx and 11 years post liver resection.
Pronounced CURED and discharged by onc

“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.” Psalms 30:2

Teddi
Posts: 241
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2014 1:44 pm
Facebook Username: teddimcfarland

Re: Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby Teddi » Tue Aug 11, 2015 10:51 am

Congratulations on beating the odds. I hope the NED status is yours to keep. Thank you for sharing, I love these types of updates.

Teddi
47 at diagnosis
Colonoscopy, biopsy, CT, PET 6/14
Rectal cancer (tentatively) Stage III-b, MSS
Xeloda and radiation 25x finished 8/14
FOLFOX 5 cycles
Surgery 1/23/14 ~ T1N0MX ~ temp illeostomy
FOLFOX 3 cycles = total of 8
Illeostomy reversal 4/8/15
Clean scans x2, clear colonoscopy 9/15

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

Re: Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Tue Aug 11, 2015 3:17 pm

Congratulations on six years out! *hugs* Sorry that you suffer from effects from FOLFOX.*hugs*
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! :)

Leeloo
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2014 5:02 pm
Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Re: Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby Leeloo » Tue Aug 11, 2015 6:16 pm

Woohoo!!! Wonderful news, thank you for sharing.
(R) hemicolectomy 13/08/13
Stage IIB T4N0(0/6)M0
Xelox x 4 (Scot trial)
NED

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

Re: Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby nbrandt » Tue Aug 11, 2015 7:51 pm

Thinking of you with prayers. I share the same Folfox side effects but feel glad we are both still here. We are here for you.
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

lpas
Posts: 1010
Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2014 11:11 pm

Re: Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby lpas » Tue Aug 11, 2015 9:34 pm

Congratulations, Diane! What a terrific success story!
11/14 Dx sigmoid CC @ 45yo
12/14 Colectomy + hysterectomy
Stage IIIB, T3N1bM0, 2/20 nodes, MSS, G2, KRAS(A146T), TP53, SMAD4, ERBB2, CEA 1.0
2/15-7/15 XELOX & celecoxib
2/19 clean scope
11/19 clean CT
Ongoing cimetidine & other targeted supplements
Mom to a 6 & 8yo

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Phuong
Posts: 1508
Joined: Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:43 pm
Facebook Username: Phuong Ly Gallagher

Re: Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby Phuong » Wed Aug 12, 2015 12:36 am

Congratulations Diane!!!!! We'll be celebrating with you my friend.
Phuong
http://sonofamotherlessgoat.net/
dx'd Stage III Rectal (T3 N1 M0)
Now Stage IV mCRC

Nik Colon

Re: Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby Nik Colon » Wed Aug 12, 2015 3:00 am

Congrats! Awesome!

Nik Colon

Re: Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby Nik Colon » Wed Aug 12, 2015 3:01 am

jalusa wrote:Congrats! I hope I can get there.

Can you tell me about your hands please? Mine have been getting worse and I have been off of oxi for 3 months... Have yours gotten better?

Have you tried Gabapentin?

jalusa
Posts: 221
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2015 9:26 am

Re: Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby jalusa » Wed Aug 12, 2015 9:14 am

I had heard that people didn't have much luck with that...
Hoping to get to resection with HAI pump.
Failed PVE - Searching for options
Chemo for life

Nik Colon

Re: Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby Nik Colon » Wed Aug 12, 2015 11:52 am

jalusa wrote:I had heard that people didn't have much luck with that...

Check this search link, seems it works for some
search.php?keywords=Gabapentin+&fid%5B0%5D=1

susiejenkins39
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2015 3:53 pm

Re: Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby susiejenkins39 » Mon Aug 17, 2015 3:58 pm

Wow – that’s something to celebrate. Be thankful! I feel the same kind of anxiety – whenever I’m interacting with doctors (I’ve been in remission for 6 months). Meditating has helped – Reimagine’s 7 Minutes of Peace video is my favorite. You’ll get through it!

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

Re: Anniversary (off chemo) and anxiety.

Postby Lee » Mon Aug 17, 2015 6:43 pm

Congratulations. Best to you with upcoming test. I will be in your shoes next month. I see my Onc once a yr now and it's schedules a yr out.

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!


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