Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ December /2023

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

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ June 15/2021

Postby CRguy » Sat Jun 19, 2021 11:15 pm

Utwo wrote:CRguy, are you saying that liver ultrasound is as effective as CT scan?

In my situation I have had many CTs and started u/sds / xrays at intervals between CTs since Dx in 2007.
I have an extensive image baseline in all 3 modalities which gives the docs a view of "me" at Dx, at Sx, during chemo,
during follow up and after being kicked out of follow up surveillance protocols.

More images, viewed by more specialists, more often = "more eyes on me" if you take my drift.
I like that A LOT !!!
This way I cover chest/abdomen/pelvis every time. It is very important to me to do so, because
my lung met was missed on an initial CT with regular surveillance.
It got picked up " on a regular chest xray by an eagle eyed radiologist "

NOT saying per se that CTs are inferior to other imaging, just that I had a shitload and the docs have mentioned radiation issues.
The older, lower resolution machines, sometimes fail to image smaller lesions properly. Most new Hi res ones are way better, with lower radiation exposures.

While my u/sds / xrays plan works for me so far I would NOT say they are superior to a hi resolution CT scan.
CTs will be used again as required and my doc and I are probably planning one for next year or late this year.

If I were to have any questionable screening findings with bloods, checkups, imagings ... we would get CTs / PETs / MRIs as needed.

SO if the docs recommend a CT my "advice" is : get one done and go from there.
Most radiologists prefer hi resolution contrast CTs for imaging, where indicated.

Hope that clarifies things a bit :D
Cheers
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

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

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ June 15/2021

Postby CRguy » Thu Jun 24, 2021 12:53 am

Just witnessed the most beautiful sight off my back deck.
Almost a full moon ( actually tomorrow ) and a full rainbow halo around this moon tonight.
Perfect colour, perfect symmetry.

Moon halos I have seen ... BUTT ... never a perfect spectrum rainbow around one in a perfect circle.
I don't "impress" easily BUTT this is amazing.

I am in the middle of a ginormous downsizing move .. SO all my good photo gear is packed or moved AND
cell phone cam did NOT capture the image ( YES I tried !!! )

SO
I will just share the feelings
amazing
beautiful
unexpected
unique

despite what we all go through, there IS always
something beautiful which can impress and move us.

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

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Green Tea
Posts: 451
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2016 10:48 am

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ June 15/2021

Postby Green Tea » Thu Jun 24, 2021 1:07 am

CRguy wrote:Just witnessed the most beautiful sight off my back deck.
Almost a full moon ( actually tomorrow ) and a full rainbow halo around this moon tonight.
Perfect colour, perfect symmetry.

Moon halos I have seen ... BUTT ... never a perfect spectrum rainbow around one in a perfect circle.
I don't "impress" easily BUTT this is amazing.


Is this what it looked like???

Image

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

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ June 15/2021

Postby CRguy » Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:36 pm

nailed it

Perfect rainbow halo around the moon !!!

Thanks buddy
Cheers
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

Utwo
Posts: 285
Joined: Mon May 23, 2016 10:14 am
Location: T.O.

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ June 15/2021

Postby Utwo » Tue Jun 29, 2021 4:46 pm

CRguy wrote:In my situation I have had many CTs and started u/sds / xrays at intervals between CTs since Dx in 2007.
I have an extensive image baseline in all 3 modalities which gives the docs a view of "me" at Dx, at Sx, during chemo
CRguy, could you please clarify the following abbreviations for me:
sds = ?
Dx = ?
Sx = ?

I had quite a few high dose CT scans back there when they were troubleshooting my leak and infection.
My situation looks stable except new "density anomalies" regularly appearing on a chest CT (on the next CT those "anomalies" look stable).
Last edited by Utwo on Wed Feb 09, 2022 5:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
58 yo male at diagnosis: T1bN0M0, 0/15 nodes, low grade/moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma
03/2016 colonoscopy: 2 small polyps removed in left colon; CEA = 1.3
04/2016 colonoscopy: caecum sessile 3.5 cm polyp piecemeal removed with kind of clear margins
05/2016 "prophylactic" laparoscopic right hemicolectomy - bleeding, leak, infection
06/2017 CT scan, colonoscopy OK; CEA = 1.6
A lot of funny stuff discovered by CT scans in liver, kidney, lungs, arteries, gallbladder, lymph node, pancreas

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

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ June 15/2021

Postby O Stoma Mia » Tue Jun 29, 2021 11:28 pm

Utwo wrote:
CRguy wrote:In my situation I have had many CTs and started u/sds / xrays at intervals between CTs since Dx in 2007.
I have an extensive image baseline in all 3 modalities which gives the docs a view of "me" at Dx, at Sx, during chemo
CRguy, could you please clarify the following abbreviations for me:
u/sds = ?
Dx = ?
Sx = ?

NB: CRguy is a veterinarian. He might be using acronyms from veterinary medicine, in which case Sx would refer to "surgery". I think that the three modalities he is referring to are (1) ultrasound, (2) x-ray, and (3) CTscan, but I might be wrong.

Please note also that CRguy is from Western Canada, where Sx can have an altogether different meaning :roll: :
19th February 2004 post-reply by 'Melodie' from Western Canada

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

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ June 15/2021

Postby CRguy » Wed Jun 30, 2021 12:57 am

Yes each specialty develops its own "vocabulary" complete with abbreviations !
Guilty as implied :shock: :mrgreen:

BUTT I have never heard Sx/SX related to schizophrenia, despite being from the left coast up here !!!!

Sx = surgery
Dx = diagnosis
U/sds = ultrasounds
Tx = treatment
Rx = prescription designation from "take thou" as I learned it from my pharmacology professor

Stay safe
Cheers
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

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

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ August 12/2021

Postby CRguy » Thu Aug 12, 2021 11:36 pm

Just a quick update on my home brewed MacGyver'd follow up monitoring results :

Blood tests in July and imaging in June ...
ALL within normal ranges, NO issues presented ... and ...
Continue as planned for October bloods and December annual physical.

C-scope being set up for fall of 2022 and likely get xray/ultrasounds as well in the spring.

Love Peace and Harmony to ALL
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

Koreysue
Posts: 258
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2018 2:36 pm

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ June 15/2021

Postby Koreysue » Fri Aug 13, 2021 1:13 pm

CRguy wrote:Just witnessed the most beautiful sight off my back deck.
Almost a full moon ( actually tomorrow ) and a full rainbow halo around this moon tonight.
Perfect colour, perfect symmetry.

Moon halos I have seen ... BUTT ... never a perfect spectrum rainbow around one in a perfect circle.
I don't "impress" easily BUTT this is amazing.

I am in the middle of a ginormous downsizing move .. SO all my good photo gear is packed or moved AND
cell phone cam did NOT capture the image ( YES I tried !!! )

SO
I will just share the feelings
amazing
beautiful
unexpected
unique

despite what we all go through, there IS always
something beautiful which can impress and move us.

On the Journey
CRguy


So true ! Thanks for this reminder
Ksue
Dx: 6/2017 stage 3 CC
Sigmoid, 2 nodes
CEA at dx: 6.1
Sigmoid Colectomy/folfox (last chemo (1/31/18)
CEA 4/2018: 2.4
CEA 7/2018: 3.7
Colonoscopy 8/18 clean
PET scan 8/20/18 NED
CEA 11/2018: 3.8
CEA 2/2019: 3.2
CT NED 6/18/19 / CEA : 3.4
CEA 10/21/19: 3.2
CEA 3/9/20: 3.8
CT NED /CEA 6/17/20: 3.8
CEA 11/4/20 4.6 <——— whyyyy? (will retest in a few weeks)
CT NED 12/1/20 CEA: 3.5
CEA 5/21 4.2
CEA 10/21 3.4
colonoscopy 10/21 10mm polyp
CEA 4/22 3.7
CEA 7/22 3.8
CEA 12/22 4
CEA 1/22 3.2 and NED 5yr scan

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

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ October 28/2021

Postby CRguy » Thu Oct 28, 2021 3:33 pm

Just a quick bump here :

Had my full blood tests pulled today and shoulder xray yesterday ( suspect rotator cuff and non CRC related )
SOooooo I will update with details and results as they happen !!
And get the nitty gritty at my Dec annual exam with my GP.

as an aside : have had 2 Pfizer Covid vax, got the flu vax last week and will set up a Shingrix in the future
that's what happens as you age I guess >>>> MORE medical stuff :evil: :mrgreen:

ADDENDUM :
had blood pulled at 9:35 a.m. today and checked the online portal at 5:00 p.m. with 90% of the results already posted !!!!
Gotta love that turnaround time.
So far, so good.


Cheers All
stay safe
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

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Jacques
Posts: 678
Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2014 10:38 am
Location: Occitanie

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ October 28/2021

Postby Jacques » Fri Oct 29, 2021 10:07 am


claudine
Posts: 809
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 2:41 pm
Location: Montana

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ October 28/2021

Postby claudine » Fri Oct 29, 2021 10:27 am

I had Shingrix a few years ago (after 3 bouts of shingles over the years, ugh). The second shot really hit me hard... But it's worth it!
Good luck with the rotator cuff! Mine got repaired (laparoscopic surgery) a while back, painful but also worth it :D
Wife of Dx 04/18 (51 yo). MSS, KRAS G12A, no primary

Tumors: L4 04/18; left adrenal gland & small lung nodules 03/19
rectum 02/22 (pT3 pN0 stage 2A); L3 09/22

Surgeries: intestinal resect. 05/18 (no cancer - Crohn's); adrenalectomy 02/20
L3-L4-L5 fusion and corpectomy 05/20; LAR 04/22; ileo reversal 09/22
L2-L3 fusion and corpectomy 09/22

Treatments: EBRT 04/18; SBRT 02/19; Failed adjuvant Xelox ; Folfiri/Avastin 03/19 - 01/20
adjuvant chemorad (Xeloda) 06/22; SBRT 11/22; Xeloda/Avastin since 01/24

catstaff
Posts: 177
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2021 11:37 am

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ October 28/2021

Postby catstaff » Fri Oct 29, 2021 10:55 am

I also had Shingrix a year or two ago and the second shot knocked me flat (way worse than either Covid vaccine) but I would rather not get shingles so didn't mind.
D/H Dx 10/2019 RC age 61
Clinical T4bN2M1a (common iliac and para-aortic lymph nodes)
MSS KRAS G12D
CRT 11/19-1/20 FOLFOX 3/20-7/20
Pelvic exenteration w/LAR 8/20
ypT4bN0Mx G3 0/14 nodes LVI not seen PNI-
CEA 10/19:20, 1/20-11/20:1.6, 4.3, 3.4, 2.7, 2/21:9.0 3/21:18,40 4/21:28,19, 5/21:13.3,8.6
PET 3/21 recurrence in distal nodes, L5 vertebra, pelvis
FOLFIRI+bev 3/21-

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

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ October 28/2021

Postby CRguy » Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:45 pm

Good to know !
Second dose is 2-6 months after initial dose, so I will check to see if interval relates to severity of side effects !
Without jinxing myself :shock: I rarely get severe vax reactions ...BUTT ... do get good titer levels as I have had a few
checked over the years. Had the older Zostavax a while back so ready for Shingrix soon.

Cheers all
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

Jannine
Posts: 204
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:46 am
Location: Maryland, USA

Re: Review of my Journey so far -> ⓊⓟⒹⒶⓉⒺ October 28/2021

Postby Jannine » Fri Oct 29, 2021 4:55 pm

I got my first Shingrix vaccine right before COVID hit. I delayed getting the second one until a little late, because pandemic -- I think I was at 7 months. Both my parents experienced shingles well before retiring, and I would very much like to avoid that. I turn 52 next month.
DX: sigmoid colon cancer 5/2018. 48 F
laparoscopic sigmoid resection (24 cm removed); no stoma.
7.5cm adenocarcinoma -- mod. diff.
1 noncontiguous tumor deposit removed; 0/31 lymph nodes
T3 pN1c M0
5/18 before surgery, CEA 11.2
6/18 began FOLFOX
7/18: CEA 1.9; added neulasta post infusion
9/18: CEA 2.8
10/18: 25% chemo reduction
11/18: CEA 1.8
7/19 CT scan clear


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