DonutHead wrote:Lydia,
that's why you are doing the chemo, to make sure all of the straggler cells possibly left behind are destroyed. this disease is on the microscopic level. clear margins from my understanding means the surgeon did not remove any additional surrounding tissue. still, chemo is the way to go. the onc actually gave me a choice, but advised i do chemo. i am not much of a gambling man and had already made up my mind that no matter what, i would take adjuvent therapy.
so you found it, had surgery to remove it, confirmed no mets, despite lymph node activity, and are preparing to join us in the chemo party. in my humble opinion you are on your way to a cure and recovery. you will get there.
DH
teacher2017 wrote:
Lee,
But how do these surgeons know they got enough lymph nodes? Or if they got enough for clear margins? Some people have large clear margins and some are down to mm like mine. I'm just really worried that because so many lymph nodes are involved this will spread. I can't sleep thinking about it.
As for friendships at this time, I have met some very supportive people, people I never thought would be there for me. Then there are those that have marked me for death and don't want to get to close. I'm fine with it, really. I just don't want a pity party in my honor.
Lydia
Aqx99 wrote:My husband would be one of those idiots. He was more concerned about himself than he was me. He even had the nerve to literally ask for "brownie points" for coming with me to doctor appointments. It sounds weird, but getting cancer was one of the best things that could have happened to me. It gave me the strength and courage to confront him about his lack of support, and let him walk out the door when he did and not beg him to come back.
Lee wrote:teacher2017 wrote:
Lee,
But how do these surgeons know they got enough lymph nodes? Or if they got enough for clear margins? Some people have large clear margins and some are down to mm like mine. I'm just really worried that because so many lymph nodes are involved this will spread. I can't sleep thinking about it.
As for friendships at this time, I have met some very supportive people, people I never thought would be there for me. Then there are those that have marked me for death and don't want to get to close. I'm fine with it, really. I just don't want a pity party in my honor.
Lydia
Hi Lydia,
First thing you need to know,I am not an MD, just a person who has learned a few things along the way.
Regarding lymph nodes, margins, etc I believe a lot depends on the location of the tumor and skill of surgeon. That's why I encourage people to get 2nd and even 3rd opinions. Not all Dr.(s) graduate at the top of the class. If you dealing with rectal cancer, I HIGHLY recommend a board certified colon rectal surgeon doing this surgery because of the advanced training they have had. You've got to have faith in your team of Dr.(s) that they are doing the best they can for you. They are the ones with the medical training to do what they do.
Cancer does not play by the rules, it does it's own thing. That is why cancer is so scary.
When I was diagnosed over 13 yrs ago (also stage IIIC), FOLFOX was experimental and a game changer. When I was diagnosed, my odds of being alive in 5 yrs varied from 30% to 50% depending upon who you talked to. Today there are many more options and your odds are much higher at beating this, I believe around 70% to 80% for stage III folks. And Immune therapy will be the next big game changer. BeansMama, Sleen and DK37 have shown us that, just to name a few. I can see where we are getting closer to a cure for cancer.
In the late 1970's, a friend's dad was diagnosed with rectal cancer. They found it through exploratory surgery (I do not believe they were doing colonoscopies then), 5FU was the only chemo he got, he died 6 months following his diagnoses. Believe me a lot of advancements in cancer treatments have been made in the last 50 years.
The best advice I can give you, give this 110% from the get go. Listen to your Dr.(s) and DO EVERYTHING they ask of you to the best of your ability. Take this one day at a time, one step at a time. And know that this forum as your back. We all get it here what you are going through. It is a place to vent and to learn from those that have already walked in your shoes now.
Know in your heart you will beat this,
Lee
teacher2017 wrote:Lee-
Thank you for your advice and insight. It is greatly appreciated. I just wonder about all these stats and they always sound so bad. So I think I'll stop listening to them. I had a colon cancer mass removed from my left side sigmoid colon. Resection with no ostomy. Everyone calls it lucky. I don't see any cancer as lucky. One min I read how some stage3c are 9yrs NED and others have a reoccurrence immediately. I will feel somewhat in the game when the port goes in and the chemo starts. Right now I'm a sitting duck. I hate this feeling.
Lydia
teacher2017 wrote:It's been three weeks and I can not even bring myself to reading my pathology report. I'm sure when I get that port put in, I won't even be able to look at it.
Lee wrote:teacher2017 wrote:It's been three weeks and I can not even bring myself to reading my pathology report. I'm sure when I get that port put in, I won't even be able to look at it.
I never did read my pathology report. I was very afraid of it giving me a poor prognosis. Decided I wanted to be ignorant on that front. Please understand this forum was not around when I was traveling this journey, I really kind of did this blind. My Onc realized early on, give me general info, butt I was lost with the details. I would ask questions if I needed more info. Early on I told Onc and surgeon, I would follow their orders to the best of my ability, just get me through this. I believe they both succeed.
Your not alone on that pathology report front.
Lee
teacher2017 wrote:It's been three weeks and I can not even bring myself to reading my pathology report. I'm sure when I get that port put in, I won't even be able to look at it.
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