Just found out yesterday I have colon cancer.

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Ginrwill
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:38 am

Just found out yesterday I have colon cancer.

Postby Ginrwill » Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:45 am

My name is Ginger I’m 42 and who would’ve thought cancer at my age. I know tons of people have it younger even kids. But it is still mind blowing. So the report from my gastro is a CEA marker in my blood and it’s 3.9. The report says it’s moderately differentiated adenocarcenoma arising from villious adenoma.
He seems positive I will be fine. I had suspicious spots on my liver in July but they did an mri and said they were hemomangiomas. And he believes that is accurate and that it hasn’t spread. I’m supposed to hear from MD Anderson tomorrow. I have almost a complete blockage from this mass :cry:

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: Just found out yesterday I have colon cancer.

Postby Aqx99 » Tue Nov 07, 2017 4:12 pm

You've come to the right place. There is a ton of wonderful support here. I know how you feel about your age, I was 39 when I was diagnosed. My doctor thought I had IBS or something like that when she sent me to the gastroenterologist. Feel free to ask any questions you might have, vent, scream, cry and even laugh. We are all here for you.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

SweetC80
Posts: 103
Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2017 1:28 pm

Re: Just found out yesterday I have colon cancer.

Postby SweetC80 » Tue Nov 07, 2017 4:15 pm

Sorry you have found yourself here. This place is amazing for support and information. Hope you get a good plan in place soon and you'll be on your way to NEDville soon!
My Mom
12/16 Stage IIIb Rectal Ca CEA 1.2
1/17-2/17 Chemoradiation CEA 4.4
5/17 Entire Colon, Rectum & Anus removed Perm Ileostomy Bag
7/17 FOLFOX
9/17 Stage IVb 9cm Liver Met & 7mm Lung Nodule CEA 197
9/17 FOLFIRI CEA 160
10/17 Confirmed KRAS Pos CEA 210
11/17 Met growths Liver 10cm & Lung 8mm CEA 425
12/17 FOLFOX again Met growths Liver 13cm & Lung 1cm CEA 405
12/17 Xifaxan due to Hepatic Encephalopathy
12/17 New 2cm liver Met
1/18 CEA 992
2/8/18 Passed Peacefully

Andrea1976
Posts: 384
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 10:32 am

Re: Just found out yesterday I have colon cancer.

Postby Andrea1976 » Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:21 pm

Sorry that you are here. I was also completely shocked. But than I realized I am greatful it's me and not my children. Did you have the polyp already removed during colonoscopy. Or waiting for surgery because they couldn't remove it? I am almost 2 years out and my children are 16 and 14 years old now. Few months after my cancerous polyp I also had Melanoma stage 0 removed... colon cancer may have saved my life. Because my previous dermatologist was telling me for 5 years that my black mole is nothing to worry about. Luckily the cancer center disagreed.

Basil
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:33 pm

Re: Just found out yesterday I have colon cancer.

Postby Basil » Tue Nov 07, 2017 6:37 pm

Ginrwill wrote:My name is Ginger I’m 42 and who would’ve thought cancer at my age. I know tons of people have it younger even kids. But it is still mind blowing. So the report from my gastro is a CEA marker in my blood and it’s 3.9. The report says it’s moderately differentiated adenocarcenoma arising from villious adenoma.
He seems positive I will be fine. I had suspicious spots on my liver in July but they did an mri and said they were hemomangiomas. And he believes that is accurate and that it hasn’t spread. I’m supposed to hear from MD Anderson tomorrow. I have almost a complete blockage from this mass :cry:


Hello, my signature tells my story but we're similar. I was dx with moderately diff adenocarcinoma in March at age 40. Had a liver spot - hemomangioma. I was treated at MDAnderson in Houston from March through July, when my last six rounds of chemo were cancelled. Had LAR, temp ileo and ileo reversal in September. It's cancer, so you're never in the clear 100% but I'm NED on surveillance only with low risk of recurrence (crosses fingers).

So, yes, cancer sucks donkey balls but I'm less than eight months from dx and virtually back to normal. Hope you have a relatively easy trip as well.

If you are going to MDA I would recommend my surgeon, Dr. Chang. I spent a total of 72 hours in the hospital combined for LAR surgery and reversal with no surgical complications at all. Future results no guaranteed and so forth but I consider the guy to be a wizard of all things colorectal surgery.
40 y/o male (now 46), kids 11 & 14.
Dx 3/16/17, rectal cancer s3,t3,n1,m0
PROSPCT trial (FOLFOX in lieu of chemorad)
FOLFOX 4/5/17 - 6/26/17
LAR 7/31/17, temp ileo
pathological complete response
Adjuvant chemo cancelled (IDEA Study)
Ileo reversed 9/25/17
NED
1 year scans - clear
2 year scans - clear
3 year scans - clear
4 year scans - clear
5 year scans - clear (considered cured)

Ginrwill
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:38 am

Re: Just found out yesterday I have colon cancer.

Postby Ginrwill » Tue Nov 07, 2017 8:04 pm

I don’t have a polyp. I have a mass that’s almost a complete blockage :|

Ginrwill
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:38 am

Re: Just found out yesterday I have colon cancer.

Postby Ginrwill » Tue Nov 07, 2017 8:05 pm

Basil wrote:
Ginrwill wrote:My name is Ginger I’m 42 and who would’ve thought cancer at my age. I know tons of people have it younger even kids. But it is still mind blowing. So the report from my gastro is a CEA marker in my blood and it’s 3.9. The report says it’s moderately differentiated adenocarcenoma arising from villious adenoma.
He seems positive I will be fine. I had suspicious spots on my liver in July but they did an mri and said they were hemomangiomas. And he believes that is accurate and that it hasn’t spread. I’m supposed to hear from MD Anderson tomorrow. I have almost a complete blockage from this mass :cry:


Hello, my signature tells my story but we're similar. I was dx with moderately diff adenocarcinoma in March at age 40. Had a liver spot - hemomangioma. I was treated at MDAnderson in Houston from March through July, when my last six rounds of chemo were cancelled. Had LAR, temp ileo and ileo reversal in September. It's cancer, so you're never in the clear 100% but I'm NED on surveillance only with low risk of recurrence (crosses fingers).

So, yes, cancer sucks donkey balls but I'm less than eight months from dx and virtually back to normal. Hope you have a relatively easy trip as well.

If you are going to MDA I would recommend my surgeon, Dr. Chang. I spent a total of 72 hours in the hospital combined for LAR surgery and reversal with no surgical complications at all. Future results no guaranteed and so forth but I consider the guy to be a wizard of all things colorectal surgery.


Did you end up with a large tumor removal? And how long did it take to get into MD Anderson ?

Basil
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:33 pm

Re: Just found out yesterday I have colon cancer.

Postby Basil » Tue Nov 07, 2017 9:26 pm

My tumor was medium sized. I got an appointment at MDA within a week. I can't give you more because that time was a bit of a blur. Others set the appointment for me.
40 y/o male (now 46), kids 11 & 14.
Dx 3/16/17, rectal cancer s3,t3,n1,m0
PROSPCT trial (FOLFOX in lieu of chemorad)
FOLFOX 4/5/17 - 6/26/17
LAR 7/31/17, temp ileo
pathological complete response
Adjuvant chemo cancelled (IDEA Study)
Ileo reversed 9/25/17
NED
1 year scans - clear
2 year scans - clear
3 year scans - clear
4 year scans - clear
5 year scans - clear (considered cured)

teacher2017
Posts: 275
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2017 1:18 pm
Facebook Username: Lydia Clark

Re: Just found out yesterday I have colon cancer.

Postby teacher2017 » Wed Nov 08, 2017 7:19 am

Ok i was just where you are. It's completely overwhelming and scary. Your feelings are valid and it's a process. The hurry up and wait is the worst part. I had a moderately diff. 6cm tumor removed from my sigmoid colon on sept 22. I start chemo today. After being told it didn't spread to organs and lymphs, it got to 12/17 LNs. I was devastated. They were all removed but the fear of reoccurence is real. Stats don't help either. My advice is to stay off the internet and dr Google is not your friend. We are here for you. We are all friends here, ask your questions. Someone always answers. Try to stay positive and do everything your onc tells you. Your surgeon can not tell you treatment. Hang in there. Be strong. You've got this!
50 yo mom of 2 (15, 18)
DX stage 3c - 12/17 LN. T3
8" colon resection 9/22/17
6.1cm tumor
folfox 11/17-4/18
CEA -1.4 11/8/17
Colonoscopy- 5/18-CLEAR!
Cea -1.8 6/18
Cea -2.1. 8/18
8/10/18 Stage 4
1cm met in seg.8 liver
Liver resection-9/18
Cea -1.5/1.2
Port removal-9/19
Cea -1.2 10/19
Cea -1.1 02/2020
Cea - 1.2 5/20
Cea-1.1 9/20
Cea- 1.3 2/21
Cea.1.3 5/21

Deb m
Posts: 558
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:08 am

Re: Just found out yesterday I have colon cancer.

Postby Deb m » Wed Nov 08, 2017 9:07 am

We also went to MD Anderson. It took us two weeks to get in.

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

Re: Just found out yesterday I have colon cancer.

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Wed Nov 08, 2017 10:20 am

Welcome to the group and sorry you're going through this!*hugs* I hope you get more answers soon!*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! :)

User avatar
horizon
Posts: 1669
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 10:10 pm

Re: Just found out yesterday I have colon cancer.

Postby horizon » Wed Nov 08, 2017 2:20 pm

Hi Ginger. So sorry you're having to go through this. There are lots of people here who get how you're feeling. I was where you were six years ago. We'll support you here!
I'm just a dude who still can't believe he had a resection and went through chemo (currently 13 years NED). Is this real life?

TXLiz
Posts: 249
Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2016 3:31 pm

Re: Just found out yesterday I have colon cancer.

Postby TXLiz » Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:31 am

Ginrwill wrote:I don’t have a polyp. I have a mass that’s almost a complete blockage :|



Hey Ginrwill. Sorry to see you here, but this is a great place to be if you have cc/rc. I found this place after my diagnosis and surgery and can’t tell you how much this forum has helped me.

I see you are worried (who wouldn’t be) about having a large tumor.

My tumor was huge, and I had a complete blockage. My recovery from surgery took a long time. My incision was big, too.

The good news is that I feel ok, for now. I also had the same type of liver spot. I completed my 12 rounds of chemo and am currently NED. I know that can change at any moment, of course, but everything now is a victory and I’ll take it as it comes.

I have a local oncologist and also went to MD Anderson. I really like my local oncologist. He says he will be aggressive as possible, I am 47 and want everything possible done to fight cancer.

One difference I noticed with MDA is that my chemo exit scan included a barium rectal, where locally they were going to just give me a chest to abdomen CT. I think MDA does some things better/differently and will always get a second opinion from my doc there.

I cannot recall how long it took to get in MDA. It wasn’t long. They seem to get you in as quickly as possible.
Vomiting and blockage 9/19/16 46 y F
R hemi colectomy 9/20/16
Stage 3 B CRC, located in cecum
3 out of 16 lymph nodes positive
perineural invasion/lymphovascular invasion
infiltrating, mod differentiated adenocarcinoma with a mucinous component
separate tumor nodules present in pericolonic adipose tissue
MSI-high
Baseline PET scan clear 9/16 CEA 0.5
FOLFOX 10/16- 3/17
April 16th, CT scan clear. CEA 1.1
Lynch "inconclusive"
Colonoscopy 10/5/2017 clear


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