NEW-Need some positivity here.

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teacher2017
Posts: 275
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2017 1:18 pm
Facebook Username: Lydia Clark

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby teacher2017 » Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:53 am

What does moderately differentated
mean?
50 yo mom of 2 (15, 18)
DX stage 3c - 12/17 LN. T3
8" colon resection 9/22/17
6.1cm tumor
folfox 11/17-4/18
CEA -1.4 11/8/17
Colonoscopy- 5/18-CLEAR!
Cea -1.8 6/18
Cea -2.1. 8/18
8/10/18 Stage 4
1cm met in seg.8 liver
Liver resection-9/18
Cea -1.5/1.2
Port removal-9/19
Cea -1.2 10/19
Cea -1.1 02/2020
Cea - 1.2 5/20
Cea-1.1 9/20
Cea- 1.3 2/21
Cea.1.3 5/21

User avatar
Robino1
Posts: 463
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 12:09 pm
Facebook Username: Robin.lawthers
Location: Florida

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby Robino1 » Sat Oct 14, 2017 8:32 am

From the American Cancer Society website:

What does differentiation mean?

Differentiation is the grade of the cancer, which is based on how abnormal the cells look under the microscope. Cancers that are higher grade or poorly differentiated tend to grow and spread more quickly. Colon cancer is usually divided into 3 grades:

Well differentiated (low grade)
Moderately differentiated (intermediate grade)
Poorly differentiated (high grade)
Sometimes, though, it is just split into 2 grades: well-moderately differentiated (low grade) and poorly differentiated (high grade).

What is the significance of the grade of colon cancer?

Grade is one of the many factors used to help predict how likely a cancer is to grow and spread. Poorly differentiated (high-grade) colon cancers tend to grow and spread more quickly than well and moderately differentiated colon cancers. However, other factors are also important in determining a person's prognosis (outlook), such as how far the cancer has spread (which cannot be determined on the biopsy).


Moderately is better than poor :)
At 54 2014 1st colonoscopy colon cancer detect
Colon resect margins clear. No chemo Stage II
2017
Distend abd, pain in intestines.
CT scan seeding & Ascites
Lap diag - cancer on the omentum
CEA 217; 219
FOLFOX started 6/17
CEA 202
8/29/17 CT melting of tumor.
Latest CT scan shows 2 new tumors and return of ascites.
CEA: (2017)9/30 -109; 10/12 -99.1; 11/4 -90.7; 11/30 -70.7; 12/14 -83.4; (2018)1/4 -73.3; 2/1-84.2; 89.2; 89.8; 88.5; 81.8: 93.5; 107; 119
BRAF V600e

DonutHead
Posts: 68
Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2017 6:45 pm
Facebook Username: mark

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby DonutHead » Sat Oct 14, 2017 9:03 am

teacher2017 wrote:
DonutHead wrote:
teacher2017 wrote:I agree it was ridiculous. Definitely changing. She is not affiliated with the oncologist either so I will ask for a recommendation. Yes, I'm very touchy. I heard the other day "oh wow, you lost weight, you look great." I felt like saying "yeah cancer surgery is responsible." But I didn't. Just going to work on making this bronchitis go away. Can't seem to kick it.


Good! That is the way to be. Definitely rely on your doctors to guide you through your care, but do not give them ultimate power over you. you are your best advocate in this and if something is not quite right to you, you are not clear on a course of treatment, or are not receiving the care you believe you deserve, SPEAK UP! Do not be afraid to ruffle feathers or hurt feelings, this is your life!

Bronchitis sucks and has always been something i feared as a runner. You do not want to have it develop into pneumonia...i just talked to a buddy that had pneumonia twice back to back and he is frankly in terrific shape as a body builder and cross fit style exerciser. Point is, this can happen to anyone. He finally took Zithromax, a Z pack, and that stomped it out. He's 28!

As an update on me, day four of Cape-OX and i can definitely feel the nausea trying to come on at times, but it's fleeting. usually around the time i take my morning dose of Xeloda - 1000mg. still have first bite somewhat, but it is receding. I only drink warm or room temperature liquids so believe that is helping with the cold throat issue. i do have ringing in my ears after taking the xeloda and last night my resting heartbeat was 52bpm, which for me is low. normally, my bpm are 60 at rest. just felt weird.

i went in with my wife to work yesterday and they were extremely supportive. they will allow me to work when i can, but encouraged me to take my mind off things and do my best to come in...which made me feel so thankful and appreciative. i think it best to take off a month before trying to go in because it will allow me to define my limits and know my weaknesses with chemo before trying to do everything all at once, which may be too much. i need to establish a routine, even if it's a new routine.

This ALL sucks, but it is the new normal. I try not to think about what could be and focus on what is and deal with that as it comes. Surely this has changed my life and those around me, but life is about living and that is what we all need to do. No sense in worrying over what could have been or why me, that is not reality. It is hard to overcome the demons that try to creep into my mind, but it's getting better day by day as i realize more and more that this is a fight and i need to come out swinging, we all have our struggles!

Teacher, you will get there and get through this....just keep swinging!

DH
Male 49 yrs.
09/2017: Colonoscopy 2.2x2 cm lesion - Invasive Adenocarcinoma
- CT - slightly enlarged LN; CEA 2.0
- LAP Rectosigmoid - 8' and 25 LNs removed
- Biopsy - 1/25 LN slight molecular invasion
- Stage IIIa - T3 N1 M0
- Chemo: 3 of 8 rds Ox; 8 rds 4000mg Xeloda
10/2017: PET - NED
03/2018: PET/CT - NED
09/2018: Colonoscopy & PET/CT - NED
03/2019: CT - NED
09/2019: Colonoscopy & CT - NED (0.9 CEA)
03/2020: CT - NED (1.1 CEA)
11/2020: CT - NED (1.2 CEA)
Still Here!

User avatar
susie0915
Posts: 945
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:17 am
Facebook Username: Susan DeGrazia Hostetter
Location: Michigan

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby susie0915 » Sat Oct 14, 2017 9:07 am

Robino1 wrote:From the American Cancer Society website:

What does differentiation mean?

Differentiation is the grade of the cancer, which is based on how abnormal the cells look under the microscope. Cancers that are higher grade or poorly differentiated tend to grow and spread more quickly. Colon cancer is usually divided into 3 grades:

Well differentiated (low grade)
Moderately differentiated (intermediate grade)
Poorly differentiated (high grade)
Sometimes, though, it is just split into 2 grades: well-moderately differentiated (low grade) and poorly differentiated (high grade).

What is the significance of the grade of colon cancer?

Grade is one of the many factors used to help predict how likely a cancer is to grow and spread. Poorly differentiated (high-grade) colon cancers tend to grow and spread more quickly than well and moderately differentiated colon cancers. However, other factors are also important in determining a person's prognosis (outlook), such as how far the cancer has spread (which cannot be determined on the biopsy).


Moderately is better than poor :)

My pathology report didn't say anything about differentiation just that tumor was grade 1. Is that different? Maybe because I had chemo/radiation cannot determine.
58 yrs old Dx @ 55
5/15 DX T3N0MO
6/15 5 wks chemo/rad
7/15 sigmoidoscopy/only scar tissue left
8/15 PET scan NED
9/15 LAR
0/24 nodes
10/15 blockage. surgery,early ileo rev, c-diff inf :(
12/15 6 rds of xelox
5/16 CT lung scarring/inflammation
9/16 clear colonoscopy
4/17 C 4mm lung nod
10/17 pel/abd CT NED
11/17 CEA<.5
1/18 CT/Lung no change in 4mm nodule
5/18 CEA<.5, CT pel/abd/lung NED
11/18 CEA .6
5/19 CT NED, CEA <.5
10/19 Clear colonscopy
11/19 CEA <.5

teacher2017
Posts: 275
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2017 1:18 pm
Facebook Username: Lydia Clark

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby teacher2017 » Sat Oct 14, 2017 9:56 am

susie0915 wrote:
Robino1 wrote:From the American Cancer Society website:

What does differentiation mean?

Differentiation is the grade of the cancer, which is based on how abnormal the cells look under the microscope. Cancers that are higher grade or poorly differentiated tend to grow and spread more quickly. Colon cancer is usually divided into 3 grades:

Well differentiated (low grade)
Moderately differentiated (intermediate grade)
Poorly differentiated (high grade)
Sometimes, though, it is just split into 2 grades: well-moderately differentiated (low grade) and poorly differentiated (high grade).

What is the significance of the grade of colon cancer?

Grade is one of the many factors used to help predict how likely a cancer is to grow and spread. Poorly differentiated (high-grade) colon cancers tend to grow and spread more quickly than well and moderately differentiated colon cancers. However, other factors are also important in determining a person's prognosis (outlook), such as how far the cancer has spread (which cannot be determined on the biopsy).


Moderately is better than poor :)

My pathology report didn't say anything about differentiation just that tumor was grade 1. Is that different? Maybe because I had chemo/radiation cannot determine.


It's been three weeks and I can not even bring myself to reading my pathology report. I'm sure when I get that port put in, I won't even be able to look at it.
50 yo mom of 2 (15, 18)
DX stage 3c - 12/17 LN. T3
8" colon resection 9/22/17
6.1cm tumor
folfox 11/17-4/18
CEA -1.4 11/8/17
Colonoscopy- 5/18-CLEAR!
Cea -1.8 6/18
Cea -2.1. 8/18
8/10/18 Stage 4
1cm met in seg.8 liver
Liver resection-9/18
Cea -1.5/1.2
Port removal-9/19
Cea -1.2 10/19
Cea -1.1 02/2020
Cea - 1.2 5/20
Cea-1.1 9/20
Cea- 1.3 2/21
Cea.1.3 5/21

teacher2017
Posts: 275
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2017 1:18 pm
Facebook Username: Lydia Clark

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby teacher2017 » Sat Oct 14, 2017 2:50 pm

Can anyone recommend a good book on anti-cancer diets? Anything you'd like to share?
50 yo mom of 2 (15, 18)
DX stage 3c - 12/17 LN. T3
8" colon resection 9/22/17
6.1cm tumor
folfox 11/17-4/18
CEA -1.4 11/8/17
Colonoscopy- 5/18-CLEAR!
Cea -1.8 6/18
Cea -2.1. 8/18
8/10/18 Stage 4
1cm met in seg.8 liver
Liver resection-9/18
Cea -1.5/1.2
Port removal-9/19
Cea -1.2 10/19
Cea -1.1 02/2020
Cea - 1.2 5/20
Cea-1.1 9/20
Cea- 1.3 2/21
Cea.1.3 5/21

User avatar
Robino1
Posts: 463
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 12:09 pm
Facebook Username: Robin.lawthers
Location: Florida

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby Robino1 » Sat Oct 14, 2017 5:59 pm

teacher2017 wrote:Can anyone recommend a good book on anti-cancer diets? Anything you'd like to share?


This is one that I have:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/foods- ... kid=3x1948
At 54 2014 1st colonoscopy colon cancer detect
Colon resect margins clear. No chemo Stage II
2017
Distend abd, pain in intestines.
CT scan seeding & Ascites
Lap diag - cancer on the omentum
CEA 217; 219
FOLFOX started 6/17
CEA 202
8/29/17 CT melting of tumor.
Latest CT scan shows 2 new tumors and return of ascites.
CEA: (2017)9/30 -109; 10/12 -99.1; 11/4 -90.7; 11/30 -70.7; 12/14 -83.4; (2018)1/4 -73.3; 2/1-84.2; 89.2; 89.8; 88.5; 81.8: 93.5; 107; 119
BRAF V600e

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

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby Lee » Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:00 pm

teacher2017 wrote:Here's a question for all those with the fanny pack pumping folfox....do you actually hear the machine? Will it keep me up? Do you feel it?


I had the fanny pack, I could hear it some, butt no it did not keep me up at night. My worst fear was pulling the needle out of the port while sleeping at night. Roll over funny, cord loses length and the next thing that happens, is needle is pulled out. Never happened, never came close to happening, butt always bothered me.

good luck,

Lee
Last edited by Lee on Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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!

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

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby Lee » Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:12 pm

teacher2017 wrote:So I went back to the dr to check out this bronchitis- she said lungs are clear and doesn't want me to get an X-ray because I have been ctscanned and xrayed too death. After telling her about the resection surgery and the lymph nodes, she told me that I got a raw deal and she was sorry. "Wow. That's a lot of lymph nodes" she said. I felt like I was already given my death sentence. She even implied that this cough could be a lung issue from the cancer. I'm just sick. I think I need another general doctor. So I have more antibiotics to take and she wants me to take a steroid which I do not want to take because it could prolong chemo. What a day.


Sorry this happened to you. Regarding lymph nodes, you want to MAKE SURE the surgeon got all the cancer out. It sounds like s/he did based on the numbers. I would take that as a good sigh, not a death sentence.

There was a time, they would only take out maybe a 1/2 dozen or so lymph nodes. Too many people were having the cancer come back. When they started taking out a dozen or more nodes, many more people were in NEDville, because they got all the cancer.

Regarding mets to lungs, not aware of someone getting a cough first. Usually it found on a scan LONG before you develop a cough.

Hope this helps, don't let this person get you down.

Lee

Let your Onc know about the antibiotics and steroids.
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!

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

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby Lee » Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:28 pm

teacher2017 wrote:Well I had my colonoscopy at 48-and according to the world, not supposed to even get one yet! If I waited I'd be in worse shape. You are right. Time to change doctors. I already feel like the grim reaper is at my door I certainly don't need this doctor making me feel worse. There needs to be a class in bedside manner.


I got mine at 46. Only reason I am here today is because of my PCP and my bleeding hemorrhoids. Al blood tests were normal and 2 test to check for blood in stools came back negative. My PCP figured my bleeding hemorrhoids were my excuse for getting my baseline colonoscopy early in life. I had no symptoms yet I was diagnosed at a stage IIIC. I have thanked him more than once. DH had to see him about 2 weeks after my diagnoses and before he got the follow up paperwork, DH told him of my diagnoses, guess he turned white as a ghost, he was so shocked by the news.

I would not have seen 50 either.

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!

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby Aqx99 » Sat Oct 14, 2017 8:03 pm

Lee wrote:
teacher2017 wrote:Well I had my colonoscopy at 48-and according to the world, not supposed to even get one yet! If I waited I'd be in worse shape. You are right. Time to change doctors. I already feel like the grim reaper is at my door I certainly don't need this doctor making me feel worse. There needs to be a class in bedside manner.


I got mine at 46. Only reason I am here today is because of my PCP and my bleeding hemorrhoids. Al blood tests were normal and 2 test to check for blood in stools came back negative. My PCP figured my bleeding hemorrhoids were my excuse for getting my baseline colonoscopy early in life. I had no symptoms yet I was diagnosed at a stage IIIC. I have thanked him more than once. DH had to see him about 2 weeks after my diagnoses and before he got the follow up paperwork, DH told him of my diagnoses, guess he turned white as a ghost, he was so shocked by the news.

I would not have seen 50 either.

Lee


Same here. I'm 39. I would have been dead before my first routine colonoscopy. I credit my PCP with saving my life, too. I had diarrhea and a little bit of blood. She recognized that something more could be going on and decided to investigate. I was anemic, so she sent me to a gastroenterologist. We were all thinking IBS or something similar. Imagine our shock when he found my tumor.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

DonutHead
Posts: 68
Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2017 6:45 pm
Facebook Username: mark

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby DonutHead » Sat Oct 14, 2017 8:41 pm

teacher2017 wrote:Can anyone recommend a good book on anti-cancer diets? Anything you'd like to share?


two that i have latched on to are the Mediterranean diet and the engine 2 diet. both plant based, little to no animal products, and no processed foods.

DH
Male 49 yrs.
09/2017: Colonoscopy 2.2x2 cm lesion - Invasive Adenocarcinoma
- CT - slightly enlarged LN; CEA 2.0
- LAP Rectosigmoid - 8' and 25 LNs removed
- Biopsy - 1/25 LN slight molecular invasion
- Stage IIIa - T3 N1 M0
- Chemo: 3 of 8 rds Ox; 8 rds 4000mg Xeloda
10/2017: PET - NED
03/2018: PET/CT - NED
09/2018: Colonoscopy & PET/CT - NED
03/2019: CT - NED
09/2019: Colonoscopy & CT - NED (0.9 CEA)
03/2020: CT - NED (1.1 CEA)
11/2020: CT - NED (1.2 CEA)
Still Here!

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

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby Lee » Sat Oct 14, 2017 10:48 pm

Aqx99 wrote:. . . I was anemic, so she sent me to a gastroenterologist. We were all thinking IBS or something similar. Imagine our shock when he found my tumor.


I was NOT anemic, if anything I was the high end of normal. Nothing to worry about. That is why PCP was not worried about cancer. After I was diagnosed, I has to see all these new Dr.(s). Every last one of them had me fill out a 10+ pages, describing my pain and pain level. Broken down by page describing your pain in every part of your body. The first time I filled one of these out I learned FAST to draw a line from bottom of page diagonal across to top of page followed up with "NO PAIN". At some point I would write "Gee wish I had some pain. Gee wish I had some symptom. Maybe then I would not be dealing with a stage IIIC diagnoses." Really pissed me off. I did every thing right, butt still got stuck with this cancer.

That is when I "really" learned, we are NOT ALL equal. Some of us are blessed, and some of us are hit with hard knocks in life. You take what you are given and take it from there. You will find some true idiots that will cross your pass. You will also find some of your friends are major drags and not worth the struggle dealing with them. I had one friend who I dropped 10 yrs ago due to her attitude and total ignorance of what I was going through. 10+ yrs latter she's at my front door step wanting to reconnect. Two weeks later I realized she was the same person, butt this time, lonely, no friends. I wonder why!!

Butt at the other end of spectrum you will find some of your "true/best" friends. I had lunch with one of those "true/best friends" today. We talked about doing our annual Black Friday again, our 14th year. We started this back in 2004 because she was trying to find some way we could connect especially with me dealing with cancer. She is one of my dearest friends today.

Cancer will bring that out. As CRguy would say, enough said :mrgreen: .

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!

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby Aqx99 » Sat Oct 14, 2017 11:02 pm

Lee wrote:
Aqx99 wrote:. . . I was anemic, so she sent me to a gastroenterologist. We were all thinking IBS or something similar. Imagine our shock when he found my tumor.


I was NOT anemic, if anything I was the high end of normal. Nothing to worry about. That is why PCP was not worried about cancer. After I was diagnosed, I has to see all these new Dr.(s). Every last one of them had me fill out a 10+ pages, describing my pain and pain level. Broken down by page describing your pain in every part of your body. The first time I filled one of these out I learned FAST to draw a line from bottom of page diagonal across to top of page followed up with "NO PAIN". At some point I would write "Gee wish I had some pain. Gee wish I had some symptom. Maybe then I would not be dealing with a stage IIIC diagnoses." Really pissed me off. I did every thing right, butt still got stuck with this cancer.

That is when I "really" learned, we are NOT ALL equal. Some of us are blessed, and some of us are hit with hard knocks in life. You take what you are given and take it from there. You will find some true idiots that will cross your pass. You will also find some of your friends are major drags and not worth the struggle dealing with them. I had one friend who I dropped 10 yrs ago due to her attitude and total ignorance of what I was going through. 10+ yrs latter she's at my front door step wanting to reconnect. Two weeks later I realized she was the same person, butt this time, lonely, no friends. I wonder why!!

Butt at the other end of spectrum you will find some of your "true/best" friends. I had lunch with one of those "true/best friends" today. We talked about doing our annual Black Friday again, our 14th year. We started this back in 2004 because she was trying to find some way we could connect especially with me dealing with cancer. She is one of my dearest friends today.

Cancer will bring that out. As CRguy would say, enough said :mrgreen: .

Lee


My husband would be one of those idiots. He was more concerned about himself than he was me. He even had the nerve to literally ask for "brownie points" for coming with me to doctor appointments. It sounds weird, but getting cancer was one of the best things that could have happened to me. It gave me the strength and courage to confront him about his lack of support, and let him walk out the door when he did and not beg him to come back.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

teacher2017
Posts: 275
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2017 1:18 pm
Facebook Username: Lydia Clark

Re: NEW-Need some positivity here.

Postby teacher2017 » Sun Oct 15, 2017 5:25 am

Lee wrote:
teacher2017 wrote:So I went back to the dr to check out this bronchitis- she said lungs are clear and doesn't want me to get an X-ray because I have been ctscanned and xrayed too death. After telling her about the resection surgery and the lymph nodes, she told me that I got a raw deal and she was sorry. "Wow. That's a lot of lymph nodes" she said. I felt like I was already given my death sentence. She even implied that this cough could be a lung issue from the cancer. I'm just sick. I think I need another general doctor. So I have more antibiotics to take and she wants me to take a steroid which I do not want to take because it could prolong chemo. What a day.


Sorry this happened to you. Regarding lymph nodes, you want to MAKE SURE the surgeon got all the cancer out. It sounds like s/he did based on the numbers. I would take that as a good sigh, not a death sentence.

There was a time, they would only take out maybe a 1/2 dozen or so lymph nodes. Too many people were having the cancer come back. When they started taking out a dozen or more nodes, many more people were in NEDville, because they got all the cancer.

Regarding mets to lungs, not aware of someone getting a cough first. Usually it found on a scan LONG before you develop a cough.

Hope this helps, don't let this person get you down.

Lee

Lee,
But how do these surgeons know they got enough lymph nodes? Or if they got enough for clear margins? Some people have large clear margins and some are down to mm like mine. I'm just really worried that because so many lymph nodes are involved this will spread. I can't sleep thinking about it.

As for friendships at this time, I have met some very supportive people, people I never thought would be there for me. Then there are those that have marked me for death and don't want to get to close. I'm fine with it, really. I just don't want a pity party in my honor.

Lydia
50 yo mom of 2 (15, 18)
DX stage 3c - 12/17 LN. T3
8" colon resection 9/22/17
6.1cm tumor
folfox 11/17-4/18
CEA -1.4 11/8/17
Colonoscopy- 5/18-CLEAR!
Cea -1.8 6/18
Cea -2.1. 8/18
8/10/18 Stage 4
1cm met in seg.8 liver
Liver resection-9/18
Cea -1.5/1.2
Port removal-9/19
Cea -1.2 10/19
Cea -1.1 02/2020
Cea - 1.2 5/20
Cea-1.1 9/20
Cea- 1.3 2/21
Cea.1.3 5/21


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