Another Newbie here - Stage IIIC questions on treatment

[testing765]

The oncologist and surgeon predicted I would be a stage 2 or possibly even a stage 1. Like you, on the day my staples were removed, I learned I was a stage 3b. That was a really difficult day.

Your chemotherapy is considered "cook book" treatment, I had the same chemotherapy regimen. Even though I live within commuting distance to Sloan Kettering, I stayed local. My chemo center was 15 minutes away, so convenient, and I could drive myself. Four hour drive? I could not handle that alone.

A nurse came to my house to disconnect me. Again, very convenient. See if your insurance covers something like that. 13 positive lymph nodes is not a low number. But I remember my surgeon saying he was happy with the total number of lymph nodes that he removed. And in your case you had a high total number of lymph nodes removed, which is good. That way, your ratio of positive lymph nodes to total lymph removed is lower and I think that is a good thing.

If I can be of any encouragement, I had seven positive lymph nodes, and now, two years after surgery, I had a ct scan this week, and I currently have no evidence of disease.

I wish you peace and strength during this stressful time. One day at a time and you will make it through this.

[Need2talk]

Thank you for posting this. I am currently waiting to have surgery to remove part of my colon and lymph nodes. They think they caught it early too and I am trying to stay positive but also trying to prepare, if you can, for the possibility that it may be in my nodes as well. You are all in my thoughts!!!

[LHCwife]

Thanks for your reply, I did look into getting disconnected locally and looks like that is definitely a possibility!
I appreciate your encouragement as well, i keep telling myself it is what is I put my trust in the lord annd his plan for me.

[Ron50]

Hi LCHwife,
I was 48 when dxed with an aggressive stage 3c tumour into six nodes. There was none of the platinum drugs when I had chemo just bags of 5Fu via canular and 9 tablets of levamisole for three days after every second Tuesday. I had chemo for 48 Tuesdays. By the end I really hated Tuesdays. The 22nd of January will see the end of year 19 of survival. It has not all been pleasant but there has been no further cancer. Wishing you well for your treatment and a long and cancer free future, Ron.

[nomoretacos]

Hi LCHwife,
I had chemo just bags of 5Fu via canular and 9 tablets of levamisole for three days after every second Tuesday. I had chemo for 48 Tuesdays.

Wow 48 sessions of chemo?? I'm stage 3c and have my last cycle (12) of FOLOX next week. Why did you have so many sessions, was it the norm back then? Obviously its done its job!

So glad to hear you've been NED for so long, it really gives a stage 3c'er hope for the future

[ramg_sg]

3 years+ on Chemo. Side effects limited to Constipation, jaw lock when I take the first bite of any food (4 days after Chemo), nothing cold. First two times, I religiously took the anti-vomit and Dex steroid tabs. Later, as I wasn't feeling nausea, stopped taking them.

For Constipation, I took some lactose syrup to ease out and took very small bites initially while eating, till that Jaw lock feeling has been overcome.
Keep salt water in a bottle and keep gargling whenever you visit the rest room, that helps to prevent mouth ulcer.

As someone said 'Listen to your body' !! All will be well !!

[Tumbleweed444]

Hello,
I am also a Newbie (just joined CC yesterday), 50 years old, DX Sept 7 2016, Surgery was Oct 4th, Stage IIIC, 5/30 lymph nodes. I just received my pathology report yesterday, so I haven't even spoke to my doctors yet. I will begin chemo Oct 27th and have some of the same questions and concerns as LHCwife. I just wanted to say HELLO and THANK YOU to all who post and help answer the many questions that accompanies this DX.
Tumbleweed444

[horizon]

3 years+ on Chemo. Side effects limited to Constipation, jaw lock when I take the first bite of any food (4 days after Chemo), nothing cold. First two times, I religiously took the anti-vomit and Dex steroid tabs. Later, as I wasn't feeling nausea, stopped taking them.

I really wish someone would have warned me about "first bite pain" because it freaked me out when it happened to me. Luckily I was able to learn from this forum that it is a common side effect.

[Adezroz]

I was diagnosed with a 10 cm tumor and I am so scared I had just had the colonoscopy when I first posted my results is malignant partially obstructing tumor at 10cm proximal to the anus. I am trying to be strong but I get waves of fear I don't know what to expect I wish I had someone to talk too

[kellywin]

I was diagnosed with a 10 cm tumor and I am so scared I had just had the colonoscopy when I first posted my results is malignant partially obstructing tumor at 10cm proximal to the anus. I am trying to be strong but I get waves of fear I don't know what to expect I wish I had someone to talk too

We all know that feeling. And no one you know can understand or help. There are so many supportive people on this board, everyone is here for you. Start any thread you want, ask anything.

[Adezroz]

I feel so afraid I just want to sleep and block everything out its so hard to get up and do the normal things I always and go to work but I need my insurance I just feel lost what do I do?

[kellywin]

I feel so afraid I just want to sleep and block everything out its so hard to get up and do the normal things I always and go to work but I need my insurance I just feel lost what do I do?

Of course you are afraid - anyone would be. I certainly was. I spent months being afraid. But as you find out more, find out your treatment plan, etc, you'll start to be less afraid. I remember so vividly those weeks after they found it, waiting for my CT/MRI results and freaking out. This is when I asked for Xanax. If there's any time for Xanax, it's now. Right now, you'll have to find a way to go through the motions, go to work and try to function - I know it's hard, but it will help. This board will help also. Open a new topic of your own and introduce yourself - that will give more people the chance to "meet" you and you can tell us a little about yourself.

[Bob Bones]

I was also Stage 3C. Next January I'll be 11 years post surgery

[ab123]

Dana-Farber in Boston let me disconnect myself. They gave me a little kit and showed me how to do it. I disconnected and flushed the port all by myself in the bathroom at work. Ask your onc or chemo nurse about it.

[okie57]

The nurses in the infusion clinic taught me how to disconnect my husband's needle from his power port in his chest. For future reference, I used my phone to make a video of procedure as the nurse removed the needle. Then, I went with him 2 times to have the nurses supervise me as I did it. This might work for you.