How long until you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
Beckster
Posts: 438
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2017 3:01 pm
Location: New Jersey

Re: How long until you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Postby Beckster » Sun Mar 26, 2017 7:13 pm

LeonW wrote:
Beckster wrote: . . 3 more cycles to go through!

or, even better, only 2 more to go after tomorrow . . . You're almost there . . .
L


THANKS LEON....I NEEDED THAT!

:D :D :D :D

Three more after tomorrow!!!!!
57/F
DX:(CC) 10/19/16
11/4/16- Lap right hemi(cecum)
CEA- Pre Op (1.9), Pre Chemo (2.5)
Type: Adenocarcinoma
Tumor size:3.5 cm x 2.5 x 0.7 cm
Grade: G3
TNM: T3N0M0/IIA
LN: 0/24
LVI present
Surgical margins: clear
MSS
12/27/2016 - Capeox, anaphylactic
1/2/17 to 6/9/17- Xeloda
6/17,12/17,6/18,12/18,6/19,12/19,12/20,12/21 CT Scan NED :D
CEA- 6/17- 3.6, 9/17- 2.8 12/17-2.8, 3/18-3.1, 6/18-3.0, 9/18 2.8, 12/18 2.5 3/19 3.1 6/19 3.1 9/19 2.6 12/19 2.8 6/20 3.0 12/20 2.7 6/21 2.9,[color=#000000]12/21 2.7[/color]
Clear Colonoscopy 10/17, 11/19,11/21 :D

Stewsbetty
Posts: 170
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2016 7:08 am

Re: How long until you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Postby Stewsbetty » Mon Mar 27, 2017 12:00 am

Hi Judi,

I will be thinking of you tomorrow and praying that this treatment cycle will go better for you. I remember thinking during my treatment (finished a month ago) that though 6 months is not a long time in general that each two week cycle seemed to last an eternity! My dad would try to encourage me with "you are 1/4 done. it's halfway now. only 3 left!" But these didn't really help. My treatment days were Tuesdays and the Monday night before I would often lie in bed just crying because I didn't want to do it. Know that you are not alone.
A couple things I will mention from my own experience.
I used CBD cannabis oil to help with the nausea. This worked very well for me and had the added benefits of helping me sleep better and keeping my appetite up.
I made a playlist of songs that encouraged me and listened to this when I felt overwhelmed. Sometimes I would also just ask my husband to hold me while I cried. It felt good to just let out my emotions.

Beth
42yo At diagnosis. Female in BC, Canada
Dx: CC ascending
Right Hemi colectomy 06/16 clear margins
Adenocarcinoma 6cm High Grade
pT3 pN2a Stage 3
10 out of 16 lymph involved
MSI-h, Kras mut, Braf wild
Finished chemo Feb. 2017
PET scan showing active area April 2017
July 2017 CT showing LN mass and spread to other LN
Stage 4
Aug 2017 failed Fofiri
Sept 2017 keytruda scans every 3 months showing shrinkage and stability
November 2018 CT shows only 1 small tumour left
September 2019 clear CT finally NED!!!

JudiB
Posts: 71
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 5:30 am

Re: How long until you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Postby JudiB » Mon Mar 27, 2017 3:56 am

I type as the drugs go in! Here canabis oil is not available... Sadly and whilst I'd like to try... I couldn't deal with prison at the moment!!!

After this one, I'll be a quarter of the way through...still feels like a long journey.....
Hopefully, with the extra anti nausea med, I won't lose so many days this time. I love the idea of a special day with a friend... Definately will try that to help get me through this stuff.

Thank you all...it helps to "talk"!!
Judi xxxx
May 2004 Breast cancer lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy, Tamoxifen 5 years, then Femara 2 years.

Jan 2017 resection around colo-rectal junction
T2bN1 M0
March 2017 Chemo Folfox started. Oxaliplatin for 4 treatments, then just 5 FU and Leucovorin for remaining 8 treatments.
June 2017 clear scan
Last chemo August 2017
August 2017 clear scan
February 2018 clear scan

mct
Posts: 35
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2016 10:08 pm

Re: How long until you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Postby mct » Mon Mar 27, 2017 4:50 pm

Happy belated birthday! Hope you're not feeling as badly this cycle.
Breast cancer 2009
Rectal cancer Nov 2016, T3N0M0, CEA - 10.3
28 days rads/Xeloda - finished Jan 19 2017
Surgery ULAR Mar 17, 2017
Anastomotic leak, surgery for ileostomy April 4, 2017
May 2017 CEA - 2

elly
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2017 4:18 am
Facebook Username: elly

Re: How long until you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Postby elly » Tue Mar 28, 2017 4:33 am

wondering have stage4 with lung Mets in peritoneal 62 female been having chemo for 18mts now in vetob8x chemo wondering how much longer do u think that will last and do they have a 3rd line and it's making me feel so sick especially blisters in mouth and nausea shold I go of chemo and enjoy watching I have left

JudiB
Posts: 71
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 5:30 am

Re: How long until you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Postby JudiB » Tue Mar 28, 2017 10:50 am

Think the last reply is in the wrong place?

I have my pump going now after second infusion day. Very nauseous this morning but after meds feel less so. I soo hope the new stuff stops it coming back because it robs me of morale as well as good days...only managed 3 between cycles last time.

Anyway, nearly the third done so a quarter through....still feels like a long time travelling to the end though!

Thank you guys for helping me cope... It truly helps to have you all there to "talk" to.
Xxx
May 2004 Breast cancer lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy, Tamoxifen 5 years, then Femara 2 years.

Jan 2017 resection around colo-rectal junction
T2bN1 M0
March 2017 Chemo Folfox started. Oxaliplatin for 4 treatments, then just 5 FU and Leucovorin for remaining 8 treatments.
June 2017 clear scan
Last chemo August 2017
August 2017 clear scan
February 2018 clear scan

User avatar
Jacques
Posts: 678
Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2014 10:38 am
Location: Occitanie

Signature

Postby Jacques » Tue Mar 28, 2017 12:33 pm

JudiB -

I think it would help if you could create a signature to go at the bottom of your posts. In this way, people could get a summary of what you have been through without having to look back in the various threads where you have already posted information.

The page for entering your signature information is here,

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/ucp.php?i=ucp_profile&mode=signature

and here is a template that gives some ideas of what to put in your signature. Thanks

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=52681&p=421597#p421597

User avatar
MikeManess
Posts: 90
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2016 3:56 pm
Location: Forney, Texas

Re: How long until you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Postby MikeManess » Tue Mar 28, 2017 9:38 pm

Judi,

Yes, chemo sucks. Butt - it does get easier as you go along the journey. I had 14 rounds after colon resection and prior to my liver surgery, and tomorrow I will be having my 6th round since liver surgery (mop-up). In all the chemo treatments I've had, I have found that each round presents side-effects differently each time. One time it's extreme diarrhea, another it's cold sensitivity that's worse, or extreme fatigue the next. In all that, I never had a mentally down day because I watched my wife of 16 years die of ovarian cancer several years ago. I made my mind up to do whatever it takes to beat this damned disease. I know deep in my heart I will beat it.

Attitude is everything. I still go to work every day, I mow the yard, watch TV, enjoy movies, play with my dog, go to church. I refuse to let cancer and chemo win. My best advice is to keep up as much normal life as you can. Learn to go around the side-effects. Take anti-nausea pills before you need them - get ahead of the nausea. Eat a large meal the day before chemo so if you don't eat for a few days you'll be better off. Have your oncologist give you anti-nausea in pre-meds before chemo. Chocolate milk - when nothing tastes good, I can always drink chocolate milk. Find a go-to food item that'll help keep your weight up. Boost is great.

Keep it up .. you CAN beat it. Just tell yourself that you'll do whatever it takes .. tell 'em to bring it on 'cause you can take whatever they dish out.
3/11/16 Colonoscopy - 9 benign polyps, 1 large cancerous tumor in right ascending colon
4/19/16 Right colectomy
6/3/16 Two liver spots detected, added Avastin to Folfox
12/20/16 Liver surgery. Pathology shows no active cancer cells
6/7/17 Final chemo
12/5/17 Port removed
05/23/18 Liver tumor discovered in scans
04/04/19 Radiation treatment
08/15/19 Additional radiation treatment
08/21/19 NED again

TXLiz
Posts: 249
Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2016 3:31 pm

Re: How long until you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Postby TXLiz » Tue Mar 28, 2017 10:26 pm

Just completed my 12 rounds.

You can do it. It feels like you can't and that it will never end, but it will.

My greatest fear is to become a chemo lifer. My freakin' hat is off respectfully to those that are. I don't know how much of chemo I could take. I understand now how people say they or their loved one fights like a beast to beat cancer...

I like to go to cancer owl when I am low. It's a great website that is full of inspiration. The man who is "cancer owl" is fighting colorectal cancer and draws himself as an owl. It's funny and touching and sad and nice and real all at the same time.

Fight fight fight. I know it's hard. My low grade nausea never really left at the end...my blood sugar was wonky and I wouldn't be hungry but if I didn't eat I'd be weak and even sicker.

Drinking water saved me my last 2 rounds. I forced water and felt loads better after I did. If I ever have to go through chemo again I will definitely be all about water.

Good luck and we all know how you feel. You are not alone.
Vomiting and blockage 9/19/16 46 y F
R hemi colectomy 9/20/16
Stage 3 B CRC, located in cecum
3 out of 16 lymph nodes positive
perineural invasion/lymphovascular invasion
infiltrating, mod differentiated adenocarcinoma with a mucinous component
separate tumor nodules present in pericolonic adipose tissue
MSI-high
Baseline PET scan clear 9/16 CEA 0.5
FOLFOX 10/16- 3/17
April 16th, CT scan clear. CEA 1.1
Lynch "inconclusive"
Colonoscopy 10/5/2017 clear

cynthia_b
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2017 6:41 pm
Facebook Username: Cynthia Bardwell

Re: How long until you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Postby cynthia_b » Wed Mar 29, 2017 6:35 am

What is a PKS supplement? Thx,
Cynthia

Eventually I got my mom a PSK supplement (with our onc's agreement) which worked like a charm in terms of relieving side effects. She tolerated the remaining sessions better.
1/21/17 Diagnosed: Stage 2 CC, Adenocarcinoma; Distal Sigmoid
CT Scans Clean
2/21 Colon Resection
2/28 Biopsy 1/18 nodes affected - Stage 3
3/29 Begin 1st Tx of Xeloda

cynthia_b
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2017 6:41 pm
Facebook Username: Cynthia Bardwell

Re: How long until you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Postby cynthia_b » Wed Mar 29, 2017 6:38 am

Today I start my first tx of Xeloda with infusion and oral drugs. The now knowing how things will go is stressful. I want the day to be over so I can start "dealing with it" rather than thinking about it. While I know everyone is different with reactions and side effects I am sorry Judi that you are so down. Good luck.
Cynthia
1/21/17 Diagnosed: Stage 2 CC, Adenocarcinoma; Distal Sigmoid
CT Scans Clean
2/21 Colon Resection
2/28 Biopsy 1/18 nodes affected - Stage 3
3/29 Begin 1st Tx of Xeloda

mdev
Posts: 25
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2015 7:19 pm

Re: How long until you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Postby mdev » Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:47 pm

Not sure if this will help or not but we took a sheet of paper, counted all the way from 168 to 0, and checked a box every single day. We'd fly through them on non-chemo days, and they would seem to pass a little slower while DH was in treatment.

At the end, we took a photo and burned the damn thing.
2015-09-29 DH has sigmoid colon removed, CEA 1.2
2015-10-06 diagnosed pT3 N1a M0 stage IIIb
2015-10-22 8 rounds FOLFOX, 4 rounds 5FU, CEA post chemo 1.5
2016-06-16 CEA=1.9
2016-07-28 CEA=2.1, CT shows NED
2016-09-08 CEA=2.2
2016-10-27 CEA=2.0, CT shows NED
2016-02-02 CEA=1.6
2017-05 CEA=1.5, CT shows NED

LMighty
Posts: 98
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2016 6:16 am
Location: Hong Kong

Re: How long until you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Postby LMighty » Thu Mar 30, 2017 10:59 am

cynthia_b wrote:What is a PKS supplement? Thx,
Cynthia

Eventually I got my mom a PSK supplement (with our onc's agreement) which worked like a charm in terms of relieving side effects. She tolerated the remaining sessions better.


Hi Cynthia,

It's basically mushroom extract in capsules, a combination product of western medicine and modern TCM. No guarantee it works for everyone though.
Supporter to my mom (64 yr); KRAS wild type; MSS

2012: DX Stage I, rectal cancer; resection and colostomy
5/16: DX Stage III, mets found; right groin lymph node and soft tissue
5-6/16: Radiation + Xeloda
7/16: DX Stage IV, pleural effusion; cancer cells found in fluid
7-12/16: Xelox + Avastin X 6
1/17: Clean PET scan, NED
2/17: Pleural effusion; recurrence
4/17: Iri + Erb X 3
5/17: Ascites; Chemo failed
6/17: Keytruda X 1
7/17: TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab) + COTELLIC (cobimetinib)
9/17: At peace


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 22 guests