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Ravrita
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2021 3:50 pm
Facebook Username: Rita

New here

Postby Ravrita » Sun Jun 06, 2021 4:01 pm

I’ve had weird symptoms for months. I also had a period for months. Went to primary care dr March 1st, got a referral for colonoscopy based on symptoms (wasn’t 50 yet) and for gyno. Went to gyno first, had iud removed which ended the 3 month period. Family members were diagnosed with covid so hx quarantine and cancel first gastro visit. More family members were diagnosed a week later, so longer quarantine. Then I had to cancel colonoscopy scheduled for work related reason. Finally had it done May 17. Thought for sure my problems were ibs related. Nope. Found a mass which came back cancer. Had ct that saw some “lesions” on liver and lungs that may or may not be anything. Have appt with surgeon on Tuesday. I’m so scared and struggling bad with anxiety. Please pray I’m not stage 4 and can be cured with just surgery. Also if you’re in Northern Va area any surgical or medical referrals appreciated. Thank you and thankful a place like this exists for information. I just found this today and feel completely overwhelmed, sometimes paralyzed by fear.

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Green Tea
Posts: 446
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2016 10:48 am

Re: New here

Postby Green Tea » Mon Jun 07, 2021 2:33 pm

Best Hospitals for Colon Cancer Surgery in Virginia
https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/va/colon-cancer-surgery

roadrunner
Posts: 452
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2020 8:46 pm

Re: New here

Postby roadrunner » Mon Jun 07, 2021 2:52 pm

To try to answer your questions, or at least help you frame them optimally, we will need more specific information. For example, what was found on colonoscopy? Was it a rectal mass or in the colon (treatment is very different)? What size and location? Looks like your GI did a biopsy. If so, what did the pathology report reveal? What kind of “lesions” were found on the liver and lungs? What size? Were they characterized in any way by the radiologist or your doctors? That kind of thing. You can get an idea of the basic information by looking at member “signatures” (info at the bottom of the posts). It’s helpful to do a good signature once you have information, but just the above right now would be a good start I think. Others may suggest other questions.
7/19: RC: Staged IIIA, T2N1M0
approx 4.25 cm, low/mid rectum, mod. well diff.; lung micronodule
8/19-10/19 4 rds.FOLFOX neoadjuvant, 3 w/Oxiplatin (reduced 70-75%)
neoadjuvant chemorad 11/19
4 rounds FOLFOX July-August 2020
ncCR 10/20; biopsies neg
TAE 11/20, tumor cells removed
Chest CT 3/30/21 growth in 2 nodules (3 and 5mm)
VATS 12/8/21 sub-pleural met 7mm.
SBRT nodule 1/22
6/20/22 TAE rectal polyp benign)
NED from 3/22 - 3/23
4 cycles FOLFIRI
LUL VATS lobectomy for radio resistant met 7/7/23

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Green Tea
Posts: 446
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2016 10:48 am

Re: New here

Postby Green Tea » Tue Jun 08, 2021 12:35 am

Ravrita wrote:... Have appt with surgeon on Tuesday. I’m so scared and struggling bad with anxiety...

Good luck with your meeting with the surgeon today. When you get a chance, let us know what you find out.

First meeting with the surgeon
https://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=60747&p=481109#p481109

How to find a Board Certified surgeon in your area
https://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=52349&p=410280#p410280

NCCN Guidelines - Rectal Cancer vs. Colon Cancer

boxhill
Posts: 789
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:40 am

Re: New here

Postby boxhill » Tue Jun 08, 2021 6:25 pm

If you don't have a copy of the reports for the colonoscopy and scan, or online access to them, you should contact the doctors and get copies/access ASAP. Check and see if your GI has a patient portal. With that information in hand you can formulate good questions for the surgeon and for us, and do worthwhile research online. I have found that doctors tend to tailor the information they give to the patient's apparent level of knowledge and interest in acquiring knowledge.

No one comes into this well-informed. Don't worry, you are already ahead of the game by coming to a place like this.
F, 64 at DX CRC Stage IV
3/17/18 blockage, r hemi
11 of 25 LN,5 mesentery nodes
5mm liver met
pT3 pN2b pM1
BRAF wild, KRAS G12D
dMMR, MSI-H
5/18 FOLFOX
7/18 and 11/18 CT NED
12/18 MRI 5mm liver mass, 2 LNs in porta hepatis
12/31/18 Keytruda
6/19 Multiphasic CT LNs normal, Liver stable
6/28/19 Pause Key, predisone for joint pain
7/31/19 Restart Key
9/19 CT stable
Pain: all fails but Celebrex
12/23/19 CT stable
5/20 MRI stable/NED
6/20 Stop Key
All MRIs NED

crikklekay
Posts: 142
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Richmond, VA

Re: New here

Postby crikklekay » Thu Jun 10, 2021 10:44 am

Hello, fellow Virginian! I'm unfortunately in the Richmond area so I can't share any recommendations, but I completely understand struggling with anxiety. It looks likely that my DH has a liver reoccurrence, though we don't have a biopsy to confirm yet. I've had bad test/scanxiety ever since he went into remission, scared about this possibility, and now I have moments where all I feel like I can do is curl into a ball and try to remember to breathe (I currently work from home so I'm alone most of the time, this does not help at all). My best advice is not to Google anything, I've been researching a few things today and it has made my anxiety so much worse. What does help is reading the signatures of those who have been NED for a while. I can't find the one for stage 4 right now, but here is stage 3: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10574

Seeing people with similar experiences who have been in remission for a while always gives me hope, and I hope it will help you as well. <3
Caring for DH John
Stage IIIC, Lymph nodes: 6/22
Chemo: FOLFOX (6)
12/17 ER and emergency surgery
02/18 Hospital w/MSSA infected port, PICC line inserted, chest CT scan showed septic emboli & blood clots
03/18 Hospital w/CDIFF
08/18 CT Scan Clear, NEMD
2018/2019/2021 Colonoscopy Clear
2019/2020/2021/2022 CT Scan Clear
2021 PET scan & MRI show one spot on liver
08/21 Liver surgery to remove spot, confirmed mCRC. Now Stage IV
09/21 Start Folfiri + Avastin
03/22 CEA Rise, continuing chemo

User avatar
Green Tea
Posts: 446
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2016 10:48 am

Re: New here

Postby Green Tea » Thu Jun 10, 2021 1:31 pm

crikklekay wrote:... What does help is reading the signatures of those who have been NED for a while. I can't find the one for stage 4 right now... but here is stage 3: https://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10574

Seeing people with similar experiences who have been in remission for a while always gives me hope, and I hope it will help you as well. <3

crikklekay -

Here are some Stage 4/mCRC signatures for you to read in your spare time ...

Last edited by Green Tea on Mon Jul 05, 2021 12:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3815
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: New here

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Sun Jun 13, 2021 9:53 am

I'm sorry for your diagnosis.*hugs* I hope your cancer was caught early and that your surgery goes well.*hugs* I hope the lesions are benign.
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)


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