Postby retiredteacher » Thu Oct 11, 2018 3:44 pm
I know that this order of treatment has been looked at with more frequency recently - even being considered for Stage III if I am not mistaken. I can't answer your specific anatomical question, but it does sound to me like you have a very good team working on this for your mom. Others on this board have much more knowledge. As far as thinking about plans down the road, I was able to drive myself to radiation every day and could have driven myself to chemo as well - although the hubby drove me, he used that time to run errands in town. Went out of town a few days a couple times for surgery, but otherwise had chemo - radiation locally (about 45 minutes away) with good results. I was tired and didn't care about housework so much. To help your mom, you might think about helping her keeping the larder stocked and giving a hand with cleaning and laundry once she starts treatment. For yourself, do not panic. This is a super slow grower that shows with polyps first - I agree with your family that your anxiety may be tieing up your tummy right now. Staying calm and supportive is the best thing you can do right now for yourself and your entire family. My husband is a 13 yr CRC survivor, and a seven year SMALL cell lung cancer survivor (very scary.) Then mine this last year. We both handled full careers and travel schedules along the way. It's funny, you think everything has to come to a standstill during treatment - and things do change for awhile at least - normal gets "different" for awhile. Then before you know it, as patients, we are 12 or 18 months down road grumbling because we have to rake leaves or shampoo the dang carpet, not even realizing what a blessing it is! (lol speaking for myself.) You might think about seeking out some kind of sleeping aide - we need our sleep to handle the increased stresses, to think clearly, and to be as healthy and centered as possible. We did with the last two cancers and it was very helpful. Hang in there - this will take a year to work through. As others have said, stay off Dr. Google - medicine is doing amazing things with this disease both in the past and even better now. Warm wishes - hang in there!
RC F 63 9/17
Adeno 7 cm MSS G2 PET
T3N0M0
2.5K Cap/RT x 25
"Near complete response" PET 1/18
CEA 0.5 10/17, 0.6 10/18
MRI 2/18 yT2N0 12 cm fr AV 3 cm
LAR 2/18 yT1N0M0 0/21 G1 0.3 cm
CAPEOX 3/18, reduced to 80% at cycle 3
Completed 4 cycles; stopped, gut issues, liver enzymes
CT/ colonoscopy 11/18 NED
4/19 NED Sacral fractures/osteoporosis
"Caregiver" to the Iron Man
Hubby CRC Stage 3 2004 NED, Small Cell Lung Cancer Limited 2011 NED, Non-small Cell Lung Cancer 2019 NED October 2019