Signet Ring Cell Survivor Update
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:01 am
I haven't been here for quite a while. I wanted to give an update. Come February 8, I will celebrate 4 years after my resection of "No Evidence of Disease". I had 1 inch of rectum and 17 inches of colon removed along with 56 lymph nodes--35 of which were positive for Signet Ring Cell Adenocarcinoma. I had 12 rounds of FOLFOX over a 6 month period and also had Leucovorin for approximately half that time.
First, the negatives--I still struggle with hand/foot neuropathies and decreased balance ability. I have bowel issues/urgency and spicy food I used to love is no longer an option.
The Positives--I AM FREAKING ALIVE!!! If you have ever looked at the statistics for signet ring cell colon cancer, it isn't pretty. Yet here I am, nearly 4 years later. I have been blessed to watch my children go from middle school to high school and grow into amazing young adults. I feel so very blessed.
I wanted to leave this message of hope. A lady named Dori on this board gave me so much hope on my dark, dark nights. I am so thankful for that. The truth is, we are all terminal from the moment we take our first breath. I got a big warning smacked across my..well...colon and I am trying to make the best of the time I have been given. I am not out of the woods and I know that. I still get CT scans every 6 months and at 5 years, will get them annually for at least a few years. But 2 or 3 years ago, I didn't think I would live more than a year or two. Remember when you read those statistics that the studies WE need to see are the ones that will be published 5 to 10 years from now. Medicine is slowly but ever evolving. Make the most of your days to the best of your ability if you can. And don't be afraid to ask your doctor for medication to help your psyche if you struggle. I understand because I have had and still occasionally have very dark days.
Blessings to all of you! And Dori--if you read this, thank you.
Becky
DX: Suspected Colon Cancer January, 2016
2/8/16: Removed 17" Colon (Sigmoid area) & 1"Rectum & 58 lymph nodes
2/12/16: CA in 35/58 lymph nodes
Cancer: Stage 3C T3A N2B
Path: Signet Ring Cell Adenocarcinoma
Chemo: 12 rounds of FOLFOX, (3/17/16 to August, 2016) Leukovorin DC'd after WBC decrease.
First, the negatives--I still struggle with hand/foot neuropathies and decreased balance ability. I have bowel issues/urgency and spicy food I used to love is no longer an option.
The Positives--I AM FREAKING ALIVE!!! If you have ever looked at the statistics for signet ring cell colon cancer, it isn't pretty. Yet here I am, nearly 4 years later. I have been blessed to watch my children go from middle school to high school and grow into amazing young adults. I feel so very blessed.
I wanted to leave this message of hope. A lady named Dori on this board gave me so much hope on my dark, dark nights. I am so thankful for that. The truth is, we are all terminal from the moment we take our first breath. I got a big warning smacked across my..well...colon and I am trying to make the best of the time I have been given. I am not out of the woods and I know that. I still get CT scans every 6 months and at 5 years, will get them annually for at least a few years. But 2 or 3 years ago, I didn't think I would live more than a year or two. Remember when you read those statistics that the studies WE need to see are the ones that will be published 5 to 10 years from now. Medicine is slowly but ever evolving. Make the most of your days to the best of your ability if you can. And don't be afraid to ask your doctor for medication to help your psyche if you struggle. I understand because I have had and still occasionally have very dark days.
Blessings to all of you! And Dori--if you read this, thank you.
Becky
DX: Suspected Colon Cancer January, 2016
2/8/16: Removed 17" Colon (Sigmoid area) & 1"Rectum & 58 lymph nodes
2/12/16: CA in 35/58 lymph nodes
Cancer: Stage 3C T3A N2B
Path: Signet Ring Cell Adenocarcinoma
Chemo: 12 rounds of FOLFOX, (3/17/16 to August, 2016) Leukovorin DC'd after WBC decrease.