Stage3 Mom of 4; driving from AL to MDA for treatment

[wesixcooks]

Hey everyone! I found y'all yesterday, and I've already learned a bunch. Thank you!

I was diagnosed with colon cancer on April 11, 2017. We live in Alabama, on the Florida state line, and a dear friend suggested I go to MD Anderson. They have been amazing so far. Craig Messick was my surgeon, and we can't say enough good things about him and his team. I see Bryan Kee next week to find out about chemo.


This is not my first cancer. I am only 41, but I had Wilms Tumor at age 3 with chemo, radiation and nephrectomy (kidney). This new cancer is directly in the radiation field of the first cancer. Sigh. After 38 years, you kind of think you're home free, you know?? The "Long-term Follow Up Study," I'm in for survivors of childhood cancer (my generation is the first to survive!) says we are still getting secondary tumors 35-40 years out.

I'm incredibly blessed that I was able to have children. They thought I wouldn't. And I have four!! Healthy, great, the best kids in the world: I'm not even kidding you. My husband is a minister, and we have always homeschooled them, so we are all really close. Our oldest two have graduated, and they are both very successful. Anyway, my point is, I have everything, and I'm like, Hey, God, I know you've already blessed me beyond my wildest dreams, but, I'm not ready to die yet! May I please have another 38, wait, 41, oh, better make it 60 years?!? I don't want to leave my kids. (I know prognosis for stage 3 is still good.)

I don't know how to make my signature yet, nor have all the info yet that all of you do! I had surgery 5/5 @ MDA. I have a 7 inch incision, vertical. I had a lot of scar tissue and adhesions from the previous radiation that had to be cleaned up. I was up walking that night, and released on 5/8. The tumor had not gone outside the colon. It was in 6 of 22 lymph nodes, so I am stage 3. It is not anywhere else.

Thanks for listening. I look forward to talking to all of you!

[Jacques]

...I don't know how to make my signature yet, nor have all the info yet that all of you do!

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

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

[wesixcooks]

Thanks!

[JudeD59]

Welcome to the forum! You'll find tons of information, lots of support, and just about the nicest bunch of people you could ever want to meet. Be sure to use the search function on the main page. If you have a question or concern and you type a keyword in there, you will find plenty of threads on the subject with lots of first-hand experiences.

You and I have quite a bit in common. This is my second cancer (ovarian in 2006). I also have four children, all girls, but all of mine are grown. All four have graduated from college and two are married. And we are also a very close family.

I had rectal cancer, but I also had a vertical incision and had a lot of adhesions that had to be cleaned up. Those stinking adhesions--don't ya just love 'em? I also was up walking the same night and got sprung quickly from the hospital. So reading your post was almost like reading about myself.

I'm sorry about your diagnosis, but I'm glad you found us. Where else can you go and talk about poop, enemas, and passing gas as easily as talking about the weather? When you have a problem or concern and your family and friends don't understand, the members here get it, because they've been through it themselves.

Welcome!

Judy

[thubler]

Welcome. The optimism and faith of your post made me smile. I was similar to you I was 35 at diagnosis stage 3b 2/41 nodes effected. I also have four kiddos aged 9,6,4 and 1 and they are pretty awesome. My cancer was confined to my colon as well. I did 12 rounds of folfox and took it pretty well. I finished up in November. You will be just fine. Good luck and God bless you. "If you believe you will receive" - Mark 11:24. Take care ----- Ted

[Deb m]

Welcome to the board. We also had all out treatments/scans at MDA. We live in Kansas and went back and forth to Texas for a little over five years till he was finally cut loose and declared cured. I can't say enough great things about our doctors and medical staff there. I really don't know if my husband would still be with us, or doing as well as he is if it not been for those great docs at MDA. My husband was a stage IIbt4a. The t4 was a concern to them, so he did 12 treatments of folfox as they advised and he has been NED for a little over 6 years now thanks be to God. Can't tell you how many rosaries I prayed and continue to pray for his good health.

Wishing and praying for you along with everybody on this board including caregivers!

deb

[wesixcooks]

Thanks, everyone! Good to meet you all!