Bit anxious

[Pagola44]

Hi all, so I finally finished my 6 months of Chemotherapy
The chances of recurrence as soon as finishing chemotherapy is unlikely right?
Anyway I am seeing the oncologist in a few days to clarify the next steps and also the surgeon for a follow up
I'm starting to get a bit anxious about it all,
I know others have it worse but I'm just worried the chemotherapy didn't work properly and i have some metasis or something.
I'm trying to eat healthy and exercise everyday

[JP66]

We're all different and what works for one of us may not be helpful to others, but I found I could eliminate my physical feelings of anxiety after my initial diagnosis of Stage IV through meditation. Here's a link to the very simple technique that worked for me.

https://youtu.be/v2mY36Ho1Sk?si=uA9BC4Wl9fLkSkj_

[Green Tea]

... Anyway I am seeing the oncologist in a few days to clarify the next steps and also the surgeon for a follow up...

When you meet with your doctors you can ask them to help you finalize a Survivorship Care Plan.

If they don't already have a plan in place for you, you can print off a copy of the Survivorship Care Plan Template below and ask the doctors to help you fill in all of the relevant, important blanks.

https://www.asco.org/sites/new-www.asco.org/files/content-files/practice-and-guidelines/documents/asco-treatment-summary-and-survivorship-care-plan.docx

You really need to have a good plan in place as you start your 5-year surveillance period.

In addition, you need to have a good, comprehensive set of baseline tests done at the beginning so that you will be able to tell whether or not there are any important changes happening over time. The comprehensive set of baseline tests should probably also contain some major markers of immune system function, and some markers of systemic inflammation.

[Pagola44]

... Anyway I am seeing the oncologist in a few days to clarify the next steps and also the surgeon for a follow up...

When you meet with your doctors you can ask them to help you finalize a Survivorship Care Plan.

If they don't already have a plan in place for you, you can print off a copy of the Survivorship Care Plan Template below and ask the doctors to help you fill in all of the relevant, important blanks.

https://www.asco.org/sites/new-www.asco.org/files/content-files/practice-and-guidelines/documents/asco-treatment-summary-and-survivorship-care-plan.docx

You really need to have a good plan in place as you start your 5-year surveillance period.

In addition, you need to have a good, comprehensive set of baseline tests done at the beginning so that you will be able to tell whether or not there are any important changes happening over time. The comprehensive set of baseline tests should probably also contain some major markers of immune system function, and some markers of systemic inflammation.

Thank you and also the above poster as well

Just an Update


Saw the oncologist who has arranged a CT scan and blood test, then will get blood tests every 3 months and another CT Scan in 1 year - I assume this is pretty standard? My paranoia is that the blood test won't detect something and maybe I should have a CT scan more frequently? Maybe i'm over thinking things

Also - the oncologist said it's "up to me" if i want my chest port out, which has made me a bit confused, not sure if I should get it taken out or just leave in for a year or 2 just in case? (the surgery and pain after was pretty uncomfortable experience wouldn't want to go through that again)

hmm

thanks again everyone

[Blakeacw]

Pagola

I just have my 4th annual CT scan since I ended chemo in early 2021 - Like you , I was a stage 3b.

The CEA is a good indicator , I also use Singaterra every 3 months - it mapped by tumor DNA and looks for any traces , so you can get an earlier warning - this may help you if you have anxiety about recurrence.

I found the time right after treatment was complete very difficult - - the mission is over , the battle is won , but is the war coming back ?

I can say 3-1/2 years after my surgery , I feel really good.

[aquarian_asian]

Pagola

I am a regular reader of your posts and I truly understand your feelings with Anxiety.

First of all, as I told you few times - Pls stay positive and confident. You had a long chemo treatment, so IF THERE IS ANY CHANCE OF RECURRENCE - It just wont happen immediately. First 2 years are crucial, then next 3 yrs under survelliance

You do have lot over thinking, honestly. Trust me, it will not help you mentally and physically too. Throw away all your worries, trust in time / god. Body listens your mind and heals based on what you think.

Forget yesterday - Live today -your tomorrow will be better than today

Cheers.

[Green Tea]

Pagola44-

I have another suggestion for you. This suggestion is to set up a small spreadsheet to track your significant lab results over the next five years.

Since there will be blood draws scheduled every quarter for each of the upcoming five years, this means that your spreadsheet would need to have 20 rows, i.e., one row for each quarter's results.

As for the number of data columns, I would suggest around 6 to start with, as follows:

1. Group 1 - Tumor markers: 2 columns
(CEA) (CA19.9)

2. Group 2 - Immune System markers: 2 columns
(.....) (.....)

3. Group 3 - Systemic Inflammation markers: 2 columns
(.....) (.....)

The choice of which biomarkers to choose for the second and third groups above would depend on what your doctor thinks would be the best ones for you right now, given your general state of health, your co-morbidities, etc. (You may need to request additional tests to be added to the quarterly blood draw if the doctor recommends some tests that are not already included in the standard quarterly panels.)

Once you have this 20 x 6 table (spreadsheet) set up, then each time you receive your quarterly blood test results you can easily update the spreadsheet and see if there are any important trends.

I think that this will give you confidence that you are in better control of your surveillance situation and help reduce your anxiety. And I also think that you will probably want to track biomarkers in all three of the categories above in order to see how your body is recovering from your six months of FOLFOX.

If you need some ideas for biomarkers to use for "Immune System Function", and "Systemic Inflammation", you can look at some of the previous posts by rp1954 and other Forum members here. There are also two recent posts from utahgal7 that you might want to consider:

D-dimer-to-albumin ratio (DAR)
https://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=66970#p517544

Vitamin D (25-hydroxyVitamin-D 25-OHD)
https://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=66969#p517543

Of course, you can always add more columns to the spreadsheet if you think there would be a significant benefit in doing so. For example, you might want to add ctDNA, or Signatera to the Tumor Marker section, just as example.