Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

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Pyro
Posts: 305
Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:40 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ

Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby Pyro » Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:52 am

The subject sums it up, when you stop chemo there isn’t many places to go plus you get all sorts of at home attention. I had problems breathing on a trip to Prescott we took, wanted some help and signing up for hospice got the help I needed that day. I met my nurse, Mary, the one who will be here every week, nice lady. I’m feeling fairly good, sleep is an issue due to steroids to help my lungs but I have drugs for that. I’m glad I don’t have to do that awful chemo again, 90 infusions is too many.

In better news, we scored 4 round trip 1st class tickets to Hawaii, thank you American Airlines. We will be staying at the Disney resort in Hawaii, can’t spell the name so I won’t. If I just sit on the beach for a week, I’ll be happy. Either way, it feels like a weight has been lifted, everything moving forward is for my comfort which I haven’t had in years, believe it or not, I look forward to it. I simply refuse to do chemo/radiation/surgery until my last breath, it isn’t worth it.

I guess I don’t have any real questions, just an update. Hug your loved ones, mine are starting to come into town more than they have in the past which is good. I feel the worst from them, I’ll be living it up in Heaven, it seems worse for caregivers. Please no treatment suggestions, I’ve had enough.
Aug 2015- Stage 4 CC with liver Mets(38/m)
Sep 2015- Avastin/Folfox/Iron
Dec 2015-Not liver surgery candidate
Jan 2016- Erbitux/Folfiri, 2nd opinion at MDA in TX
Feb 2016 -MDA liver surgery
Mar 2016 -30% of left lobe rem, PVE
May 2016 - 70% of liver rem
Jun 2016-Rad
Jan 2017-perm colost @MDA
Jul 2017-Erb/FOLFURI
Nov 2017 -Lung & Liver ablations@MDA
Jan 2018 -Xeloda & Avastin mx
Jul 2018-Avast/FOLFURI
Sep 2018-Rad
Mar 2019 - Keytruda fail
Jun 2019 - FOLFURI
Aug 2019 - No more, quality time!

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Sun Sep 15, 2019 9:37 am

I hope you enjoy your vacation and I wish you all the best!*hugs*
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

Punky44
Posts: 498
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2018 4:29 pm

Re: Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby Punky44 » Sun Sep 15, 2019 10:09 am

Thinking of you and hope your vacation is amazing.
Caregiver to my amazing mom (68 at dx)
10/1/18 DX with rectal cancer; CEA 17
T3N2M0
Total neoadjuvant therapy:
8 rounds Folfox 11/5/18 - 2/11/19
Short course radiation 3/14/19 - 3/20/19
Robotically assisted laparoscopic LAR 3/21/19
Pathology report says yT2N0M0 with 0/38 nodes
6/28/19 Reversal and port out
CEA 2.1; 1.9; 2.6; 2.8; 2.3; 2.4; 3.0; 3.4; 3.1; 3.4; 3.0; 3.1; 2.6
Latest update: 8/21/23 Clear CT with CEA 2.6!

Me: 34, first colonoscopy 11/16/18—normal! Come back in 5 years.

zephyr
Posts: 363
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:31 am

Re: Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby zephyr » Sun Sep 15, 2019 10:22 am

Wishing you laughter, love, and peace.
Nov-2009 Early stage CRC, routine colonoscopy
2010-2014 F/U colonoscopies, all clear
Jun-2016 CRC during F/U colonoscopy, surgery, Stage 4, KRAS, MSS
Aug-2016-May-2018 Folfox, 5FU, Folfiri & Avastin
Aug/Sep-2018 YAG laser surgeries (Germany), 11 nodules removed
Nov-2018 clean CT scan
Mar-2019 New lung nodules
Apr-2019 Dec-2020 Xeloda/Avastin, SBRT, cont. Xeloda/Avastin
Mar-2021 Forfiri/Avastin
Mar-2022 Ablation & Thoracotomy
Feb-2023 Folfiri & Avastin
Nov-2023 Xeloda & Avastin

AmyG
Posts: 371
Joined: Tue Dec 25, 2018 8:08 pm

Re: Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby AmyG » Sun Sep 15, 2019 10:24 am

I'm going to pour a glass of something strong and drink it for you.

You sound at peace with everything, not like a gallon of milk with a rapidly approaching expiration date.

I wish you and your family all the best.
42 dx @ 9wks pregnant w/baby #8 8/18
Sigmoid colon resection 9/18
Adenocarcinoma, G2, T3N0M0..or so we thought
KRAS/BRAF wild
Liver biopsy is malignant, stage iv now boys!
Delivered healthy baby 3/19
FOLFOX + Avastin 5/19
CEA 167 to 24 after 4 rounds
Liver resection 8/28/19
NED!! CEA 2.3
CEA 5.8 idk wtf is up with that, but everything else is clear!
CEA 3.7 make up your damn mind...
CEA 1.5 that's a new low!

Pyro70
Posts: 156
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2019 4:25 pm

Re: Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby Pyro70 » Sun Sep 15, 2019 10:55 am

Glad to hear things are as good as they can be. Being on the beach I’m sure will be nice. My wife and I have a one-way ticket to Puerto Rico on Thursday - we hope to spend the winter there.

Enjoy your time, I’m sure you still have quite a bit. I agree with you though it’s relatively easy for us. We just die our loved ones have to live with the loss forever. I do stress about my wife...
Dx Jan 2017 stage IVB w/ PC age 35
FOLFOX
SEP 17 HIPEC 1, anastamosis leak
XELODA
MAR 18 HIPEC 2
JUN 18, ileo reversal and 2nd anastamosis leak

Dagmar
Posts: 11
Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2019 2:02 pm

Re: Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby Dagmar » Sun Sep 15, 2019 11:17 am

You give me strength and comfort. I will go back and read this emal when my time is up. I have been so grateful for everyday until I starter oxaliplatin. This drug make me depressed. I dont know if it is worth it. I would like to die at home and I have told everyone that I might be gone one day. Just like that! They are all ok with that. Enjoy you journey!

User avatar
ANDRETEXAS
Posts: 662
Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2014 11:01 am
Location: Austin, Texas (University of Tennessee alumnus)

Re: Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby ANDRETEXAS » Sun Sep 15, 2019 12:12 pm

You should feel confident that you gave it everything you had...and more. I commend you, appreciate your strength and understand your decision. Enjoy Hawaii....enjoy life. Relax. You deserve it. Wishing you all the best. Andre
2/10/14 - Colon resect
2/13 - DX- Stage IIIb
6 of 18 lymph nodes cancerous
3/7 - Port placed
3/11 - FOLFOX (12 rds w/full oxi)
8/14 - Chemo finish
8/25 - CT- Inc
9/5 - clean PET
12/10- clean CT

3/2/15 - Clean colonoscopy & port removed
3/4 - clean CT
9/21- clean CT

3/23/16 - clean CT

2/22/17- clean CT

3/21/18 - clean CT
4/1 - clean colonoscopy

3/11/19 - clean CT
9/23 - Five-year release - Annual visits now !

4/13/23 - clean colonoscopy

ONE DAY AT A TIME !

Gravelyguy
Posts: 382
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:03 pm

Re: Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby Gravelyguy » Sun Sep 15, 2019 2:08 pm

Pyro,

Praying that you get to continue to make some wonderful memories for those that will be left behind for a time.

Enjoy your trip!

Dave
6/17 dx mRC t3n1m1 very low rectal tumor 2 liver Mets 1.3 cm and .9 cm

6/17 begin 4 rounds Folfox w/Vectibix
9/17 short course radiation
10/17 rectal and liver resection LAR with coloanal anastomosis (no rectum left)
11/17-3/18 8 rounds Folfox
6/18 still NED!! Takedown
8/28/18 still NED! CEA .8 new low for me
10/18/18 colonoscopy clear
12/12/18 CEA .9 still NED!
6/11/19 CEA 1.0
12/19/19 CEA 1.0 still NED!
6/17/20 CEA 1.1 still NED!
12/15/20 CEA 1.1still NED!
12/16/21 CEA 1.2 still NED!

bitchslapped
Posts: 1538
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:23 pm
Location: PNW/USA

Re: Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby bitchslapped » Sun Sep 15, 2019 2:20 pm

As a spouse it is tough to be left behind. It is also tough to watch your loved one suffer. Your family will hurt either way as they should; they love you.
FWIW, Hospice is not set in stone. You can go off hospice & back on again @ some point if you choose.

You scored a great trip - making memories. :)

My DH wanted to "go with his boots on". What that meant to him was not lay @ home in bed waiting to die. When his dirt bike & motorcycle became too heavy for him to handle he got a four-wheeler, a walker that was suitable for outdoors. He just wanted to keep moving as long as he could. In my mind that is the spirit of a Winner. He didn't lose to cancer...or anything. No such thing exists.

I hope you continue to give updates, maybe share a pic of your upcoming vacation on the pic thread...livin life.

Best Wishes to YOU & your Family for Peace/acceptance w/the path you have chosen as best for your circumstance.

BS
DSS,35YO,unresect mCRC DX 7/'14,lvr,LN,peri,rib
FOLFOX+Avstn 4 Rnds d/c 10/'14
Stent 9/'14
FOLFIRI+Avstn 10/'14
Gone From My Sight 2/20/15
Me:garden variety polyps + precancerous polyp, diverticulitis
Carergver x2 DH,DM dbl occupancy,'03-'10
DH dx 47YO mCRC,'04-'07, lvr, billiary tree fried x HAI
DM dx CC 85YO,CC,CHF,stroke,dementia,aphasia

radnyc
Posts: 446
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:32 pm

Re: Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby radnyc » Sun Sep 15, 2019 7:31 pm

Wishing you well in your journey, you gave it your best shot, enjoy to the fullest the time you have left.

Peace
DX Jan 2010, at age 47
Feb - colon resection - 2/17 nodes positive
April - liver mets - Stage 4
3 months Folfox chemotherapy
August '10 liver resection and HAI pump
7 months chemo FUDR HAI and Folfiri systemic
NED since August 2010
Last treatment April 2011
HAI Pump removed Dec 2015

zephyr
Posts: 363
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:31 am

Re: Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby zephyr » Mon Sep 16, 2019 9:27 am

bitchslapped wrote:... spirit of a Winner. He didn't lose to cancer...or anything. No such thing exists.



I'm hanging that on my bookcase.
Nov-2009 Early stage CRC, routine colonoscopy
2010-2014 F/U colonoscopies, all clear
Jun-2016 CRC during F/U colonoscopy, surgery, Stage 4, KRAS, MSS
Aug-2016-May-2018 Folfox, 5FU, Folfiri & Avastin
Aug/Sep-2018 YAG laser surgeries (Germany), 11 nodules removed
Nov-2018 clean CT scan
Mar-2019 New lung nodules
Apr-2019 Dec-2020 Xeloda/Avastin, SBRT, cont. Xeloda/Avastin
Mar-2021 Forfiri/Avastin
Mar-2022 Ablation & Thoracotomy
Feb-2023 Folfiri & Avastin
Nov-2023 Xeloda & Avastin

boxhill
Posts: 789
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:40 am

Re: Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby boxhill » Mon Sep 16, 2019 9:47 am

Peace and love and all the best to you, Pyro.
F, 64 at DX CRC Stage IV
3/17/18 blockage, r hemi
11 of 25 LN,5 mesentery nodes
5mm liver met
pT3 pN2b pM1
BRAF wild, KRAS G12D
dMMR, MSI-H
5/18 FOLFOX
7/18 and 11/18 CT NED
12/18 MRI 5mm liver mass, 2 LNs in porta hepatis
12/31/18 Keytruda
6/19 Multiphasic CT LNs normal, Liver stable
6/28/19 Pause Key, predisone for joint pain
7/31/19 Restart Key
9/19 CT stable
Pain: all fails but Celebrex
12/23/19 CT stable
5/20 MRI stable/NED
6/20 Stop Key
All MRIs NED

User avatar
ginabeewell
Posts: 565
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2018 10:30 am

Re: Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby ginabeewell » Mon Sep 16, 2019 11:27 am

I sighed deeply reading this, but am glad it seems your head is in a good place and you have solid plans to enjoy this next phase of life. You should sit on as many beaches as possible, in my opinion.

You’ve been a source of much wisdom for me since I first came here a year ago - and continue to be. How glad I am that we’ve all learned from your experiences. Can’t wait to hear about how you’ll make the most of the time you have.
49 YO mom of twins (11) lucky stepmom of 16/19 year olds
9/17/18 DX stage 4 CRC w inoperable liver mets CEA 931
Currently NED!

Join me on a lookback of my journey via my Strive for Five on Substack here:
https://ginajacobson.substack.com

All treatment details here:
https://www.weareallmadeofstars.net/col ... nt-journey

My favorite posts here:
https://weareallmadeofstars.net/favorite-posts

claudine
Posts: 809
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 2:41 pm
Location: Montana

Re: Screw Cancer, Hospice is Here

Postby claudine » Mon Sep 16, 2019 11:39 am

May we all have such a positive approach and wisdom, Pyro XXXXX
Wife of Dx 04/18 (51 yo). MSS, KRAS G12A, no primary

Tumors: L4 04/18; left adrenal gland & small lung nodules 03/19
rectum 02/22 (pT3 pN0 stage 2A); L3 09/22

Surgeries: intestinal resect. 05/18 (no cancer - Crohn's); adrenalectomy 02/20
L3-L4-L5 fusion and corpectomy 05/20; LAR 04/22; ileo reversal 09/22
L2-L3 fusion and corpectomy 09/22

Treatments: EBRT 04/18; SBRT 02/19; Failed adjuvant Xelox ; Folfiri/Avastin 03/19 - 01/20
adjuvant chemorad (Xeloda) 06/22; SBRT 11/22; Xeloda/Avastin since 01/24


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