cganawah

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.

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

cganawah....welcome to WhatNext. There are many colon cancer survivors here who can share their experiences and support you throughout the fight. It is the most important fight in your life, but it is a trade-off for a lifetime with your family and friends. I

I was diagnosed Stage IIIA at 45. I had laparoscopic surgery to remove 1+ foot of my colon. It had not spread to my liver or lungs, but was found in 2/26 lymph nodes (taken during surgery). Chemotherapy was highly recommended (required? No, no one can force you to do anything...but don't you want to give yourself the very best chance at survival?) and I had 12 treatments of FOLFOX.

It was the yuckiest year of my life, but just a bump in the road. I would go back and do it all over again if need be! I pray not, but I would. I have been cancer-free for 2 1/2 years. I feared I wouldn't see my sons graduate high school. They have both since graduated and next year, my oldest will graduate college.

I am working a new high-tech full-time job and teaching religious school part-time. While I'm not the same person I was, in many ways, I'm a better person for what I went through - and the same with my family. My younger son is now studying pre-med in college. He had only dreamed of playing basketball in the NBA until I got sick. Now, all he wants to do is help people. My husband says he wakes up every morning and realizes how blessed he is to see me in bed next to him (he lost his sister who was 43, he was terrified of losing me, too). I wake up and see the sun and my beautiful family and realized how blessed and fortunate I am. I am more appreciative, more caring and more loving.

Give yourself the best possible chance! You are young! The success rate is very good. It won't be easy, but once you cross that finish line and hear your doctor tell you that you are cancer-free, you realize it was worth it. Not easy, not pretty, but so worth it! The standard protocol for colon cancer has a very good track record and is not the most miserable one out there. I continued to work, get together with family and friends.

There are so many of us here because we want to give back and help others. Look to us, lean on us and let us help you through!

Hi Cganawah

Welcome and glad you fond all of us at What Next. We are her to answer any questions you might have and support you how ever we can.
So ask any question you might have.

Hi-I grew up in Schaumburg, moved away when I was 9. Maybe we went to Elementary school together. I'm sorry that you have the need to be here, but glad you found us. Check out others on this site - PhillieG 9+ years and still inspiring us. A genetic counselor or your doc can properly explain KRAS & BRAF, just make sure you're tested. Let me know if there is anything I can do. Sending you all my best.

Check out this site....HE had Colon Cancer 10 years ago and his site and facebook page is amazing. He has a video here for NEW Patients and you should take a look at it.

http://www.chrisbeatcancer.com/

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

cyesuislord1, I congatulate your Jesus!