It’s been 1 year to the day.
Dec 15 2016 : colonoscopy 5-6 cm growth discovered approximately 10 cm from anal verge.
Dec 29 2016: Double contrast ct scan showed no evidence of disease outside rectum
Jan 19 2017 : MRI shows T2 early T3 growth with 3 enlarged lymphnodes defined as T2/early T3 NX
Feb 15 2017: Met with radiation and medical oncologist to discuss chemoradiation
Feb 22 2017: CT scan to get tatoos for radiation treatments
Mar 6 2017: Off work to Start chemoradiation 1650mg xeloda twice a day on days of radiation treatments
April 7 2017: Last day of radiation back to work
June 20 2017: After a little more than 10 weeks of wait for radiation to continue working I go in for LAR surgery with temp ileostomy
Aug 16 2017: checkup with surgeon and review of pathology report (extrapolation of report it’s lengthy)
Pathology: All margins uninvolved, LVI not present, perineural invasion not present, tumour deposits not present. 0/10 lymph nodes involved.
YPTNM 1 microscopic invasion into submucosa only several malignant glands remain they are located in in the superficial submucosa.
Rectal lesion: Minimal residual well differentiated adenocarcinoma (less than 0.1 CM). Appears completely excised.
Aug 18 2016: Start 6 cycles of xeloda maintenance 2000mg twice a day
Sept 2 2017: surgeon clears me to return to work
Dec 14 2017: chemo completed
Side effects are mild hand and foot syndrome only.
I still have many years of monitoring and follow ups. I offer 2 of the most sound pieces of advice I can offer to anyone just beginning this journey. Frequent this site often, colorectal cancer survivors REALLY DO know their SH!T!!. AND I DON’T SAY THIS LIGHTLY STAY AWAY FROM DR GOOGLE IT’S INFORMATION IS DATED POOR AND MARGINALIZED.
I felt it would be helpful to lay out my timeline if your just starting this journey as I was 1 year ago today, you want everything to happen in a couple weeks, but i put my care in the hands of professionals and continue to do so. Their opinion was that it's a journey and be patient.
I am expecting ileostomy reversal surgery in mid march. and keeping my fingers crossed.
I just want to say that as I read about the journeys of others I deeply feel and partially understand what your going through. May god be with each and every one of you!!
Chickspeed