I haven’t posted here much recently but today I am happy to happy dance share that my 12 year journey with metastatic bowel cancer has finally ended – and with a happy ending .
After multiple surgeries, radiation, over 100 chemo cycles my oncologist (who is head of Oncology in my city) said last week that with my ongoing clean scans and good bloodwork she is confident that I am completely cured.
Her oncology department told me in 2013 that with my multiple bilateral multiple lung mets I wouldn’t survive 3 years with the available treatment they would recommend. It is due to the knowledge, research, information and encouragement of past and current members - especially Maia, rp1954, Skypup, Jackandkatiesmommy, Grouseman, Stevieb and CB75 Carmen – that I pursued a different treatment plan and have not only survived 10 years already but am also now cancer free.
So I am feeling great but also feeling nervous leaving cancer behind and heading into the future back in general population - without any evidence of disease and also without the support of my oncologist. In our conversation last week she said “I hope that we will never speak again and I mean that in a good way’.
Looking at my signature here I have been very lucky to spend so much time with my children as they grew up – they are now 23, 19 and nearly 15. I am still dealing with radiation damage, broken ribs from thoracotomy that don't heal, finances after self financing trips to Europe for non financed surgeries, hormones from going through the menopause in a couple days radiation, chemo brain. However - it really is better than the alternative.
Thank you to the Old Timers for your support over the years and if any new folk want to explore lung laser surgery or cimetidine or celecoxib then I will be happy to help with what is now my outdated experience
Sophy