The Miseries - But 'Hey I have it pretty good...'

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

Re: The Miseries - But 'Hey I have it pretty good...'

Postby NHMike » Sat Jun 23, 2018 7:28 pm

You might want to put together a timeline for the surgery as there's a lot of prep stuff for surgery these days and it's nice to see everything on a calendar or timeline so that you can see if there are any issues which need to be resolved.
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

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

Re: The Miseries - But 'Hey I have it pretty good...'

Postby SteveNZ » Sun Jun 24, 2018 3:30 pm

NHMike wrote:You might want to put together a timeline for the surgery as there's a lot of prep stuff for surgery these days and it's nice to see everything on a calendar or timeline so that you can see if there are any issues which need to be resolved.

Thanks for that.
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.

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

Re: The Miseries - But 'Hey I have it pretty good...'

Postby SteveNZ » Mon Jun 25, 2018 10:51 pm

APPOINTMENT WITH SURGEON - JUNE 26th Update
A really nice guy even discussed the international conference he had just been to on colorectal cancer and latest techniques in my particular case. Great to know he is up to date.

Sadly his examination (finger technique-lol- the tumour is against my anus so this was possible) identified that the tumour had not shrunk as much as he expected. Rats! :( :(
Has me down for an MRI and internal, short scope examination plus biopsy.
He says a few more weeks of allowing the results of the radiation will be beneficial, as he wants it to be as small as possible.

So I still wait...... MAN .... I feel like I am in the 'green corridor' given a stay of execution. :D :( I hope that was not out of place ........ you do feel awkward awaiting an operation!?!?
Last edited by SteveNZ on Tue Jun 26, 2018 5:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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.

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

Re: The Miseries - But 'Hey I have it pretty good...'

Postby NHMike » Tue Jun 26, 2018 5:07 am

SteveNZ wrote:APPOINTMENT WITH SURGEON - JUNE 26th Update
A really nice guy even discussed the international conference he had just been to on colorectal cancer and latest techniques in my particular case. Great to know he is up to date.

Sadly his examination (finger technique-lol- the tumour is against my anus so this was possible) identified that the tumour had not shrunk as much as he expected. Rats! :( :(
Has me down for an MRI and internal, short scope examination plus biopsy.
He says a few more weeks of allowing the results of the radiation will be beneficial, as he wants it to be as small as possible.

So I still wait...... MAN .... I feel like I am the 'green corridor' given a stay of execution. :D :( I hope that was not out of place ........ you do feel awkward awaiting an operation!?!?


For me, the surgery was a second time to update my will and instructions. There was a lot for me to do in preparing for the surgery (logistics, what to bring to the hospital, short-term disability forms at work, etc.) that it helped to keep my mind off the bad stuff.

I did feel markedly better a few weeks out from chemo and radiation and I've read that radiation keeps working for quite some time after your finished, maybe two to three months. The MRI, though, will give your doctor the precise measurements of the remaining tumor so that you can calculate the shrinkage. The MRI is also used for planning by the surgeon. I don't know how much your surgeon was expecting but radiation is powerful stuff to shrink/kill the tumor.

You should have another meeting after the MRI where the surgeon tells you the odds of various things, has you sign papers after going over potential risks, and then setting a date. Over here, it's common to come in one week before surgery for labs, and training for the Illeostomy and other things.
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

MDK
Posts: 46
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2015 1:43 pm

Re: The Miseries - But 'Hey I have it pretty good...'

Postby MDK » Tue Jun 26, 2018 1:07 pm

Dear Steve - I am far down the road in my cancer journey and have been thru so much. I believe I was 56 also when I was diagnosed (maybe 55? - how can you forget something like that - maybe I should read my own signature). I have never really gotten over the shock - when I take a shower and look down at my rearranged body which has been so strong - I cry. Right now I am on irinotecan and have lost my hair - I look in the mirror and cry. But I go on and am thankful that this disease has not taken me yet. I will be on chemo for the rest of my life. I wonder how did I get here. I look at my precious family and am so very glad that I am still here.

There are no wrong emotions with this horrid disease.

Marianne
Diagnosed 11/9/2015
Stage III Rectal Cancer
Began Chemoradiation 01/04/2016
Completed Chemoradiation 2/17/16
Local Excision
Developed Rectovaginal Fistula
06/24/16 APR / Flap Repair Fistula
Permanent Colostomy
09/20/2016 Liver Mets, possible Lung Mets
9/16 - 11/17 Xeloda and Avastin to progression
12/17 - 01/18 Folfox 6 sessions liver tumor shrank considerably - severe allergic reaction
01/18 - 04/18 Xeloda and Avastin - Progression
06/18 Avastin and Irinotecan

Philippians 4:6-7

Caat55
Posts: 694
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: The Miseries - But 'Hey I have it pretty good...'

Postby Caat55 » Tue Jun 26, 2018 8:54 pm

MDK wrote:Dear Steve - I am far down the road in my cancer journey and have been thru so much. I believe I was 56 also when I was diagnosed (maybe 55? - how can you forget something like that - maybe I should read my own signature). I have never really gotten over the shock - when I take a shower and look down at my rearranged body which has been so strong - I cry. Right now I am on irinotecan and have lost my hair - I look in the mirror and cry. But I go on and am thankful that this disease has not taken me yet. I will be on chemo for the rest of my life. I wonder how did I get here. I look at my precious family and am so very glad that I am still here.

There are no wrong emotions with this horrid disease.

Marianne


Oh Marianne, I totally understand what you are saying. I had just gotten married when I was diagnosed, I wonder how this happens and am I fooling myself
Do at 55 y.o. Female
Dx 9/26/17 RC Stage 3
Completed 33 rad. tx, xeolda 12/8/17
MRI and PET 1/18 sign. regression
Surgery 1/31/18 Ileostomy, clean margins, no lymph node involved
Port 3/1/2018
Oxaliplatin and Xeloda start 3/22/18
Last Oxaliplatin 7/5/18, 5 rounds
CT NED 9/2018
PET NED 12/18
Clear Colonoscopy 2/19, 5/20


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