The First day of the rest of my life...

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[Ana & Alex]
Posts: 96
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2017 5:14 pm
Location: Austria

The First day of the rest of my life...

Postby [Ana & Alex] » Sat Oct 28, 2017 3:13 am

Dear colon clubbers,

Just wanted to share with you that yesterday I took my last Chemo after dinner.

Once I was put on Xeloda only, my quality of life as no comparison with how it was before, while receiving Oxaliplatin.

I still have a number of side effects, but nothing that keeps me from smiling and playing with my daughter or working around the house. I've returned to work and I'm trying to create a new and happy normal for myself.

I thought this day would never come.. so for all of you who are still in the trenches, hold on, the day will come when you can take pause and breath again.

For all chemo lifers out there, much respect for your fight and perseverance.. I will be thinking in all of you during the waiting years until I can hear the word CURE.

I hope that I will never have to hear the word cancer again in my lifetime.

Much love and may thanks for these months of positive energies and inspiration that you've offered me.

Keep strong!
I will be thinking of you,

Ana
Dx @ 29 yo. Mum (2 y.o.) & Wife

12/2016: Rectal AdenoCa G2. CEA 4.3. RAS Wild. MSS. IIIB.
01 - 03/2017: 28 RTx + CHT 2,5 g/d Capecit.
03 - 06/2017: Suplemments and Cimetidine.
05/2017: TME/TAMIS + permanent Colostomy CEA 0.5
05/2017: ypT2N2aM0 (4/15), good cCR, limited pCR
06 - 8/2017: 4x CapOx 3,5 g/d (2x Oxi reduced to 80%)
09 -11/2017: 3x Capecit. monotherapy 4g/d
12/2017: Aspirin, Vit. D3, Curcumin, Multivitamin.

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

Re: The First day of the rest of my life...

Postby susie0915 » Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:10 am

Congrats on finishing chemo. It does feel good when you're done.
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

User avatar
ocstacy
Posts: 264
Joined: Mon Jun 19, 2017 11:29 pm
Facebook Username: stacy

Re: The First day of the rest of my life...

Postby ocstacy » Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:49 am

Congrats! My mom just finished her LAP surgery and recovering. She has to take Xeloda for 6 months. She did pretty well with it but her post op surgery recovery has been so tough!

Cheers!
Caregiver/daughter to dear mother age 78, dx 5/09/17 because of me!! :wink:
Rectal CA Stage 3 low-grade adenocarcinoma- 6 cm
Neoadjuvant start 7/10/17 ended 08/16/17
3D Lap. surgery @ Keck USC, Dr. Sang Lee 10/17/17 temp ileostomy
11/1 hospitalized abscess/hernia - home 11/06/17 antibiotics
NO LYMPHS INVOLVED! NEAR PATHOLOGICAL RESPONSE! YAY! :shock:
Took her last chemo med 05/10/18! Ileo reversal 07/24/18
1st BM after reversal 07/25/18 Anal Fissure 8/15/18
Me:1st Colonoscopy age 38. 08/17 Benign polp.

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: The First day of the rest of my life...

Postby NHMike » Sat Oct 28, 2017 11:54 am

[Ana & Alex] wrote:Dear colon clubbers,

Just wanted to share with you that yesterday I took my last Chemo after dinner.

Once I was put on Xeloda only, my quality of life as no comparison with how it was before, while receiving Oxaliplatin.

I still have a number of side effects, but nothing that keeps me from smiling and playing with my daughter or working around the house. I've returned to work and I'm trying to create a new and happy normal for myself.

I thought this day would never come.. so for all of you who are still in the trenches, hold on, the day will come when you can take pause and breath again.

For all chemo lifers out there, much respect for your fight and perseverance.. I will be thinking in all of you during the waiting years until I can hear the word CURE.

I hope that I will never have to hear the word cancer again in my lifetime.

Much love and may thanks for these months of positive energies and inspiration that you've offered me.

Keep strong!
I will be thinking of you,

Ana


I'm happy for you and hope that you remain in NEDville. It sounds like Oxaliplatin was pretty rough for you. I found Xeloda to be manageable - haven't done the XELOX yet.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: The First day of the rest of my life...

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Mon Oct 30, 2017 2:28 pm

Congratulations on finishing chemo and I'm glad you're doing well!*hugs* :)
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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CRguy
Posts: 10473
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: The First day of the rest of my life...

Postby CRguy » Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:24 pm

[Ana & Alex] wrote:Much love and may thanks for these months of positive energies and inspiration that you've offered me.
Keep strong!
I will be thinking of you,
Ana

Ana congratulations on your success my friend.
SO glad you are able to move ahead with your "normal" !!!!!!

Please consider being an ongoing part of our forum from time to time, if you are able.
Stories like yours WILL ......
PAY IT FORWARD to others just beginning their Journey

I believe the true strength of this forum is exactly the " months of positive energies and inspiration that you've offered me "

This IS who we are here... = SUPPORT !

Cheers, Harmony and best wishes
CRguy
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

JudiB
Posts: 71
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 5:30 am

Re: The First day of the rest of my life...

Postby JudiB » Tue Oct 31, 2017 3:01 am

Well done! It's been a long haul but you made it to the end and I do remember just how tough it was for you. I truly hope that now you can begin to put all that stuff behind you and enjoy life to the full with your family.
Now almost 3 months out, chemo feels a long way back! Takes a little while to sort of let go but life is soooo great after it's all done! I have even forgiven that horrible oxaliplatine for how bad it made me feel! I feel as though if you can do Folfox....you can do anything!!
Love and big hugs from across the miles!
(I don't look into the Forum often but was delighted to read your post!)
Judi xxxxxxxx
May 2004 Breast cancer lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy, Tamoxifen 5 years, then Femara 2 years.

Jan 2017 resection around colo-rectal junction
T2bN1 M0
March 2017 Chemo Folfox started. Oxaliplatin for 4 treatments, then just 5 FU and Leucovorin for remaining 8 treatments.
June 2017 clear scan
Last chemo August 2017
August 2017 clear scan
February 2018 clear scan

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Shana
Posts: 401
Joined: Sun Jul 30, 2017 9:45 pm
Location: Sonoma, CA

Re: The First day of the rest of my life...

Postby Shana » Tue Oct 31, 2017 3:17 am

Congratulations!

Wonderful news, so happy that you can enjoy your life and your kids!
DX - 12/16
MSS - KRAS wild
Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma at splenic flexure
Stage IV CC with liver mets
5FU - Failed twice - 1/17 and 3/17
Irinotecan + Cetuximab: 8/17
Irinotecan and Erbitux ran it's course. CEA rising
Primary tumor invaded tail of pancreas and spleen. Liver mets major concern
Y-90 radioembolization on 9/17/18, liver enzyymes have dropped. 10 Radiation treatments to primary tumor completed too. CT scan Nov to assess overall situation...

SweetC80
Posts: 103
Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2017 1:28 pm

Re: The First day of the rest of my life...

Postby SweetC80 » Tue Oct 31, 2017 1:11 pm

Fantastic!! Congratulations and glad you are living life again as you want. Enjoy!
My Mom
12/16 Stage IIIb Rectal Ca CEA 1.2
1/17-2/17 Chemoradiation CEA 4.4
5/17 Entire Colon, Rectum & Anus removed Perm Ileostomy Bag
7/17 FOLFOX
9/17 Stage IVb 9cm Liver Met & 7mm Lung Nodule CEA 197
9/17 FOLFIRI CEA 160
10/17 Confirmed KRAS Pos CEA 210
11/17 Met growths Liver 10cm & Lung 8mm CEA 425
12/17 FOLFOX again Met growths Liver 13cm & Lung 1cm CEA 405
12/17 Xifaxan due to Hepatic Encephalopathy
12/17 New 2cm liver Met
1/18 CEA 992
2/8/18 Passed Peacefully

benben
Posts: 324
Joined: Fri Apr 28, 2017 3:18 pm
Location: Washington State

Re: The First day of the rest of my life...

Postby benben » Tue Oct 31, 2017 11:30 pm

Ana, I know you had a very hard time with Oxaliplatin from the beginning.
I just wanted to say congratulations on your treatment ending and wishing you reside permanently in Nedville!
Big Congrats!
----------------------
3/29/17 diagnosed CRC - 44 y/o Male
4/17/17 ULAR - Straight anastomosis - no ostomy.
Path: low grade T3n1m0 - moderate diff.
KRAS - NO, MLH1/PMS2/MSH6/MSH2 - Normal.
5/3 med port install
5/22 folfox - first treatment.
3rd treat, delayed - low ANC - reduced to 90% OXI
zarxio all treats
Treat 7 - 75% OXI
Treats 8-12 - NO OXI, Luke & 5FU
10/20/17 CT- NED
3/18 Scope - Clean
11/8 PORT OUT!
7/22 CT - NED (5 years!)

menreeq
Posts: 70
Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2017 10:26 am

Re: The First day of the rest of my life...

Postby menreeq » Wed Nov 01, 2017 7:30 pm

Congratulations!!! It is wonderful to hear from people who have made it through what some of us are still going through. Seeing your post brightened my day.
Stage IIA rectosigmoid CC (T3N0M0)
Dx 6/5/17 @age 41ls
Workup: c-scope, EUS, rectal MRI, CT C/A/P
AdenoCA 5.5cm, WHO Grade 2, 0/22 LN, no distant mets
CEA 1.9 (6/5/17), 0.8 (2/28/18), 1.0 (9/17/18), 1.1 (4/16/19), 1.0 (9/24/19), 1.7 (7/8/20)
No lymphovasc/perineural invasion, clear margins
MSI intact, OncotypeDx RS 7
Lap sig colectomy 6/23/17, no ileo/colostomy
Genetics neg for mutations, 4 VUS
Xeloda monotherapy 8/13/17-1/22/18
PET/CT 3/21/18 NED
CT C/A/P 9/17/18 NED, 3/8/19 NED, 9/19/19 NED, 5/13/20 NED

[Ana & Alex]
Posts: 96
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2017 5:14 pm
Location: Austria

Re: The First day of the rest of my life...

Postby [Ana & Alex] » Sat Nov 11, 2017 4:21 pm

Dear Colon Clubers,

Thank you so much for your replies. I intend to keep visiting the forum and paying it forward as CRGuy said, but at the moment I really need to take a pause from cancer until I feel I've recovered emotionally.

We are having a hard time still with all the side effects and getting used to the new normal. I'm so happy I only did 4 Oxi! I'm having Lhermiette and massive Neuropathy 2 months after stopping it and its not getting better. Fatigue and nausea are still there. I'm angry and tense sometimes, and concentrating is still a challenge..

It is unbelievable all the strains that cancer adds up to your life. My relationship with my husband has suffered a great deal, but we love each other and we will make it work I'm sure. I still feel like a handicapped mother but it's getting better a little bit everyday. The chores at home are heavy as usual and sometimes it's hard to accept that I'm so tired still. I'm going to get a promotion at work but I'm overwhelmed at the moment, that sometimes I question the sense of it. And I'm back to the university - so, you have that as well. And my parents left since Summer, so here we are again, alone in the middle of Europe with a toddler in our hands.

Oh! And my mother in law as been diagnosed with advanced multiple myelom 3000KM away. I mean, WHAT THE FU**? My husband is struggling to keep his game on.
What a fuck*** year.

My colostomy is behaving very well and I'm proud of it and used to it. Although I have still some issues, I'm starting irrigation this next Friday and I know it will get better..

I feel so many things changed that I don't know exactly where to start. Some days I will feel myself at my limit, some days I will feel happy.. some days i can't believe this happened to me.

Sometimes I'm sure I will live to became 80.. sometimes I'm afraid of dying in the next couple of years. I guess this is why they call it survivorship- it really doesn't end with treatment.

It doesn't end and that is why you have to find your new normal...and things will never be the way they were. It's like losing your innocence. And im happy its over and i hope im free for a long time, but its always a bittersweet taste the stays with you after treatment.

But ima gonna work it.
So long I'm alive, everything will be manageable, somehow. One day at a time...

Thank you all so much for everything..
Very best of luck for those still in treatment..

I will see you soon :wink:

Love,
Ana
Dx @ 29 yo. Mum (2 y.o.) & Wife

12/2016: Rectal AdenoCa G2. CEA 4.3. RAS Wild. MSS. IIIB.
01 - 03/2017: 28 RTx + CHT 2,5 g/d Capecit.
03 - 06/2017: Suplemments and Cimetidine.
05/2017: TME/TAMIS + permanent Colostomy CEA 0.5
05/2017: ypT2N2aM0 (4/15), good cCR, limited pCR
06 - 8/2017: 4x CapOx 3,5 g/d (2x Oxi reduced to 80%)
09 -11/2017: 3x Capecit. monotherapy 4g/d
12/2017: Aspirin, Vit. D3, Curcumin, Multivitamin.

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

Re: The First day of the rest of my life...

Postby susie0915 » Sat Nov 11, 2017 4:38 pm

I understand your feelings. I'm 19 months out of treatment and I still think back of my year of initial diagnosis to end of adjuvant chemo, and it brings tears to my eyes. I'm still dealing with neuropathy as it didn't really kick in until a month after I finished. I do know it was at least 6 months before my energy level felt close to back to where is was. You do what you need to do, just know all are here to help you with any issues you may have or if you just need to vent. This disease has changed all of us permanently physically, mentally, and emotionally. We all have to find what our new normal is and do what we need to do to deal with it. Take care. You will always have support here.
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


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