Hi everyone,
It has been a couple of years since I last checked in but this forum and my old "colon club" friends are always in my heart. I found so much information, hope and encouragement here to get through some of the darkest and most challenging days of my life, and truth be told, if it hadn't been for the camaraderie and support of this forum, I don't think I could have coped with my diagnosis.
So today, I am back to repay my debt and share hope with those of you who are finding yourselves in the thick of it. I was diagnosed stage IV colon (sigmoid) cancer with liver metastases in June 2011. Surgery, chemo and 2 years of maintenance (Xeloda & Avastin), and I am happy to report that I am still NED as of today. Starting this year, we spaced out my surveillance scans from 3 to 6 months, the longest I have ever gone without a scan so needless to say, scanxiety was especially overwhelming.
When I was first diagnosed, I desperately looked for survival stories ... knowing long-term survival was a possibility served as a lifeline at the time. I hope my story will provide some comfort to those who may need it.