TXLiz wrote:I am worried if being diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in late August and not starting chemo until early October is ok?
A few weeks more weeks shouldn't make a big difference.
TXLiz wrote:I fear the future so much. I need to stay away from Dr Google, the colon cancer survival nomograms, the case studies with charts that feature survival lines that seem to be ski slopes down scarily steep mountains...
On one hand, it's very smart to learn everything you can about your cancer, the meaning of lab test results, the terms used on CT scans, etc. However, it's not good to use Dr. Google for prognosis. The articles are too out-of-date unless you have access to current medical journals and even then it's important to realize that
how you respond to treatment is
unique to you and you alone. MSK has good
CRC nomograms if you're interested, but stay away from googling every article/story about colon cancer.
TXLiz wrote:Is it terrible I watch junk TV and try to distract myself with things that aren't important? I hope not, as I think that is better than playing cancer researcher jr and scaring myself into a coma.
It's completely normal to want/crave distraction. At first I found myself going to movies just to turn off my mind. Of course, I had to carefully screen them to make sure they weren't about a cancer patient who died! I'm a runner so after a few days of freaking out, crying, and watching too many movies, I laced up my Nikes and headed outdoors. I listen to dance tracks on my iPod when I'm running so the endorphins hit my system right when "
What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger" came on. Suddenly I felt like Superwoman!
I kept running all the way through chemo (even though the speed and mileage went waaaay down) and it made all the difference in both my attitude and my ability to handle chemo.
I would suggest using this time to fully recover from the surgery and get strong for the upcoming chemo. Eat healthy foods, get some exercise, mediate/pray and relax as much as you can. People will tell you, "cancer is a marathon, not a sprint," and to do that marathon, you have to be as ready as you can be -- physically, mentally, and spiritually.
TXLiz wrote:We decided to go MD Anderson and make that drive. It's only 3 hours each way, and that's a short drive to receive care.
Yes!
So glad to hear you're going to MD Anderson! And glad to hear you have your notebook ready to go. It's nice to have a water bottle (either filled with water or your favorite juice) and something to nibble on during the infusion. Goldfish crackers were my go-to snack. Also you might take a book to read or a movie to watch on your iPad or something to distract you. It's a longish day so it's a good idea to prepare for it.
Sending good energy and prayers your way!
Julie