So....talk about.....CANCER SUPPORT THREAD !!

[WriterofWords]

You look great!


Quote:

 

[Lunachick]

Thank you everyone for your kind comments! Opa, thank you.

It's even gotten longer and thicker, OMG really thick! I don't think it was ever that way before, or maybe I don't remember.

deerman - hope you enjoyed your break from those pills.

How are you doing?

Howdy Orp!!! Nice to "see" you again!

 

[babyrnlc]

I just found this thread and have not had time to go read through all the posts.

I am 39 and was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in July of 2010. I had a colon resection in July and they thought it was contained, (He looked around in there), but then 11 out 27 lymph nodes they checked had cancer. SOOOOO I got to have 5 1/2 weeks of a pump with low dose chemo and 28 radiation doses (finished that!!). And now I am getting chemo every two weeks, (at least I only have to wear the pump 2 days). I have handled it well so far. I have only 8 more treatments. I get the cold sensitivity real bad, and some times tummy issues 4-5 days after chemo (though did not happen this time). I have energy most days and my hair has gotten thicker and curlier (I guess from the vitamins I started??) There are some days I do get tired, but it is rare and usually after building a chicken coop or something.

Since the surgery, they did pet scans and they came up completely clean. My CEA before the surgery was 0.8 so we can't go by it. I did have some female issues so they did a biopsy and I had precancerous cells on my cervix, but they did a CONE and got clean margins, which normally would mean I did not even need a hysterectomy, but seeing as I have 4 biological children and 3 adopted and the chemo and radiation has probably made me infertile, we will do a hys after the chemo (probably in the fall, the doc said at least in the next few years, to 10 years lol)

I have been so blessed, I have so many people praying for me and I think that makes a huge difference (and God knows I cannot handle being nauseated lol). My comfort has been Psalm 71. I found it in the hospital and just chose 71 because that was the year I was born, but it is so appropriate!

I will try and read through this thread, but it will take a while. I pray everyone here is feeling well and keeping up their spirits!

 

[deerman]

Baby i went thru the resection , chemo pump and etc. same stage 3 colon cancer. The pin feeling from the cold. it will be over before you know it, same kind i have, you will be strong again in no time.

 

[deerman]

Luna , so glad to see you are doing better. I just completed my 2nd batch of chemo pills...so today start my week off of them

 

[Lunachick]

Wahoo deerman! You sounding good! Keep that attitude up.....

Enjoy your next break.

I think that's what is important - enjoying the moment, that small measure of joy - hold on to it and take it for a loooooonnnnngggg ride

Make it last.

 

[Lunachick]

Quote:
Baby - You are young and strong, but most of all you have the right attitude. You will be a good fighter. Did you know that the medical community is questioning taking out all those lymph nodes now?

I think what they're doing is "just in case chemo" to cover any situation where it might develop over time. What are you going to do? It's hard to say to youself - gee, I think I'll take my chances and not do chemo....and "chemo" is such a scary word. I still have many questions over this cancer stuff.....

You ARE blessed by the people that support you. I found that out too, right here!

Congrats on your clean scan.

Taking those extra vitamins would certainly help, I found that taking extra B-12 sublinguals 2500 mcg every day prevented me from having any neuropathy symptoms....and I still take them because I never know if that chemo crap messed me up where I SHOULD take those B-12s forever...small price to pay. I also do vitamin D-3 for my bones and any hormonal mishaps that may occur. Besides the regular gummy chew vites I enjoy and a heavy chew tab of vitamin C.

AND I always, always eat good food and lots of greens. You do the best you can and be happy about it. If I croak no matter what, I croak. But I DID do my best.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Baby - You are young and strong, but most of all you have the right attitude. You will be a good fighter. Did you know that the medical community is questioning taking out all those lymph nodes now?

I think what they're doing is "just in case chemo" to cover any situation where it might develop over time. What are you going to do? It's hard to say to youself - gee, I think I'll take my chances and not do chemo....and "chemo" is such a scary word. I still have many questions over this cancer stuff.....

You ARE blessed by the people that support you. I found that out too, right here!

Congrats on your clean scan.

Taking those extra vitamins would certainly help, I found that taking extra B-12 sublinguals 2500 mcg every day prevented me from having any neuropathy symptoms....and I still take them because I never know if that chemo crap messed me up where I SHOULD take those B-12s forever...small price to pay. I also do vitamin D-3 for my bones and any hormonal mishaps that may occur. Besides the regular gummy chew vites I enjoy and a heavy chew tab of vitamin C.

AND I always, always eat good food and lots of greens. You do the best you can and be happy about it. If I croak no matter what, I croak. But I DID do my best.

I also have to take B-12 shot monthly ,because the colon section that was removed.

Luna ,the chemo I took is the same as Baby is taken.....its not near as bad as what you had....didn't lose all the hair, just thinned a little, think its best to take it.

 

[babyrnlc]

Quote:
How long has it been for you? Do you still have your port in.

I was asking the chemo doctor and he thinks I should leave it in at least a year. Sigh. That is the part about this whole thing that bugs me the most lol. My symptoms have not really been that bad. Not like I expected!

 

[babyrnlc]

Quote:
Baby - You are young and strong, but most of all you have the right attitude. You will be a good fighter. Did you know that the medical community is questioning taking out all those lymph nodes now?

I think what they're doing is "just in case chemo" to cover any situation where it might develop over time. What are you going to do? It's hard to say to youself - gee, I think I'll take my chances and not do chemo....and "chemo" is such a scary word. I still have many questions over this cancer stuff.....

You ARE blessed by the people that support you. I found that out too, right here!

Congrats on your clean scan.

Taking those extra vitamins would certainly help, I found that taking extra B-12 sublinguals 2500 mcg every day prevented me from having any neuropathy symptoms....and I still take them because I never know if that chemo crap messed me up where I SHOULD take those B-12s forever...small price to pay. I also do vitamin D-3 for my bones and any hormonal mishaps that may occur. Besides the regular gummy chew vites I enjoy and a heavy chew tab of vitamin C.

AND I always, always eat good food and lots of greens. You do the best you can and be happy about it. If I croak no matter what, I croak. But I DID do my best.

Have you heard about tagamet? MY primary doctor told me about Tagamet and Colon cancer. It is pretty interesting.

I may have to try the b-12. The cold thing is the most noticeable symptom I have. Partly because I have lost 50 pounds even before the chemo. (I changed my diet and I work on it, I have 40 more to go.) So I was getting cold easily before hand.