Book Group

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Mohrfamily
Posts: 267
Joined: Tue May 22, 2018 4:04 pm

Book Group

Postby Mohrfamily » Thu Jan 10, 2019 11:23 am

Have you read a book that's provided you with hope lately? Lets share!

I have read a book about a religious man who was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He wrote his book about his struggles and identifying with Christianity. Every "chapter" has a bible verse there's even a list of songs he felt were uplifting in dark times.
If interested its "Anchored in the storm" by Adam Holland. Based on his truth. My cousin sent it to me when she first found out about my husband and I write to her (She's in California and I'm in Ohio) admit the chapters that resonate with me most.
DH dx stage IV liver mets largest 6x6.4 cm
Colonoscopy/endoscopy/port place 5/29
4cm mass in splenic flexure
1st round FolFox 5/30
08/2018 new CT no new lesions, clear lungs, slight decrease in colon.
3/2019 PET scan shows greater than 6-7 liver mets largest measuring 3x3 cm. No growth nothing new.
8/15/19 largest liver lesion 1.9x2.1
9/16/2019 OSU to proceed with surgery implant HAI and colon resection
11/19 resection of colon HAI placed
2/20 CEA back to 1000s, liver worse than when we began-start FOLFIRI

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O Stoma Mia
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Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2013 6:29 am
Location: On vacation. Off-line for now.

Re: Book Group

Postby O Stoma Mia » Thu Jan 10, 2019 1:53 pm

Mohrfamily wrote:Have you read a book that's provided you with hope lately? Lets share!

Here's the book that you mentioned in your post. (It can be read for free in the Kindle unlimited edition):
Anchored in the Storm

Here are some other books mentioned on the Forum over 5 years ago. You might be interested in some of them:
http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44129&p=317202#p317202

Also, more recently there have been several Colon Club members who have published their own books, for example:

T.E. Bradford’s book (2017)
https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Cancer-Story-T-Bradford/dp/1520504977

Julie Yip-Williams’ book (2019)
https://www.amazon.com/Unwinding-Miracle-Memoir-Death-Everything/dp/0525511350

Julie's book is being released two weeks from now, on the occasion of Chinese New Year.

Gravelyguy
Posts: 382
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:03 pm

Re: Book Group

Postby Gravelyguy » Thu Jan 10, 2019 2:29 pm

"Don't Waste Your Cancer" by John Piper was a very helpful book for me. It is more of a long booklet than actual book but that was good for me as I had a hard time focusing on written words while I was undergoing chemo.

Dave
6/17 dx mRC t3n1m1 very low rectal tumor 2 liver Mets 1.3 cm and .9 cm

6/17 begin 4 rounds Folfox w/Vectibix
9/17 short course radiation
10/17 rectal and liver resection LAR with coloanal anastomosis (no rectum left)
11/17-3/18 8 rounds Folfox
6/18 still NED!! Takedown
8/28/18 still NED! CEA .8 new low for me
10/18/18 colonoscopy clear
12/12/18 CEA .9 still NED!
6/11/19 CEA 1.0
12/19/19 CEA 1.0 still NED!
6/17/20 CEA 1.1 still NED!
12/15/20 CEA 1.1still NED!
12/16/21 CEA 1.2 still NED!

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

Re: Book Group

Postby LPL » Thu Jan 10, 2019 4:55 pm

Julie Yip-Williams’ book (2019)
https://www.amazon.com/Unwinding-Miracl ... 0525511350

Julie's book is being released two weeks from now, on the occasion of Chinese New Year

Really looking forward to read Julie’s book. All the feelings & history with her own family - that she shared on her site/blog affected me so very much!! She was fantastic in many ways including especially expressing herself with words!!!
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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Maggie Nell
Posts: 1150
Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 1:57 am
Location: Central Highlands, Victoria, Oz

Re: Book Group

Postby Maggie Nell » Fri Jan 11, 2019 2:02 am

These are on my "to-read" list for 2019, I like the reviews.

A Life on the Toilet: Memoirs of a Bowel Cancer Survivor (true cancer stories &
support books) - Kindle edition by Kat Ward.

Semicolon; Memoir of a Colon Cancer Survivor by Mark T Arsenault.
DX April 2015, @ 54
35mm poorly diff. tumour, incidental finding following emergency R. hemicolectomy
for ileo-colic intussusception.
Lymph nodes: 0/22
T3 N0 MX
Stage II CRC, no adjuvant chemo required.

Steph20021
Posts: 553
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:58 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Book Group

Postby Steph20021 » Fri Jan 11, 2019 12:55 pm

LPL wrote:
Julie Yip-Williams’ book (2019)
https://www.amazon.com/Unwinding-Miracl ... 0525511350

Julie's book is being released two weeks from now, on the occasion of Chinese New Year

Really looking forward to read Julie’s book. All the feelings & history with her own family - that she shared on her site/blog affected me so very much!! She was fantastic in many ways including especially expressing herself with words!!!


I’m also really looking forward to it and I hope there is a lot of content that we haven’t already read on her blog. She was a beautiful, eloquent writer.
DX 1/31/14 @ 33- SPS-T4a(invades visceral peri), N2a(6/106 LN), M1a(ovary) (Stage 4a) MSS; BRAF V600E
2/1/14-subtotal col, lost R ovary, temp ileo
3/14-9/14- folfox; sepsis
11/14-CT/PET: L ovary met, pelvic met, (?)ghost liver met(?)
12/14-folfiri -13 rds kept me stable from 3/15-6/15
8/15-HIPEC, NED
09/15- cea 0.9
05/16- recurrence in abdo wall and lymph nodes
01/17- pulmonary embolism
02/17- 1 wk radiation to abdo wall
08/16- on folfiri
01/18-folfox
11/18- Beacon trial-encorafenib & cetuximab

weisssoccermom
Posts: 5988
Joined: Thu May 10, 2007 2:32 pm
Location: Pacific NW

Re: Book Group

Postby weisssoccermom » Sat Feb 02, 2019 12:44 pm

I happened to be reading the latest issue of Good Housekeeping and came across a little blurp about Julie's book (which is due to be released in 3 days..February 5th)

"As a baby, Yip-Williams was sentenced to death by her Chinese grandmother due to her blindness. Saved by chance, she grew up to be a Harvard-educated mother and lawyer, a happy ending - until she got terminal cancer. Her stirring memoir, conceived as a gift to her children, is one for readers as well."

I'm excited about reading it as well.
Dx 6/22/2006 IIA rectal cancer
6 wks rad/Xeloda -finished 9/06
1st attempt transanal excision 11/06
11/17/06 XELOX 1 cycle
5 months Xeloda only Dec '06 - April '07
10+ blood clots, 1 DVT 1/07
transanal excision 4/20/07 path-NO CANCER CELLS!
NED now and forever!
Perform random acts of kindness

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

Re: Book Group

Postby CRguy » Sun Feb 03, 2019 12:51 am

Having been here ... a while :shock:
we have had some discussions in the past about books "WE" should read

This topic from 2015 Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies
includes a few more suggestions including one from me ( and a bit of original "verse" )
about "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch.

It also contains posts by Tom ( DK37 ) AND Julie ( Julie YW )

SO ... talking of books NOW, means our legacy continues
and THAT is what we are all about here

Harmony on the Journey
CRguy
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

lakeswim
Posts: 229
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2018 9:37 am

Re: Book Group

Postby lakeswim » Thu Feb 07, 2019 8:13 am

LPL wrote:
Julie Yip-Williams’ book (2019)
https://www.amazon.com/Unwinding-Miracl ... 0525511350

Julie's book is being released two weeks from now, on the occasion of Chinese New Year

Really looking forward to read Julie’s book. All the feelings & history with her own family - that she shared on her site/blog affected me so very much!! She was fantastic in many ways including especially expressing herself with words!!!


Hi. Can you point me to her blog (if it’s still active)? She was on this forum?

I just read the fantastic review of her book in the NYT. I look forward to reading it.

Thanks for all the other book suggestions too.
Female - RC dgns @ 49 y
Adenocarcinoma
10-11 cm from anal verge ("large")
Stage 3a - T4N0M0
FOLFOX May -Sept 18
Capecetabine + Radiation - 28 sessions - Oct - Nov 18
Jan 19 - MRI & flex sig show tumor gone, Chest/ab CT no change
Feb 19 - MRI & flex sig show tumor gone
W&W (must travel)
.....W&W surveillance 2019,2020,2021,2022,2023....
Jan 24 - approaching 5 years this Spring with W&W surveillance to end.
*grateful*

lakeswim
Posts: 229
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2018 9:37 am

Re: Book Group

Postby lakeswim » Thu Feb 07, 2019 8:42 am

Also. There may be something to be said for being in the right place emotionally to read some of these. I may need to get to a more “stable” place in my treatment. Pre-surgery, when you’re terrified, is probably not the best time. Or maybe there’s no good time. Who knows.
Female - RC dgns @ 49 y
Adenocarcinoma
10-11 cm from anal verge ("large")
Stage 3a - T4N0M0
FOLFOX May -Sept 18
Capecetabine + Radiation - 28 sessions - Oct - Nov 18
Jan 19 - MRI & flex sig show tumor gone, Chest/ab CT no change
Feb 19 - MRI & flex sig show tumor gone
W&W (must travel)
.....W&W surveillance 2019,2020,2021,2022,2023....
Jan 24 - approaching 5 years this Spring with W&W surveillance to end.
*grateful*

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O Stoma Mia
Posts: 1709
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2013 6:29 am
Location: On vacation. Off-line for now.

Điệp Lý Thành (AKA Julie Yip-Williams)

Postby O Stoma Mia » Thu Feb 07, 2019 9:55 am

lakeswim wrote:... Hi. Can you point me to her blog (if it’s still active)? She was on this forum?

I just read the fantastic review of her book in the NYT. I look forward to reading it.

Yes, she was active on this forum under username Julie YW

Here is a chronological list of links to her blog posts
https://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=58992&p=465620#p465620

Here is a link to the WordPress blog itself:
https://julieyipwilliams.wordpress.com/about/

Here is a link to an article published this week by Julie's husband, Josh Williams:
How It Feels to Publish Your Wife’s Memoir About Dying
https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/josh-williams-on-his-wifes-posthumous-cancer-memoir.html

Here is a link to this week's New York Times article on Julie:
A Dying Young Woman Reminds Us How to Live
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/06/books/review/julie-yip-williams-unwinding-miracle.html

And there's also this week's Washington Post article on Julie:
‘Live, friends. Just live,’ a writer urges us in a memoir published after her death


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