prs wrote:Hi Jolene,
I too am keeping my fingers crossed for you, and will be very happy when you hit that two year milestone in January! Hopefully that will help take some of the stress out of your mind, knowing the chance of a recurrence continues to decrease.
This pandemic for sure isn't helping any of us overcome our worries and periods of depression. In fact depression is just as much a disease as rectal cancer, there is no need at all to feel you've failed any kind of test. The stresses we all go thru during radiation and chemo are just as debilitating as the physical pain. I know for sure the physical effects of our treatment last for years, it's not surprising the mental effects also can last for years after treatment is over.
I very much agree with your spouse and cannot understand at all why you should feel guilty about going to see your counselor again. You made the brave decision to go on W&W, now take another brave decision and make that appointment.
Jolene wrote:Thank you PRS for your encouraging and supportive words.
As my anxiety tablets were finishing soon, I checked in with a general doctor wondering if he could prescribe me some more to help overcome random panic attacks. He said it is not uncommon to experience post-traumatic stress for cancer survivors, so I felt a little more at ease hearing that. He prescribed 20 more tablets but mentioned that should I start to become dependent I have to check in with him again. My next task would be to check in with the counselor again. Once again, thanks for the comforting words.
mozart13 wrote:Just stopping by, 4 years since beginning.
MRI,CT and colonoscopy still remain negative.
Thank you prs for starting this tread, a lot's of good info and support.
Happy Holidays and good health to all !
Jolene wrote:I'm officially 2 years in the clear. Yay! All came out clear for MRI/ CT / Flex scope / Biopsy / Blood test !
It has been tough and I'm exhausted but it's another year closer to the 5 year mark!
White blood cell count is low though which is strange, probably a side effect of all the chemo and radiation done? I have to speak to the oncologist about it soon.
I will forever be grateful to this amazing forum and everyone who contributed with their knowledge, experiences and encouragement. I'm not sure what I would be like without this community.
jsbsf wrote:There was so much sad news when I came here in August 2019 when DH had his colonoscopy. The long term NED posts made me envious, but gave me hope.
The last treatment was late July 2020. It was a 5 day radiation session that covered the entire affected area (low rectal). The last of twelve FOLFOX infusions was on 6/2/2020. Liver resection for 2 mets was in two separate appointments, about a week apart in Feb, halfway through the chemo. That was around the time he started feeling like he might have a chance.
Pretty much all the way through, we both expected a permanent colostomy. I was only concerned about how he would feel with it, and otherwise a lot of people here who have permanent ones made me a lot more comfortable with that. He just wasn’t too crazy about the idea of having one.
Radiation was the hardest for him. I don’t think the oncologist knew just how large of an area was covered, since he originally planned for surgery. He was housebound for two weeks, and only left the house to walk around outside for a week or so more. It took more than another month for him to start feeling like he could go to the grocery store. We weren’t sure if he’d ever regain his ability to hold it, since there was always very little warning.
Originally they expected the major surgery that would require a permanent bag. Then they offered a robotic arm surgery that would leave his rectum intact for the most part, but were unsure of how his quality of life would be. Finally, they agreed that his progress was so good, the radiation wold be the final treatment.
His first exam after the radiation was in early October where the colorectal surgeon agreed to let him watch and wait. Being stage IV, that is considered very rare, but know that it is possible. Since then, he goes every three months for a rectal exam, and every three months for a CT scan. He’s due for his first follow up colonoscopy sometime this year. So far they are giving him a clean bill of health.
As far as the radiation, we were both unprepared - especially since we didn’t think it would be an option. It is really tough on your immune system and I believe it stays in the body for a very long time. He feels fine now. Although there is permanent damage and scarring, he can come and go as he pleases with no fear of an accident.
Cnotesdip wrote:I was diagnosed with a very low tumor my doctor told me about this procedure because I didn’t want to get the colonstomy procedure done, so we did radio therapy along with xeloda 7 pills per day on radiation days they gave me 28 sessions of radio the tumor slowly died 3 months later it was completely gone and whatever was left was removed by my proctologist in a small procuedure which tested negative on a biopsy, a year later the cancer had moved to my lungs.
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