To my friends

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justin case
Posts: 4269
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:26 am
Location: Katy, Texas

To my friends

Postby justin case » Mon Jul 13, 2015 5:24 pm

Some of my favorite people are going on to live their new lives, with a chance to leave cancer behind! Although the monster will continue, your life would be better off without us in the future! I could never fathom the devotion, your experience has added to the forum. In every person's life there has to be a renewal, after the trauma, involved in this disease. So please check in once in a while, with your Oh so AWESOME advice, and be at peace with all you have given to us, and go live the life you deserve. I should have mentioned caregivers, as my intended focus, although you who have been through treatments, I haven't, you are not allowed to leave :shock: (only on short breaks)
Michael
7/11 diagnosed Stage 2 colon and rectal cancer
chemo/rad
lar/temp ilio
Reversal & port removal
21 round of chemo Folfox 9tx, 5fu 12 tx
Last treatment July 2012

User avatar
Sharon Brent
Posts: 288
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2014 5:19 am
Location: London England

Re: To my friends

Postby Sharon Brent » Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:25 pm

Greetings Michael,
Well I'm hoping that I am one of your friend that you were talking about, but in any case I am still around reading and checking in now and then, but won't be posting that much as it's almost the summer Holiday and I will have my 6 year old at home till the beginning of September.

I thank you for all your advise and support since i joined the forum, I don't think I could have coped without you and everyone else, I will never forget your kindness through my darkest time.

Love always Piyagarn
DH, 47yo, Dx Stg IV, mCRC, lvr, lng 1/14, Tx Capeciabine 9 rnds
Children 5 & 1
DH 48th Birthday 6 November in Hospital
Home palliative care on 12 November 2014
Called back to Jesus 4pm 15 November 2014
Life Celebration in Nigeria 8 January 2015

peanut_8
Posts: 2340
Joined: Sun May 25, 2014 1:31 pm

Re: To my friends

Postby peanut_8 » Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:29 pm

Michael, you are just to wacky for me.
your friend peanut








just kidding :shock:
female, diagnosed Jan 14, RC stage 2a, age 56
MSS
April 14, 28 chemo/rad with Xeloda
June 14 adjuvant Xeloda 6 rounds
currently NED

WifeOfMike
Posts: 1495
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:53 pm
Facebook Username: https://www.facebook.com/vbass123
Location: San Diego, California

Re: To my friends

Postby WifeOfMike » Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:53 pm

Dearest brother Michael,

Being one of your good friends AND an ex-caregiver.... I can only answer this way
Although my plate is ultra full right now, & I have not been really active LATELY- I am still here.... in and out on the board- PM/ email within hours.

I still feel connected to the very people & place that brought ME and my man through the last two years, including the hardest months as my sweet man left this world.
I have laughed, cried and everything in-between with many of you, and I still am exuberant when GOOD news comes around, and cry like a baby when the news is SAD.
Although I have never MET any of you in person, and have huge doubts I ever will (although I would welcome it)..... I simply LOVE & CARE for many of you.

I am here, because many caregivers who lost their loved ones understand what I am going through- and are either in front of or right behind my footsteps. We are communicating & helping each other as we slowly pick our selves up, and are piecing back our selves & our lives. No one else quite understands where we are, as much as those that have walked this particular path. Our stories & pain are common bonds.

I find I can still answer questions relating to the zillion hours of research & walking every step beside my beloved man.....on symptoms, side effects & clinical trials.
YES, many of YOU can too.... BUTT when I needed answers..... it usually came in a multi-person dialogue, some questions only a few knew. In two years of being here, I do know that lung mets are far less common, and sadly it is an area I know too well.

I can also answer caregiver questions from beginning to end- and know (too much) regarding end of Life & hospice care, hospice drugs- you cannot find anywhere but from experience. (although sometimes I am still too early into the grieving process, to answer some of them in great detail). I know, that in time, I will be able to help someone else, and until the day comes..... where I am no longer useful..... or I no longer need someone here..... Then I will part ways, and will know in my heart that I made a difference to as many as I could, out of respect, friendship & honor.

Until THAT day my darling friend
YOU are stuck with ME
Much LOVE,
Vicki
Bad Ass WIFE
Hubs: CRC IVA,T3, N0, M1A
Resect/LN Mets 10/12
Folfox4/Avastin 11/12-5/13
Folfiri/Erbitux 6/13-10/13
Stivarga 12/13-4/14
Trial 4/14-/14
Trial 8/14-11/14
HOME Hospice 11/17/14
Guardian Angel 1/1/15
Cost of HOPE? PRICELESS

JudeD59
Posts: 726
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2015 12:16 pm

Re: To my friends

Postby JudeD59 » Mon Jul 13, 2015 11:01 pm

I have a long road ahead, so I'll still be here to share stories about my crazy in-laws, swap song lyrics, and tell you all about my fishing trips! I was AWOL the past week because I took a little trip to sunny FL and forgot to pack my laptop :oops: I hate typing on my phone or iPad, so I just read the forum and didn't post. But I'm back now and off to the surgeon tomorrow to see if radiation/chemo shrunk the stinking tumor plus scheduling surgery. No anxiety, nope, none at all. :shock: :shock:

Here's a little comfort from Zepp to send you off to sleep-

"Oh, well, the night is long the beads of time pass slow,
Tired eyes on the sunrise, waiting for the eastern glow.

The pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath,
The drums will shake the castle wall, the ring wraiths ride in black, Ride on.

Sing as you raise your bow, shoot straighter than before.
No comfort has the fire at night that lights the face so cold.

Oh dance in the dark of night, Sing to the morning light.
The magic runes are writ in gold to bring the balance back. Bring it back.

At last the sun is shining, The clouds of blue roll by,
With flames from the dragon of darkness, the sunlight blinds his eyes."

Judy :)
56 yrs old, wife, mother to 4 daughters
RC Stage II T3N0M0 DX April 2, 2015
6 cm. mid-rectum-CEA 121
Xeloda and radiation finished 06/15/15- CEA 242
CEA right before surgery 81
LAR performed 8/12/15 Temporary ileostomy
CEA 10-21-15 1.6
PET scan 11-4-15 All clear
Port installed 11/11/15
Folfox started 11/18/15
Folfox stopped due to bad reaction
Reversal 2/17/16
CEA 2/3/16 1.7
CEA 3/31/16 1.3
CT Scan 4/12/16 All Clear
Port removed 4/21/16
CEA 5/24/17 1.4

Nik Colon

Re: To my friends

Postby Nik Colon » Tue Jul 14, 2015 1:57 am

Sorry, your stuck with me! For now anyway :shock: :mrgreen:

Valorie
Posts: 365
Joined: Mon May 05, 2014 6:33 am

Re: To my friends

Postby Valorie » Tue Jul 14, 2015 4:07 am

Still checkin' in Michael.

Valorie
Age 53 dx 2a CC 0/21 LN Oncotypedx score: 11
Sigmoidectomy 5/8/14
MSS No lymphovasular involvement,
6/14 PET - NED, 12/14 CT NED, 7/15 CT - NED
6/14-12/9/14 Xeloda 8 cycles
2/12/15 incisional hernia repair - Boooo!

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

Re: To my friends

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Tue Jul 14, 2015 8:00 am

I check in every once in a while. Right now I'm waiting for my scans on October 5th. Still tapering on prednisone for this asthma flare. Still having the same bowel issues. Also still finding which foods help and which make things worse. Still get some abdominal soreness sometimes. Dicetel helps a lot with bowel spasms. I will update more after I get scan results. Still waiting on genetic testing.
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! :)

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

Re: To my friends

Postby bitchslapped » Tue Jul 14, 2015 2:17 pm

A very nice post, Brother Nut.
justin case wrote: In every person's life there has to be a renewal, after the trauma, involved in this disease.


Very astute observation, my friend. I guess it boils down to the calm after the storm, licking one's wounds, stewing in one's own juices sorting through feelings & for some...stuff. I can just now, coming out from under the covers, begin to listen to the newscasts again. Also realizing how much of my life that I put on hold, what didn't get done last fall, this spring. At the time, none of it mattered. Nothing else mattered.

CT still matters, but needs to take the back seat to things left undone & while the healing process is slowly in motion. The friends I have made (which include You), I still consider very much my CT friends...that hasn't changed. Some of us (former) caregivers, I think, may feel we need to still figure where & how we can still contribute in a meaningful way (for me, though, I don't have to be particularly meaninful :lol: ). And I thank you, Michael, for expressing that we might still be of value here in some way.

For me, I'm still around here & there & glad you are too.

Best Wishes & Hugs
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

Danieljt
Posts: 309
Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2014 10:32 pm

Re: To my friends

Postby Danieljt » Tue Jul 14, 2015 5:19 pm

Just checking in. Dan has his CT tomorrow and his colosconopy first week of Aug. we both are trying to keep the anxiety to a minimum. Wish us luck.
Jackie. Wife of Dan
70 male stage 3b cc
Dx 5/9/14
Resection 7/1/14
dx 9/14
65 yr wife DLCl
Sct 3/21/19 Ned last 8 mo.

User avatar
CRguy
Posts: 10473
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: To my friends

Postby CRguy » Tue Jul 14, 2015 6:00 pm

I'd luv to chat Michael .. BUTT... gots me some ribs to boil !

Cheers bro'
CR
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

justin case
Posts: 4269
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:26 am
Location: Katy, Texas

Re: To my friends

Postby justin case » Tue Jul 14, 2015 6:30 pm

CRguy wrote:I'd luv to chat Michael .. BUTT... gots me some ribs to boil !

Cheers bro'
CR

EWE


Speaking of boils :shock: :shock: :shock: I've had one on the side of my neck, for a week :? I can work up some flavoring for those ribs of yours 8)
7/11 diagnosed Stage 2 colon and rectal cancer
chemo/rad
lar/temp ilio
Reversal & port removal
21 round of chemo Folfox 9tx, 5fu 12 tx
Last treatment July 2012

User avatar
CRguy
Posts: 10473
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: To my friends

Postby CRguy » Tue Jul 14, 2015 7:29 pm

ewwwww ... justin Ewwwwee

BUTT then where would that leave ..
crab boil
lobster boil
clam boil .... ???

be very careful now bro'
there are a LOTTA seafood luvvin' homies out there ... :twisted:

Momto5boyz
Posts: 33
Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2015 12:54 am

Re: To my friends

Postby Momto5boyz » Wed Jul 15, 2015 12:58 am

Although I mostly read and seldom post. I enjoy your posts. I will be here.
Best of luck!
12/14/13. Went to ER for stomach cramps :stage 4A colon cancer.
12/15/13 Had large tumor removed from colon and colostomy.
1/14 port put in
2/14 FOLFOX with Avastin 12 cycles.
8/25/14 liver res.
10/14 liver radiation/ Xeloda.
11/14 liver ablation
12/14 CEA rising to 7.2 from 2.4. ctscan shows positive cancer cells near ablation site and margin.
2/15 12 cycles of FOLFIRI with erbitux
7/15 CEA 1.4 ctscan shows stable with no progression.
8/15 CEA 1.4. Reversal scheduled for 9/10/15

justin case
Posts: 4269
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:26 am
Location: Katy, Texas

Re: To my friends

Postby justin case » Wed Jul 15, 2015 5:34 pm

CRguy wrote:ewwwww ... justin Ewwwwee

BUTT then where would that leave ..
crab boil
lobster boil
clam boil .... ???

be very careful now bro'
there are a LOTTA seafood luvvin' homies out there ... :twisted:

How did you know I did a stint at Red Lobster? They actually flew me around to teach :roll: :roll: :roll:
7/11 diagnosed Stage 2 colon and rectal cancer
chemo/rad
lar/temp ilio
Reversal & port removal
21 round of chemo Folfox 9tx, 5fu 12 tx
Last treatment July 2012


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