Gmo

Praying for you and hope you surgery goes well today. When you come home let me know and then we can get together.

thinking of you and your reversal tomorrow. Hope all goes beautifully and we hear celebrations from you soon. Best!!

also my email address is
momofthree67 at yahoo.com

Hello there I also am 48 I was diagnosed Feb. 18 with stage 3 colorectal cancer. I just finished 28 radiation treatments and a month of chemo. My tumor was too large to operate so I needed to shrink it first. I will be seeing my surgeon tomorrow to schedule my surgery and to get scoped to see how well the radiation and chemo worked on my tumor. they think I have this gene because I had no cancerous polyps and had a colonoscopy in 2006 and they think I have had this tumor for at least 6 years. So far it hasn't spread to my liver or lungs but is in my lymph system. I am a grandma of 7.My past year has been tragic April 7 I went back for my aunts services she passed from brain cancer and after the services dropped of my sister and she was struck and killed by a car .Here I am grieving have PTSD from her accident and get diagnosed days before her birthday on the 21st.My Poor mother has buried 2 children to tragic deaths my brother of HIV and my Sister being hit then months later I'm diagnosed with Cancer. I tell you what nothing has giving me more of a fighting spirit that to fight to live for myself my children and especially my MOTHER.I reached out to you we are the same age the same cancer I thought maybe we could be a good support system for one another.

my telephone number is three zero three (four Eight two) Two four one eight.

GMO, do you have any symptoms from th folfox? Where are you receiving your treatments at?
I will be going to UCH lone tree cancer center.

Hi GMO - just thinking about you and wondering how it's going. Positive thoughts being sent your way!!

GMO, I just wanted to tell you that my tumor was extremely low, and I went into surgery not knowing if the doc would be able to reconnect me, or if it was going to be a bag for me. Thank God, he was able to hook everything back up, but it took a while for things to get back to normal...and I'm not talking weeks here, but I was back at work part time in several weeks and full time in 6. Right now I am nearly 3 years post resection & almost 2 1/2 years post connection, and I am nearly back to normal...and that's pre-cancer normal, not a new normal. It takes time....I don't know if you had a j-pouch put in? That's what I have, and basically, it takes time to teach that piece of colon how to act as a rectum. Plus, you have all kind of issues just from having surgery, chemo & radiation...it takes the body time to heal from ALL of that. Anyway, the point being that you are young, and hopefully had a good surgeon, so there's no reason at this point to think that you won't have a successful re-connection. Just plan to allow yourself time to get everything revved up & running smoothly again.

The best thing you can do right now in anticipation of the reversal is butt-kegels (sphincter contractions.) Keeping that muscle strong will help to minimize leaks later. It's like any other body part...if you don't use your leg for a while, it gets weak.

I know the bag is unpleasant, but my surgeon explained that it gives you a MUCH better outcome. If you are reconnected when you have the tumor removed, you have stool passing over essentially an open wound, contractions can rip the stitches open, and much greater chance of infection, which can lead to permanent damage to nerves & muscles. And one other thing that may have you blessing the bag...lots of people get the trots from chemo...I had a bag during my second round, so I really don't know if I did or not, but at that point, it would have been too too much to deal with.

Keep your chin up, and remember our mantra
"This too shall pass "

How are you doing with the ileostomy? I had one for about 9 months before it was reversed. It took some getting used to - I'm squeamish. After a while I was laughing at "Rosie" squirting at me while I was trying to clean her up. I had a high output and couldn't get the post surgery chemo. It isn't too hard to deal with in public I think, but the folks who said "you can wear everything you used to wear" were clueless! I hope you are recovering well. Good luck on this journey! You'll do fine. God Bless You!

Hi Gmo - thanks for responding. The hardest part for me is not knowing how extensive my cancer is right now. Once I know - and have a game plan - I think I'll feel better. I've been through this once - but the second time seems harder. Hang in there with your surgery.

Hey GMO! Good luck on your surgery and let me know how it goes. I'm just on my 3rd week of chemo/radiation so early days still. No family history here either - was total shock when I was diagnosed. Agreed that knowing real people on the same path is somehow comforting. I'm really glad you reached out. Know what you mean about not wanting surgery too!! My tumor seems to be responding well to treatment and now my husband is hoping that means we can avoid surgery. I doubt it, but understand his hopes. I'm not excited about the bag either. Yuck.
Question - and I hope you don't mind me asking - if you were not yet menopausal, did treatment through you into menopause? I just really don't want to deal with that on top of all the rest!!!
Peace and Courage!

Keep positive and focused! I was Stage IIIA at age 45. Colon cancer is beatable. I just had my two year cancer-free anniversary. I am approaching my 3-year anniversary of my diagnosis. It was an unpleasant year, but it was worth the fight...a trade-off for 40+ more years with my family and friends. Fight, fight, fight! Let us know how we can support you!

I see you've been having a rough time with your treatment - so sorry to hear this. Have you considered medical marijuana? I was taking Xeloda with Oxilaplatin and the nausea and burning in my gut were unbearable. The oral meds prescribed were terribly expensive and not very effective. Marijuana was the only thing that really helped and it was a lot less expensive than the other, less effective prescription meds I tried.

DId the doctor give you anything for the abdominal pains? Or is that what the prednisone is supposed to do? Still praying that they get this worked out so you can continue with your treatments

Hi GMO,

Just checking to see how things went for you today?

Hello and welcome, we are glad you found us. Please feel free to join in the conversations. Here is a link to our cancer dx page for your type of cancer. Take a look at it to get you started on some information. You will notice at the bottom of that page 4 of our active users who have had that journey already, you may wish to contact them for their experience and wisdom. Also, I encourage you to go to the questions page now by clicking on the questions tab at the top of the page and post what is the most pressing issue you have right now. This will introduce you to the community and get you started on the help you need right now.

https://www.whatnext.com/conditions/cancer/colorectal-colon-cancer

There are also subtypes listed on this page to narrow down the type of cancer to match your dx.

You may also find our "Beginner's Guide To Cancer" page helpful Click Here for that=> http://bit.ly/10BQKCi

Also, if you can take a few minutes and fill in some details of your journey so far, it will help others as they try to answer questions for you, it also helps others as they search through the data base to find someone like themselves. Confirming your email will allow you to receive updates and notices from the site when someone answers your questions or writes on your wall.

Thanks for being with us and let me know if I can help you find any information on the site. After you have an opportunity to look the site over and see what great things there are here, we encourage you to invite your friends, family or anyone you know that may be helped by the connections on WhatNext to join the site also. Just click this link to invite them to join. http://www.whatnext.com/recruit-a-friend

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GregP
3X Survivor
Team WhatNext Community Mgr.

Hi Gmo, I have had both chemo and radiation(2012). Everyone's treatment plan is different and the effects are different for everyone too. Because of the distance I needed to travel, my husband drove me to each of my sessions.
I have had surgery for both uterine and colon cancer and am happy to report that there is no sign of disease presently.

I soooooo understand your fear but I think once you have the first treatment that will lessen.
I suggest that you ask questions and demand answers. The doctors are "working" for you not vice versa. I have a good relationship with my team and I believe that made quite a difference.
Best Wishes

Welcome to the WhatNext family! The WhatNext family is made up of people like you who are looking for help or looking to help others. To help you along your journey the WhatNext family has put together a Beginner's Guide to Cancer that I highly recommend you check-out here: http://bit.ly/10BQKCi. Also, please do not hesitate to reach out to others or ask for help.

Wishing you the best.

David
Founder, WhatNexter