Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

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NHMike
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Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby NHMike » Sun Dec 10, 2017 12:21 am

We had three inches of heavy, wet snow and I did some pushing of it down the driveway. My son cleaned it up (carried it off). He helped me clear the lower roof as well. I used a roof rake with five sections to clear off a second story roof. It uses a lot of upper back, shoulder and chest muscles. We'll see how my muscles feel in the morning.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

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susie0915
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Facebook Username: Susan DeGrazia Hostetter
Location: Michigan

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby susie0915 » Sun Dec 10, 2017 9:23 am

NHMike wrote:
MissMolly wrote:“Blow outs” (I.e. failure of a wafer with dramatic leaking of liquid ileostomy fecal output) will invariably happen from time to time.

Sometimes “blow outs” just happen, a perfect storm of incidental events that contribute to a wafer (and barrier ring) losing contact with the skin. A wafer that is well-applied forms an air-tight and water-tight seal with the skin. The adhesion of a wafer to the skin comes about from a chemical reaction of the hydrocolloid matrix that forms the wafer with the body’s natural heat/temperature. A tight seal depends on the body’s heat activating the hydrocolloid matrix.

Tips to make sure that a wafer bonds completely with the skin:
a. Make sure that the paristomal skin is completely dry and taut (no skin wrinkles, no skin folds). Often lying down is the best position to apply a wafer, as the skin has a flatter surface when supine as opposed to standing upright.

b. Avoid any skin care products that have aloe, moisturizers, or oils. Avoid any soaps or body wash with oils or moisturizers. Safe soaps to use: Ivory bar soap; Neutrogenia bar soap for sensitive skin; any glycerin bar soap; Zest; Basis. Avoid using baby cleaning wipes. The use of baby cleaning wipes will adversely affect wafer adhesion and contribute to “blow outs” (as baby wipes contain moisturizers and aloe). Safe ‘N Simple beans makes a moistened wipe designed specifically to clean pariatomal skin. Safe ‘N Simple Paristomal Skin Wipes are available from any ostomy supply provider (Byram Healthcare, EdgePark, Sterling Medical Supply).

c. Pre-warming a new wafer and barrier ring can help maximize adhesion to the skin. Use of a blow-dryer on the wafer to warm the hydrocolloid material or placing the wafer in the dryer on low setting x 1 minute are both ways to pre-warm a wafer and contribute to an air-tight and water-tight seal. You can also place a warm buckwheat pack on the abdomen for a few minutes after placing a wafer. The exogenous heat adds to the body’s warmth to maximize the chemical reaction that bonds a wafer to the skin. Avoid strenuous movement for 15-30 minutes after applying a new wafer. Allow time for the skin-wafer seal to effectively set.

d. Recognize that the temporary loop ileostomy is the most challenging of ostomy types to pouch successfully. The loop ileostomy is positioned further up the segment of small intestine than an end ileostomy. The end result is loop ileostomies have a high percentage of caustic digestive enzymes that will degrade even the most protective/effective barrier ring.

Do not go more than 3-4 days between wafer changes. Some people will need to change their wafer and barrier ring every 2-3 days. Do not try to boast about long weartime. Long wear time is for individuals with a colostomy (fecal output has low/minimal digestive enzymes).

Remember that everyone’s skin has unique characteristics. Some people have oily skin. Some people have thin/frail skin. Each manufacturer has slight differences in ingredients that compose their wafers. People will like or dislike different manufacturer brands based on how their skin bonds to the hydrocolloid wafer. Some people love Hollister while other people will dislike Hollister, just as other people will like or dislike Coloplast or ConvaTec. This is why sampling a wide range of ostomy products is helpful and necessary. What you were sent home with from the hospital may not be the ideal set-up for you. Call different ostomy manufacturers and request samples of wafers, adaptic barrier rings (analogous to a gasket in a faucet) and pouches. It is worth the time and effort of trial and error to find the optimal pouching system for you.

d. Avoid the use of ostomy paste on a wafer. Ostomy paste has no adhesion qualities. Ostomy paste is meant to fill dips and divots in the skin to make a level skin surface. Ostomy paste is amplifies to grout used in the laying of ceramic tile.

e. Lying supine at night makes a wafer more vulnerable to leaks. This is because the liquid ileostomy output pools around the stoma whrn lying supine. Just as MikeNH is doing, getting up in the middle of the night to empty the pouch can be helpful to minimize potential of a leak. It can be a good safety policy to empty the pouch at least one time during the deep nighttime hours.

You want the full surface of a wafer with an adaptic barrier ring to have full contact with the skin. The wafer and barrier ring will make an impervious seal with the skin (airtight and water tight).

The most popular adaptic barrier rings are the Ekin Cohesive Adaptic Ring (by ConvaTech) and the Brava Adaptic Ring (by Coloplast). Barrier rings snug up to the stoma and give added protection to liquid fecal output undermining a wafer and causing a “blow out.” Which ring serves you best is individualistic.

Keeping a sense of humor is also invaluable. Wafer leaks will happen. It is helpful to keep a sense of humor when confronted with a leak.
Karen


I sleep with a pile of four pillows, three under my head and one under my back. I tried sleeping on a recliner and it works but it's not as comfortable as a bed. There are foam wedges that are fairly inexpensive and I was thinking of trying one of them.
I
For the short time I had my ileo, I did use one of the wedges and it worked well. You may want to try one, they're not very expensive.
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5

Aqx99
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Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby Aqx99 » Sun Dec 10, 2017 4:17 pm

Recliners and elevating my upper body don't work for me. The way my belly is, in a recliner my stoma ends up parallel to the floor, allowing output to pool. I started sleeping on my side as soon as it was comfortable to do so after surgery. This allows my output to fall away from my stoma to the side of the pouch. At first I set an alarm for twice a night to empty, since my output was a high volume and watery. Now that I have more control over my output through diet and scheduling my meals, I only have to get up once a night to empty.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby NHMike » Mon Dec 11, 2017 11:52 am

I changed the Convex bag this morning (20 minutes) to the last bag from the Hospital and I was amazed at how clean everything was from the Convex bag. So using the stoma powder, Cavilon Spray and changing in four days. The skin looks and feels great. I went back to my Wipes for the one today as I'm waiting for the Cavilon to arrive and I need to order the powder. What they say about stockpiling is true. The Convex bags have a smaller flange as well which means my clothes fit better.

So I 24 bags (1 Convatec Convex, 3 Mio One-Piece, 20 Convatec from November's order) which should be good for two months. And I can order again right now but I'm not sure which to order and am wondering if the stoma is going to continue to shrink. I will probably hold off on ordering for another week or more. But the Convatec Convex definitely works (with the other stuff) to prevent irritation.

I don't know when I'm going to get the chance to try the Mio.

Had a dental cleaning and they said that one of my old fillings is failing. So I have an appointment this Wednesday to get it replaced. It's just a composite so it should be simple. Chest port goes in on Friday.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

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O Stoma Mia
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Location: On vacation. Off-line for now.

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby O Stoma Mia » Tue Dec 12, 2017 8:54 am

NHMike wrote:..Had a dental cleaning and they said that one of my old fillings is failing. So I have an appointment this Wednesday to get it replaced. It's just a composite so it should be simple....

What kind of composite is it? Is it a resin composite or an amalgam with mercury?

You might want to read this article before Wednesday to have a topic for discussion with your dentist.

https://www.alternet.org/personal-health/when-its-time-fill-your-cavities-all-options-are-toxic

.
.

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby NHMike » Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:09 am

O Stoma Mia wrote:
NHMike wrote:..Had a dental cleaning and they said that one of my old fillings is failing. So I have an appointment this Wednesday to get it replaced. It's just a composite so it should be simple....

What kind of composite is it? Is it a resin composite or an amalgam with mercury?

You might want to read this article before Wednesday to have a topic for discussion with your dentist.

https://www.alternet.org/personal-health/when-its-time-fill-your-cavities-all-options-are-toxic

.
.


Resin. I had all but one (I think) amalgams replaced by either porcelain or resin in my 30s and early 40s. The performance of the resins and porcelain are far better than amalgams though the porcelain is rather costly.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

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Atoq
Posts: 412
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2017 9:31 am

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby Atoq » Tue Dec 12, 2017 11:47 am

NHMike wrote:We had three inches of heavy, wet snow and I did some pushing of it down the driveway. My son cleaned it up (carried it off). He helped me clear the lower roof as well. I used a roof rake with five sections to clear off a second story roof. It uses a lot of upper back, shoulder and chest muscles. We'll see how my muscles feel in the morning.


What did they told you at the start? They told me not to lift anything that is heavier than 1 kg for several weeks...they scared me to death about brook in both muscles and stomy. Not the doctors but the nurses specialized on stomy. Is that the same for everyone? Even if the evening before surgery I was lifting or doing squats with more than my own weight?

Claudia
1972, 2 kids
Dx rectal cancer 10.2017
T3N2aMX (met left lung 8 mm)
Lynch neg
CEA 1.8
Neoadjuvant chemoradio Xeloda + 25x2 Gy
05.12.17 laparotomic surg. for blockage, colostomy
25.01.18 laparotomic lar, hysterectomy, ileostomy
05.03.18 core needle lung biopsy
07.05.18 CAT scan, lung met 11 mm
04.06.18 ileo reversal
26.06.18 wedge VATS
24.08.18, 31.02.19 CAT scan
12.09.18, 06.02.19 scope, CEA 1.6
19.11.18 scope
20.08.19 CAT, eco
13.09.19 scope, CEA 1.2
18.03.20 CAT, eco, scope, NED
29.11.20 CAT, NED
2023 NED

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby NHMike » Tue Dec 12, 2017 12:01 pm

Atoq wrote:
NHMike wrote:We had three inches of heavy, wet snow and I did some pushing of it down the driveway. My son cleaned it up (carried it off). He helped me clear the lower roof as well. I used a roof rake with five sections to clear off a second story roof. It uses a lot of upper back, shoulder and chest muscles. We'll see how my muscles feel in the morning.


What did they told you at the start? They told me not to lift anything that is heavier than 1 kg for several weeks...they scared me to death about brook in both muscles and stomy. Not the doctors but the nurses specialized on stomy. Is that the same for everyone? Even if the evening before surgery I was lifting or doing squats with more than my own weight?

Claudia


Not more than ten pounds for a month. I'm six weeks out.

There are only a few exercises that I can do with more than my own weight. The day after surgery, I did single-leg squats, a variety of stretches, lunges I think. I used Cybex machines about two weeks after surgery. These isolate muscle groups. The curl machine is seated and you put your elbows on a pad so all of the work is done in your biceps. The Cybex machines are good for rehab. I haven't done anything with freeweights at all.

I have used a Smith Machine for military press. The machine has 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 45 pound weights. I can only use it with the 10 and under weights. If there are 25s covering the 10s, that I can't use the machine as I can't move the 25s off the pegs.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

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Atoq
Posts: 412
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2017 9:31 am

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby Atoq » Tue Dec 12, 2017 1:26 pm

Thanks for the reply, I was a bit unsure about stretching as well.

Claudia
1972, 2 kids
Dx rectal cancer 10.2017
T3N2aMX (met left lung 8 mm)
Lynch neg
CEA 1.8
Neoadjuvant chemoradio Xeloda + 25x2 Gy
05.12.17 laparotomic surg. for blockage, colostomy
25.01.18 laparotomic lar, hysterectomy, ileostomy
05.03.18 core needle lung biopsy
07.05.18 CAT scan, lung met 11 mm
04.06.18 ileo reversal
26.06.18 wedge VATS
24.08.18, 31.02.19 CAT scan
12.09.18, 06.02.19 scope, CEA 1.6
19.11.18 scope
20.08.19 CAT, eco
13.09.19 scope, CEA 1.2
18.03.20 CAT, eco, scope, NED
29.11.20 CAT, NED
2023 NED

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby NHMike » Tue Dec 12, 2017 1:35 pm

Atoq wrote:Thanks for the reply, I was a bit unsure about stretching as well.

Claudia


List of stretches that I've done after surgery:

- Sit, put one leg over the other knee, gentle press down - I usually do this while putting on socks.
- Stand, inner elbow in front of chin, pull outer elbow with other hand to the opposite side
- Stand, arm forms L with forearm over head, pull elbow towards opposite side with other hand
- Stand, arm forms L with forearm over head, pull elbow down and to the right
- Stand, arms straight up, bend back, and to the sides
- Stand, look up, open jaw as wide as possible
- Runner's standing hamstring stretch
- Push arms out to the sides, perpendicular to your sides, as far as they can go, do small arm circles
- Bend fingers back as far as they will go as a single unit.
- Bend fingers back as far as they will go individually.
- Bend wrist back as far as it will go.
- Standing calf stretch against a wall.
- Neck circles.

There are many more that I'd like to do like Cobra but they probably wouldn't be good to do with a stoma or recovering abs.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby NHMike » Wed Dec 13, 2017 1:23 pm

Just got back from the filling. Took about 20 minutes. Just a little bit of pain as I don't use painkillers for dentistry.

The assistant said that her mother had just gone through the treatment for colon cancer and there were a number of complications from the surgery. I asked her where she had it done and it was done locally. She's going to do the repair work in Boston. Her mother didn't like the surgeon that they used (he's a general surgeon).
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby NHMike » Thu Dec 14, 2017 6:47 pm

For those with a chest port, what's the chest port like, roughly where is it located and how careful do you have to be with it?

Also, I understand that the needle used for infusions is rather large. Is this needle plugged into the port for the infusion? Also, how large is the needle?
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

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Shana
Posts: 401
Joined: Sun Jul 30, 2017 9:45 pm
Location: Sonoma, CA

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby Shana » Thu Dec 14, 2017 6:53 pm

NHMike wrote:For those with a chest port, what's the chest port like, roughly where is it located and how careful do you have to be with it?

Also, I understand that the needle used for infusions is rather large. Is this needle plugged into the port for the infusion? Also, how large is the needle?


Hi Mike,

I have a power port, it's purple and not very big. It's inserted in the right side of my chest below my collar bone. The needle doesn't feel big to me when it's inserted, I like the fact that they always get it in first try and it does stay inserted during the entire infusion time. There are sprays that you can ask them to use prior to insertion but I stopped doing that when I ended up with an itchy rash. I just take a breath when they insert the needle and it's done.

I was very protective of the port initially because it was new to me. Once the incision heals then it's basically a non issue, I sometimes forget that it's there unless I am looking at it or brush my hand over it.
DX - 12/16
MSS - KRAS wild
Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma at splenic flexure
Stage IV CC with liver mets
5FU - Failed twice - 1/17 and 3/17
Irinotecan + Cetuximab: 8/17
Irinotecan and Erbitux ran it's course. CEA rising
Primary tumor invaded tail of pancreas and spleen. Liver mets major concern
Y-90 radioembolization on 9/17/18, liver enzyymes have dropped. 10 Radiation treatments to primary tumor completed too. CT scan Nov to assess overall situation...

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby NHMike » Thu Dec 14, 2017 7:41 pm

Shana wrote:
I have a power port, it's purple and not very big. It's inserted in the right side of my chest below my collar bone. The needle doesn't feel big to me when it's inserted, I like the fact that they always get it in first try and it does stay inserted during the entire infusion time. There are sprays that you can ask them to use prior to insertion but I stopped doing that when I ended up with an itchy rash. I just take a breath when they insert the needle and it's done.

I was very protective of the port initially because it was new to me. Once the incision heals then it's basically a non issue, I sometimes forget that it's there unless I am looking at it or brush my hand over it.


Hello Shana,

Thanks a bunch. That alleviates a lot of worry.

mike
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: Rectal cancer (Stage 3A) diagnosed late June 2017

Postby Aqx99 » Thu Dec 14, 2017 9:02 pm

NHMike wrote:For those with a chest port, what's the chest port like, roughly where is it located and how careful do you have to be with it?

Also, I understand that the needle used for infusions is rather large. Is this needle plugged into the port for the infusion? Also, how large is the needle?


I also have a Power Port. It is located just below my collar bone on the right side. Once the surgical wound heals, you just have to be careful not to bump it, because that can hurt. Most days I don't even notice it at all. The needle is no bigger than a regular one, it just goes straight in to the port instead of being parallel to the arm like with an IV. They tape it down while it is in so you can move around freely. My oncologist prescribed me lidocaine-prilocaine cream to put on my port before my infusions. They told me to put a one inch line of cream on my port and put Press N Seal over it.

The port comes in handy after your infusions, as well. I just had a CT scan and they used my port for the contrast instead of putting an IV in my arm.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy


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