5 weeks post radiation - good news

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AppleTree
Posts: 267
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2016 8:16 am

5 weeks post radiation - good news

Postby AppleTree » Wed May 25, 2016 1:17 pm

I had my 5 week post chemo/radiation MRI yesterday. The DR called today and said that I had "significant" results and they were pleased. Surgery scheduled for June 17. I have to check into the hospital the morning of June 16th...my son's 13th birthday. Mom is getting the gift of more life! DR said to expect a 14 day stay at the hospital. Seems long-ish to me, but gives me peace of mind to know I will be well looked after. Moving forward!

So very happy. Radiation was not easy for me, but the positive results make me happy. As a matter of fact, I am still very tired. But, it worked!
Diag Feb 5, 2016 Age 45
3 cm tumor 5 cm from verge
Radiation + Xeloda pills - 3000mg 5x week
3/14 - 4/16 - 25 sessions
Shrank just over 50% L nodes 0/13
Remove rectum with temp Ileo 6/17
Reversal 7/20 due to infection
Acute hepatitis August. Chemo cancelled
June to September 2016 - 58 days in hospital

2017
6/16, MRI shadow in lung
Pet - 6.6mm Met in Upper R lobe
7/30 VAT surgery Mass General/Boston
8/24 port
8/30 - 4/28 Folfox. 12 rounds
2018
June CT shows new lung Mets.
July/Oct PETs...CLEAR!

Nik Colon

Re: 5 weeks post radiation - good news

Postby Nik Colon » Wed May 25, 2016 1:22 pm

Best wishes on the upcoming surgery.

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chemo sabe
Posts: 444
Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 9:01 pm

Re: 5 weeks post radiation - good news

Postby chemo sabe » Wed May 25, 2016 2:08 pm

Happy for your news, I hope good things continue for you. I think you are right about the hospital time being too long. I had open surgery and had both my ascending and descending colon resectioned. There were more than 70 staples to put me back together, two drains, and a wonderful stoma (ileostomy). I was out of the hospital 4 days after my operation.
64 year old male
Diagnosed Stage 3 Rectal Cancer - T3N1M0 - Oct 2011
28 radiation treatments with xeloda
Colon resection with ileostomy Feb 2012
8 Rounds of Xelox completed Sept 2012
Ileostomy reversal surgery Oct 2012
Incisional Hernia Repair Nov 2013

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

Re: 5 weeks post radiation - good news

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Wed May 25, 2016 4:41 pm

Wonderful news!*hugs* I hope your surgery and recovery go smoothly!*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! :)

weisssoccermom
Posts: 5988
Joined: Thu May 10, 2007 2:32 pm
Location: Pacific NW

Re: 5 weeks post radiation - good news

Postby weisssoccermom » Wed May 25, 2016 7:52 pm

Not that it is a guarantee but hopefully you'll have more shrinkage in the next few weeks....which is always good news.
Are you sure that your doctor didn't say FOUR days? 14 days is VERY long and highly unlikely unless he expects some SERIOUS problems due to other preexisting medical conditions. I certainly would verify that.
Dx 6/22/2006 IIA rectal cancer
6 wks rad/Xeloda -finished 9/06
1st attempt transanal excision 11/06
11/17/06 XELOX 1 cycle
5 months Xeloda only Dec '06 - April '07
10+ blood clots, 1 DVT 1/07
transanal excision 4/20/07 path-NO CANCER CELLS!
NED now and forever!
Perform random acts of kindness

Steph20021
Posts: 553
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:58 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: 5 weeks post radiation - good news

Postby Steph20021 » Wed May 25, 2016 8:21 pm

Very pleased to read your good news. Hoping the good news continues with your surgery.
DX 1/31/14 @ 33- SPS-T4a(invades visceral peri), N2a(6/106 LN), M1a(ovary) (Stage 4a) MSS; BRAF V600E
2/1/14-subtotal col, lost R ovary, temp ileo
3/14-9/14- folfox; sepsis
11/14-CT/PET: L ovary met, pelvic met, (?)ghost liver met(?)
12/14-folfiri -13 rds kept me stable from 3/15-6/15
8/15-HIPEC, NED
09/15- cea 0.9
05/16- recurrence in abdo wall and lymph nodes
01/17- pulmonary embolism
02/17- 1 wk radiation to abdo wall
08/16- on folfiri
01/18-folfox
11/18- Beacon trial-encorafenib & cetuximab

AppleTree
Posts: 267
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2016 8:16 am

Re: 5 weeks post radiation - good news

Postby AppleTree » Thu May 26, 2016 8:45 am

I am pretty sure they will go with the hysterectomy during the surgery. Maybe that is why they said 14 days. Originally they told me 7-8 days. I guess if I plan on 14 and get out at 8, I will feel good. But if they say 8 and I get out in 14, then I will be impatient. Who knows! I am in Austria and over here I think they tend to keep you longer, as a precaution.
Diag Feb 5, 2016 Age 45
3 cm tumor 5 cm from verge
Radiation + Xeloda pills - 3000mg 5x week
3/14 - 4/16 - 25 sessions
Shrank just over 50% L nodes 0/13
Remove rectum with temp Ileo 6/17
Reversal 7/20 due to infection
Acute hepatitis August. Chemo cancelled
June to September 2016 - 58 days in hospital

2017
6/16, MRI shadow in lung
Pet - 6.6mm Met in Upper R lobe
7/30 VAT surgery Mass General/Boston
8/24 port
8/30 - 4/28 Folfox. 12 rounds
2018
June CT shows new lung Mets.
July/Oct PETs...CLEAR!

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

Re: 5 weeks post radiation - good news

Postby Lee » Thu May 26, 2016 10:10 am

Congratulations on the good news. Good luck with upcoming surgery. I would check regarding days in hospital. I too had a hysterectomy with my surgery and I was out in 4-5 days. Was told I could be in hospital 5-10 days.

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!

User avatar
BrownBagger
Posts: 7954
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:56 pm
Location: Central NYS

Re: 5 weeks post radiation - good news

Postby BrownBagger » Thu May 26, 2016 10:12 am

I had an LAR and loop ileostomy, and I was out of the hospital after 4 days. Another 4 days for reversal and yet another 4 days for double lung surgery.

I guess that's just the way I roll.

Good luck to you, and I hope your stay in the hospital is as short as possible. But hey, don't rush recovery. Let your body heal at its own pace.
Eric, 58
Dx: 3/09, Stage 4 RC
Recurrences: (ongoing, lung, bronchial cavity, ribs)
Major Ops: 6/ RFA: 3 /bronchoscopies: 8
Pelvic radiation: 5 wks. Bronchial radiation—brachytheray: 3 treatments
Chemo Rounds (career):136
Current Chemo Cocktail: Xeloda & Erbitux & Irinotecan biweekly
Current Cocktail; On the Wagon (mostly)
Bicycle miles post-dx 10,477
Motto: Live your life like it's going to be a long one, because it just might, and then you'll be glad you did.

AppleTree
Posts: 267
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2016 8:16 am

Re: 5 weeks post radiation - good news

Postby AppleTree » Thu May 26, 2016 12:44 pm

Yes, I am very skeptical that I will be in the hospital for 14 days! Other than being very tired, I feel healthy going in...I am walking a fair bit every day - you tend to walk alot in a city anyway. But then again, they kept me for 2 nights for my colonoscopy on day 1, followed by CT and MRI on day 2. They actually had me all signed into the hospital on Friday after a scope and thought I would stay until Tuesday...that would have been 4 days. I really wanted to go home for the weekend so they ran some blood tests and said I could go, but made me promise to come back Sunday afternoon for the colon prep. Like I wouldn't come back!

When my husband had his cancer surgery, he was in the hospital I think 5 or 6 weeks! They did not send him home until a few days after they removed his staples. He had a 3 kg (6.6 pound) tumor. It will be 7 years cancer free for him in November.
Diag Feb 5, 2016 Age 45
3 cm tumor 5 cm from verge
Radiation + Xeloda pills - 3000mg 5x week
3/14 - 4/16 - 25 sessions
Shrank just over 50% L nodes 0/13
Remove rectum with temp Ileo 6/17
Reversal 7/20 due to infection
Acute hepatitis August. Chemo cancelled
June to September 2016 - 58 days in hospital

2017
6/16, MRI shadow in lung
Pet - 6.6mm Met in Upper R lobe
7/30 VAT surgery Mass General/Boston
8/24 port
8/30 - 4/28 Folfox. 12 rounds
2018
June CT shows new lung Mets.
July/Oct PETs...CLEAR!

CatherineG inAF
Posts: 34
Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 7:39 am

Re: 5 weeks post radiation - good news

Postby CatherineG inAF » Thu May 26, 2016 12:54 pm

Congrats on your news. I'm sure you are right about your longer stay being due to the country you are in. They race to get you out of the hospital in the US. I'm pleased for you.
53 & Female
Diagnosed in Thailand
DX: Rectal Cancer (RC)
Tumor Location: Rectum
Tumor type: invasive adenocarcinoma
Tumor size: 4 mm
Tumor grade: low grade
Baseline CEA value (4.46) 5/2016
CEA 6/2/2016 4.8
Lynch- Negative.
LAR 7/13/2016 in Seatle, Wa
Home 7/18/2016. SCCA did a good job managing the pain. Waiting lab resulsts

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

Re: 5 weeks post radiation - good news

Postby Lee » Thu May 26, 2016 4:57 pm

AppleTree wrote:... But then again, they kept me for 2 nights for my colonoscopy...

When my husband had his cancer surgery, he was in the hospital I think 5 or 6 weeks! They did not send him home until a few days after they removed his staples. He had a 3 kg (6.6 pound) tumor. It will be 7 years cancer free for him in November.


OK you are probably right on the 14 days. I don't go to the hospital for my scopes. I go to an out patient clinic and I'm in and out in a few hours.

Congratulation to your husband being 7 years cancer free.

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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