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Thetoad
Posts: 165
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 2:46 am
Location: New Zealand

New member

Postby Thetoad » Mon Nov 23, 2015 3:24 am

Just joined this forum and looking forward to sharing and learning. Maybe tomorrow. Time to go to bed in NZ now!
Emergency extended rt hemi November 2013.
Complete blockage, small perforation.
Stage 2a.
T3N0M0
22 Lymph nodes clear.
No bag.

Yearly appts appts and 6 monthly CEA tests.
Incisional hernia repair, mesh Nov. 2014.
Cellulitus
CEA 1.4 on 28/7/17
27/5/17. Gallbladder removed, open.
Good consultation Feb. 2017
CEA 1.7 on 16/11/17 colonoscopy ok Jan. 2018 :)
Nurse pleased, March 2018. CEA 1.8. One more CEA test and hopefully last appt in November, 2018.
Prostate cancer, Gleason 7 (3+4) Sept. '18.

stu
Posts: 1613
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:46 pm

Re: New member

Postby stu » Mon Nov 23, 2015 9:36 am

Hi.
Welcome to the forum and I look forward to hearing more from you.
Sleep well.
Stu
supporter to my mum who lives a great life despite a difficult diagnosis
stage4 2009 significant spread to liver
2010 colon /liver resection
chemo following recurrence
73% of liver removed
enjoying life treatment free
2016 lung resection
Oct 2017 nice clear scan . Two lung nodules disappeared
Oct 2018. Another clear scan .

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

Re: New member

Postby Teddi » Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:52 am

Welcome. This is a good place to learn what your options are during this headspinning time of diagnosis.

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: New member

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Mon Nov 23, 2015 2:25 pm

Welcome to the forum but sorry for the reason you're here. This board is wonderful for support and learning everything you can!*hugs* We are here for 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! :)

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

Re: New member

Postby NZJay » Mon Nov 23, 2015 2:48 pm

Welcome, fellow Kiwi! :)
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

Thetoad
Posts: 165
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 2:46 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: New member

Postby Thetoad » Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:24 pm

Hi. Thanks for the welcomes. A brief history: At age 67 had an emergency extended right hemicolectomy, only found after CT scan. Straight to theatre and all over in 3 hrs 31 minutes. No bag, but two pockets of infection which were dealt with. Surgery apparently just in time as there was a small perforation. 4 1/2 litres of liquid had built up and to quote the surgeon, 'that's the worst I've seen. Another night we could have lost you!' Sort of reassuring I suppose. Surgery was 13 Nov., 2013. All CEA tests since then good, colonoscopy 1 year later clear and 18 months CT scan also clear. Just passed the 2 year mark now. Just over 1 year after surgery had further op to repair large incisional hernia using mesh. Seems ok after 1 year, but a bulge which the surgeon says is fat. Both ops had infections in the scar and a dose of cellulitis for good measure. My concern now is the loose bowel movements still after 2 years. I take Konsyl D, a fibre supplement, but have been doing that only a month or so. I eat too much sweet stuff but no alcohol for almost 8 years now. Not a drop! (Yes, I was drinking a lot before that. Might have been part of the bowel cancer problem I'm told.)
That's it. Hope it wasn't too detailed or boring. I worry too much, but a five year worry is a bit much until the all clear signal. I'm wondering if 2 years is a milestone of any significance? The CEA tests are now 6 months and the consultant 9 I think. Best wishes to all and if you read this far, thank you! Hi Kiwi, where are you if it's ok to say on here?
Emergency extended rt hemi November 2013.
Complete blockage, small perforation.
Stage 2a.
T3N0M0
22 Lymph nodes clear.
No bag.

Yearly appts appts and 6 monthly CEA tests.
Incisional hernia repair, mesh Nov. 2014.
Cellulitus
CEA 1.4 on 28/7/17
27/5/17. Gallbladder removed, open.
Good consultation Feb. 2017
CEA 1.7 on 16/11/17 colonoscopy ok Jan. 2018 :)
Nurse pleased, March 2018. CEA 1.8. One more CEA test and hopefully last appt in November, 2018.
Prostate cancer, Gleason 7 (3+4) Sept. '18.

Thetoad
Posts: 165
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 2:46 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: New member

Postby Thetoad » Mon Nov 23, 2015 5:27 pm

NZJay. Sorry, I see you live in Wellington. Still getting used to the layout. 8)
Emergency extended rt hemi November 2013.
Complete blockage, small perforation.
Stage 2a.
T3N0M0
22 Lymph nodes clear.
No bag.

Yearly appts appts and 6 monthly CEA tests.
Incisional hernia repair, mesh Nov. 2014.
Cellulitus
CEA 1.4 on 28/7/17
27/5/17. Gallbladder removed, open.
Good consultation Feb. 2017
CEA 1.7 on 16/11/17 colonoscopy ok Jan. 2018 :)
Nurse pleased, March 2018. CEA 1.8. One more CEA test and hopefully last appt in November, 2018.
Prostate cancer, Gleason 7 (3+4) Sept. '18.

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

Re: New member

Postby NZJay » Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:51 pm

Thetoad wrote:NZJay. Sorry, I see you live in Wellington. Still getting used to the layout. 8)


No worries!
Did you have Chemotherapy? Any lymph node involvement?

We had surgery in the same month of the same year... I was also Nov 2013.

The 2 year mark is significant! 80% colon cancer recurrences happen in the first two years... my CT is in January so if we both get the pass mark, statistically we will be looking pretty good :).

I'm naughty - I still drink a lot haha.

Best wishes to you.
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

Thetoad
Posts: 165
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 2:46 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: New member

Postby Thetoad » Mon Nov 23, 2015 7:06 pm

No, no bag, chemo, lymph nodes (22) OK and no spreading. Last CT scan all good. So, one of the 'lucky ones.' In a way. Good to read of the 80% statistic. Didn't know that. Mine was T3N0M0. All very scary at the time. Good luck for the next scan. I don't know when or if I shall have another one. Cheers.
Emergency extended rt hemi November 2013.
Complete blockage, small perforation.
Stage 2a.
T3N0M0
22 Lymph nodes clear.
No bag.

Yearly appts appts and 6 monthly CEA tests.
Incisional hernia repair, mesh Nov. 2014.
Cellulitus
CEA 1.4 on 28/7/17
27/5/17. Gallbladder removed, open.
Good consultation Feb. 2017
CEA 1.7 on 16/11/17 colonoscopy ok Jan. 2018 :)
Nurse pleased, March 2018. CEA 1.8. One more CEA test and hopefully last appt in November, 2018.
Prostate cancer, Gleason 7 (3+4) Sept. '18.

Thetoad
Posts: 165
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 2:46 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: New member

Postby Thetoad » Mon Nov 23, 2015 8:12 pm

NZJay wrote:
Thetoad wrote:NZJay. Sorry, I see you live in Wellington. Still getting used to the layout. 8)


No worries!
Did you have Chemotherapy? Any lymph node involvement?

We had surgery in the same month of the same year... I was also Nov 2013.

The 2 year mark is significant! 80% colon cancer recurrences happen in the first two years... my CT is in January so if we both get the pass mark, statistically we will be looking pretty good :).

I'm naughty - I still drink a lot haha.

Best wishes to you.

I think I might have worked out how to reply on the actual post? We'll see...
Emergency extended rt hemi November 2013.
Complete blockage, small perforation.
Stage 2a.
T3N0M0
22 Lymph nodes clear.
No bag.

Yearly appts appts and 6 monthly CEA tests.
Incisional hernia repair, mesh Nov. 2014.
Cellulitus
CEA 1.4 on 28/7/17
27/5/17. Gallbladder removed, open.
Good consultation Feb. 2017
CEA 1.7 on 16/11/17 colonoscopy ok Jan. 2018 :)
Nurse pleased, March 2018. CEA 1.8. One more CEA test and hopefully last appt in November, 2018.
Prostate cancer, Gleason 7 (3+4) Sept. '18.

Thetoad
Posts: 165
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 2:46 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: New member

Postby Thetoad » Sun Dec 06, 2015 9:04 pm

Turned 70 yesterday! Until the bowel cancer I prided myself as being quite fit with no health worries, apart from high blood pressure which is controlled with medication. All quite a shock when I was told that I needed emergency surgery. I'm finding the niggling worry about recurrence a bit hard to deal with at times, even though all is ok 2 years later. Any sites I could refer to to learn how to cope with this? I know it's normal to have concerns and there are people who are far worse than I am, but just asking...
Emergency extended rt hemi November 2013.
Complete blockage, small perforation.
Stage 2a.
T3N0M0
22 Lymph nodes clear.
No bag.

Yearly appts appts and 6 monthly CEA tests.
Incisional hernia repair, mesh Nov. 2014.
Cellulitus
CEA 1.4 on 28/7/17
27/5/17. Gallbladder removed, open.
Good consultation Feb. 2017
CEA 1.7 on 16/11/17 colonoscopy ok Jan. 2018 :)
Nurse pleased, March 2018. CEA 1.8. One more CEA test and hopefully last appt in November, 2018.
Prostate cancer, Gleason 7 (3+4) Sept. '18.

SurvivorsSpouse
Posts: 88
Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2015 12:38 pm

Re: New member

Postby SurvivorsSpouse » Mon Dec 07, 2015 7:23 am

Thetoad wrote:No, no bag, chemo, lymph nodes (22) OK and no spreading. Last CT scan all good. So, one of the 'lucky ones.' In a way. Good to read of the 80% statistic. Didn't know that. Mine was T3N0M0. All very scary at the time. Good luck for the next scan. I don't know when or if I shall have another one. Cheers.


Some more good news for you...

My wife was diagnosed T3N0M0 in Aug 2012 for high rectal/rectosigmoid
Surgery Sept 2012 no ileo
No chemoradiation
We just had her 3yr NED celebration
Surgeon and Onc at a major cancer center both told us 2yrs was big, but this is really big.

So keep going, there is hope......

Thetoad
Posts: 165
Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 2:46 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: New member

Postby Thetoad » Mon Dec 07, 2015 10:29 pm

SurvivorsSpouse wrote:
Thetoad wrote:No, no bag, chemo, lymph nodes (22) OK and no spreading. Last CT scan all good. So, one of the 'lucky ones.' In a way. Good to read of the 80% statistic. Didn't know that. Mine was T3N0M0. All very scary at the time. Good luck for the next scan. I don't know when or if I shall have another one. Cheers.


Some more good news for you...

My wife was diagnosed T3N0M0 in Aug 2012 for high rectal/rectosigmoid
Surgery Sept 2012 no ileo
No chemoradiation
We just had her 3yr NED celebration
Surgeon and Onc at a major cancer center both told us 2yrs was big, but this is really big.

So keep going, there is hope......


Thanks for that. Quite encouraging. Hope your wife keeps going too!
Emergency extended rt hemi November 2013.
Complete blockage, small perforation.
Stage 2a.
T3N0M0
22 Lymph nodes clear.
No bag.

Yearly appts appts and 6 monthly CEA tests.
Incisional hernia repair, mesh Nov. 2014.
Cellulitus
CEA 1.4 on 28/7/17
27/5/17. Gallbladder removed, open.
Good consultation Feb. 2017
CEA 1.7 on 16/11/17 colonoscopy ok Jan. 2018 :)
Nurse pleased, March 2018. CEA 1.8. One more CEA test and hopefully last appt in November, 2018.
Prostate cancer, Gleason 7 (3+4) Sept. '18.

Buxton
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Feb 28, 2014 4:34 am

Re: New member

Postby Buxton » Thu Dec 17, 2015 9:34 pm

DarknessEmbraced wrote:Welcome to the forum but sorry for the reason you're here. This board is wonderful for support and learning everything you can!*hugs* We are here for you!

Hi. Just browsing and noticed that your surgery was quite similar to mine. I was also T3N0M0 with 22 lymph nodes ok. No chemo or radiation either. It was open surgery - an extended right hemicolectomy. An emergency, as there was a blockage and a lot had built up behind it. 4 1/2 litres I was told! So far, all bloods, CT scan and colonoscopy all clear with no recurrence seen. Mine was Nov 2013, so I think I am a year ahead of you. Just wondering how it is going now for you and hoping that you are growing more confident as the weeks pass. And Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year! I am eating well, too well this month. I won't go into bowel movements etc. Too much information people tell me. All the best from NZ.

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

Re: New member

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Fri Dec 18, 2015 12:15 pm

I've been taking Dicetel because I used to get really bad bowel spasms every time I ate and would get diarrhea as well. I still have bowel issues daily. The surgeon thinks possibly IBS. I still have abdominal pain and pain in my incision sometimes. Because of my pathology report saying lymph vascular invasion as being undetermined in the back of my mind I worry about recurrence. My CEA and CA 125 are checked every 3 months. My CA 125 is going up but I know there are other reasons besides cancer that it can go up. CEA has always been low even before surgery. I'm glad you're able to eat well and are doing well! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well! :D
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! :)


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