New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

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SteveNZ
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Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 4:21 pm
Location: New Zealnd

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby SteveNZ » Mon May 28, 2018 3:34 am

Thinking of you both and all you have to walk through. I have something similar and have a great medical team.
You are in our prayers.
Aged 56 - I feel really young...
Colo-Rectal Cancer T2 N1 M0
March 2018 - Diagnosis
April-May 2018 Radiation+Chemo then a TIA (Minor Stroke). - Stopped Chemo.
August 27th-November 2018 - Surgery and long, long recovery
*Decided to live to 100 as I will get a telegram from Her Majesty the Queen when 100yrs old. I so, so want one.
Am a Salvation Army chap so I complete 'knee drill' (prayer) to the Commander in Chief often. For myself personally this helps me through.

child#6
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Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 7:51 pm
Facebook Username: John Smith

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby child#6 » Tue May 29, 2018 2:25 pm

Well today we got encouraging news... Surgeon said CEA was normal and CT scan showed no metastasis. This was the best we could hope for going into surgery. Of course biopsy taken at surgery will tell us more definitively. One week more to wait for surgery.

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LPL
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Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2016 12:49 am
Location: Europe

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby LPL » Tue May 29, 2018 3:00 pm

child#6 wrote:Well today we got encouraging news... Surgeon said CEA was normal and CT scan showed no metastasis. This was the best we could hope for going into surgery. Of course biopsy taken at surgery will tell us more definitively. One week more to wait for surgery.

”CT scan showed no metastasis”
That is good news! :)
Try to live normal and prepare for surgey.
Best of Luck going forward /LPL
DH @ 65 DX 4/11/16 CC recto-sigmoid junction
Adenocarcenoma 35x15x9mm G3(biopsi) G1(surgical)
Mets 3 Liver resectable
T4aN1bM1a IVa 2/9 LN
MSS, KRAS-mut G13D
CEA & CA19-9: 5/18 2.5 78 8/17 1.4 48 2/14/17 1.8 29
4 Folfox 6/15-7/30 (b4 liver surgery) 8 after
CT: 8/8 no change 3/27/17 NED->Jan-19 mets to lung NED again Oct-19 :)
:!: Steroid induced hyperglycemia dx after 3chemo
Surgeries 2016: 3/18 Emergency colostomy
5/23 Primary+gallbl+stoma reversal+port 9/1 Liver mets
RFA 2019: Feb & Oct lung mets

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chrissyrice
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Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2010 8:44 am
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby chrissyrice » Tue May 29, 2018 8:54 pm

My cea was normal before surgery ... came out of surgery as a stage 3b

CEA is not always a good marker for cancer for many people with colon cancer.

I hope you get to see the oncologist BEFORE surgery. There have been changes that the surgeon may not be aware of for colon cancer .... ASCO is now recommending chemo or radiation before surgery as there is a better prognosis for some tumors.

If the surgeon is that great your oncologist would know him and his skill level.

Good Luck.
DX 10-31-09 Surgery 12-1-09 Sigmoid Colon
Stage IIIb T3,N2,MX; Chemo Feb 2010-Aug 2010; 4 rounds Folfox; 8 rounds 5FU +LV
12/2010 PET/CT Scan, Cancer Free
7/2012 CT Scan NED 2 years
10/2013 NED 3 years
8/2014 NED 4 years
Recurrence 6/2015: iliac lymph node(s)
8/2015 Surgery: 3 cm tumor removed+iliac artery graft
3/2016 CT Scan Stable
6/2016 Stable
9/2016 Stable
12/2016 Stable
3/2017 Stable
Recurrence 6/2017
12/2017 Surgery removed all cancer w/ clean margins
07-27-2018 Cancer-free for 7 months

child#6
Posts: 30
Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 7:51 pm
Facebook Username: John Smith

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby child#6 » Wed May 30, 2018 5:21 pm

It may very well be the case that the situation with staging will change and I am prepared for that possibility, but for today I can only think about what I know is directly in front of us. Really trying it to worry because this also may be a one as done situation and I will have worried myself sick for nothing. Worrying wi!l sap my energy that may be needed after pathology study.

SteveNZ
Posts: 147
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 4:21 pm
Location: New Zealnd

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby SteveNZ » Wed May 30, 2018 9:42 pm

child#6 wrote:.......... Really trying it to worry because this also may be a one as done situation and I will have worried myself sick for nothing. Worrying wi!l sap my energy that may be needed after pathology study.

We are here for you. Worrying can be such a difficult 'mindset' to get in order. For myself trying to get healthy logic to guide my worrying is just not that easy. All the best.
You are both in my prayers.
Aged 56 - I feel really young...
Colo-Rectal Cancer T2 N1 M0
March 2018 - Diagnosis
April-May 2018 Radiation+Chemo then a TIA (Minor Stroke). - Stopped Chemo.
August 27th-November 2018 - Surgery and long, long recovery
*Decided to live to 100 as I will get a telegram from Her Majesty the Queen when 100yrs old. I so, so want one.
Am a Salvation Army chap so I complete 'knee drill' (prayer) to the Commander in Chief often. For myself personally this helps me through.

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chrissyrice
Posts: 1171
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2010 8:44 am
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby chrissyrice » Thu May 31, 2018 12:16 pm

child6,
I am only speaking from experience. The first time is always the worst when it comes to worry. I have learned so much for everyone here and the worry for me is always waiting to get the scan reports. But, I have learned to stay really busy and it helps.

I am sure you will be fine... there is no one way to do cancer :wink:

Chrissy
DX 10-31-09 Surgery 12-1-09 Sigmoid Colon
Stage IIIb T3,N2,MX; Chemo Feb 2010-Aug 2010; 4 rounds Folfox; 8 rounds 5FU +LV
12/2010 PET/CT Scan, Cancer Free
7/2012 CT Scan NED 2 years
10/2013 NED 3 years
8/2014 NED 4 years
Recurrence 6/2015: iliac lymph node(s)
8/2015 Surgery: 3 cm tumor removed+iliac artery graft
3/2016 CT Scan Stable
6/2016 Stable
9/2016 Stable
12/2016 Stable
3/2017 Stable
Recurrence 6/2017
12/2017 Surgery removed all cancer w/ clean margins
07-27-2018 Cancer-free for 7 months

child#6
Posts: 30
Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 7:51 pm
Facebook Username: John Smith

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby child#6 » Thu May 31, 2018 12:47 pm

Thank you chrissy,
I got that it was your experience. To be honest I wish there was one cookie cutter way to do this. It would make it easier if there was a script to follow.

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby Lee » Thu May 31, 2018 3:20 pm

chrissyrice wrote:I hope you get to see the oncologist BEFORE surgery. There have been changes that the surgeon may not be aware of for colon cancer .... ASCO is now recommending chemo or radiation before surgery as there is a better prognosis for some tumors.

If the surgeon is that great your oncologist would know him and his skill level.

Good Luck.


Good advice. Do you know if it's colon or rectal cancer? I met my Onc the day after meeting the surgeon.

Make sure DH had good comfortable walking slippers for walking the hospital hall. And a wrap around bathrobe. It is easier to get in and out of while hooked up to IVs.

Good luck,

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

child#6
Posts: 30
Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 7:51 pm
Facebook Username: John Smith

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby child#6 » Thu May 31, 2018 3:42 pm

It's colon cancer at the upper end of the large intestine (cecum).Hoping it stays a stage 1, but I am prepared for something different. Waiting sucks and I'm not even the patient!!!

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LPL
Posts: 651
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2016 12:49 am
Location: Europe

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby LPL » Thu May 31, 2018 4:29 pm

child#6 wrote:It's colon cancer at the upper end of the large intestine (cecum).Hoping it stays a stage 1, but I am prepared for something different. Waiting sucks and I'm not even the patient!!!

Totally understand the ”Waiting sucks”, your mind goes everywhere and it is not until you have a treatment-plan going forward that you can ’change gear’...
I know where you are... Hoping for the best for you!
Kind regards
LPL/=another wife
DH @ 65 DX 4/11/16 CC recto-sigmoid junction
Adenocarcenoma 35x15x9mm G3(biopsi) G1(surgical)
Mets 3 Liver resectable
T4aN1bM1a IVa 2/9 LN
MSS, KRAS-mut G13D
CEA & CA19-9: 5/18 2.5 78 8/17 1.4 48 2/14/17 1.8 29
4 Folfox 6/15-7/30 (b4 liver surgery) 8 after
CT: 8/8 no change 3/27/17 NED->Jan-19 mets to lung NED again Oct-19 :)
:!: Steroid induced hyperglycemia dx after 3chemo
Surgeries 2016: 3/18 Emergency colostomy
5/23 Primary+gallbl+stoma reversal+port 9/1 Liver mets
RFA 2019: Feb & Oct lung mets

child#6
Posts: 30
Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 7:51 pm
Facebook Username: John Smith

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby child#6 » Fri Jun 01, 2018 7:57 pm

Another day down. Counting down til Tuesday. I got overtaken by fear last night. Fear we won't get a good result, fear of just being a lone at night while he is in the hospital, fear that our 19 year old fur baby won't be here when my husband gets home. Our fur baby has been on "kitty hospice" for three months with us here at home. It seems unmanageable at the moment. Afraid to get over taken again tonight. My head was so crazy last night.

child#6
Posts: 30
Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 7:51 pm
Facebook Username: John Smith

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby child#6 » Mon Jun 04, 2018 1:42 pm

Well tomorrow morning at 7:30 is surgery time. Need to be at the hospital for 5:30.Thankfully we live 10 minutes away. Also found out this morning my 52 year old sister has breast cancer which will require treatment post surgery. I am feeling really stressed.

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby NHMike » Mon Jun 04, 2018 2:37 pm

child#6 wrote:Well tomorrow morning at 7:30 is surgery time. Need to be at the hospital for 5:30.Thankfully we live 10 minutes away. Also found out this morning my 52 year old sister has breast cancer which will require treatment post surgery. I am feeling really stressed.


I'm sure that you have a lot to do ahead of the surgery and we'll see you on the other side.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

child#6
Posts: 30
Joined: Wed May 16, 2018 7:51 pm
Facebook Username: John Smith

Re: New cancer diagnosis. Ugh!!

Postby child#6 » Wed Jun 06, 2018 8:36 pm

Although neither my husband and I are not particularly worried it's going to be a long week until the pathology is back.


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