Cancer Support and Caregivers Who Are Trail Blazers!

[Teddybear]

Oh so much going on. Good news first. Had my markers checked last week we are now at a 2 compared to 1391 in Jan.

I found out this past couple of weeks I have developed Cushing syndrome. This due to the tumor and the treatment.

I am finally going to have surgery to remove my colon on the 15th. This is an improvement over last year when they said it was inoperable. The chances are 50-50 I won't have an ostomy bag. We are prepared for whichever way it goes.

I continue to pray for each of you who are in the battle either as care giver or as a front line soldier. Not that a care giver isn't a front line soldier, I honestly think they are deeper in the battle then those of us who have the dreaded disease.

[easygoingfemme]

I rode Tour de Pink this past weekend and was honored to ride with 70 other survivors of breast cancer. There were also about 150 co-survivors/family members/parents and children of people lost to cancer. The conversations we had while riding were powerful and meaningful. The moments fighting our way up a steep hill and being able to say... it's not as hard as chemo was... just so nice to be in a community of people who completely understand your journey but to be doing something empowering and powerful together instead of just meeting randomly at hospitals and oncology appointments. At the end of the 200 miles we were on a beach front and all ran into the water and hugged it out. My heart is full.

[clay]

Repeat Cap. End. didn't show any active bleeding...so next is a repeat colonoscopy on the 25th. OH JOY! NOT!

Have to get a repeat blood panel drawn as well, as liver enzymes are elevated....

I LOVED the new surgeon. She is amazing. BUT she wants to refer me to a surgeon more talented in fixing such a large ventral hernia..due to so many adhesions from when I had my hemicolectomy for colon cancer Dec 2011. So, the two best are in W. Palm Beach, FL AND Charlotte, NC! Neither are possible for me to travel to. So, I have contacted my bariatric surgeon who did my VGS, she is having her staff check into if my insurance will cover this. She is in St Pdete..2 hrs. away! I trust her with my life!!

Sends good juju to all of you facing surgeries, treatments, and just in need of a hug! Take care.

[Teddybear]

Good afternoon Peeps

So its been a little over a week since I had surgery. I had a total colestomy. Other then feeling like I am doing a million plus crunches a day I am doing well.

The doctor wants me to shoot for no more then 5 BMs a day. Some days its ore like 5 an hour.

The path report showed out of 25 lymph nodes only 3 showed signs of cancer. Only 1 tumor left in the colon and had shrunk to around 5 cm. Liver looked good.

I start back on treatment on Nov 4. Cant wait to find out how long I will now have to be on it.

Prayers and healing light to all.

[Bèsame*]

Originally Posted by Teddybear

Good afternoon Peeps

So its been a little over a week since I had surgery. I had a total colestomy. Other then feeling like I am doing a million plus crunches a day I am doing well.

The doctor wants me to shoot for no more then 5 BMs a day. Some days its ore like 5 an hour.

The path report showed out of 25 lymph nodes only 3 showed signs of cancer. Only 1 tumor left in the colon and had shrunk to around 5 cm. Liver looked good.

I start back on treatment on Nov 4. Cant wait to find out how long I will now have to be on it.

Prayers and healing light to all.

Best Update So Far!!
XOXO

[clay]

Originally Posted by Teddybear

Good afternoon Peeps

So its been a little over a week since I had surgery. I had a total colestomy. Other then feeling like I am doing a million plus crunches a day I am doing well.

The doctor wants me to shoot for no more then 5 BMs a day. Some days its ore like 5 an hour.

The path report showed out of 25 lymph nodes only 3 showed signs of cancer. Only 1 tumor left in the colon and had shrunk to around 5 cm. Liver looked good.

I start back on treatment on Nov 4. Cant wait to find out how long I will now have to be on it.

Prayers and healing light to all.

That is great news! So you had a colectomy (removal of large intestine) OR a colostomy (wear a bag on outside for BM's)....the colectomy is the better of the two. I had a hemicolectomy (partial removal of my colon) & they reattached the small intestine to that half large colon.

The BM's will decrease with time, and initially there will be "urgency" with them, but that, too, will lessen. Luckily for us, with these surgeries, we will not have the "dumping syndrome"....where one eats & immediately that food is rapidly passed thru stomach to gut, interfering with absorption of minerals & nutrients. They removed my ileo cecal valve (that holds foods in bowel long enough to let natural absorption of minerals & nutrients) so I am always going to have pernicious anemia, will take B12 shots rest of my life. A very good multivitamin is a good thing IF your MD says so.

Usually one has a lot of gas initially & that too will subside. Lying on left side with right leg flexed up on the left leg will stimulate natural peristalsis (movement of gas along bowel to be passed) and was a huge reliver for me post op. Even now I do that, too!

Anyway, sends healing energies to continue for you & will watch for future posts. Good luck, Ted.

[Teddybear]

So a month ago at this time I was being prepped for surgery. In the last month I have lost a little over 30lbs not that I didn't have it to lose.

Still trying to figure out what I can and cant eat. I also have figure out in what amounts I can eat. I maybe able to eat a whole 8 oz steak today and tomorrow barely able to eat a third of that.

Started back on Keytruda last week. Usual side effects but I would rather have them then what I had on chemo.

I am back on the every 3 week rotation with treatment and according to my dr that is going to be the schedule for some time.

Ms Norma and I will be heading to Ga for Thanksgiving in a cpl of weeks. This will be my longest road trip since surgery and since last March. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this time that my health will not be a factor like it was last time we went home.


Hope everyone has a great day and holiday season if I am unable to post before then

[Teddybear]

So I thought I would give an update.

Surgery Oct 2019 to remove my colon where the tumor had shrunk a enough I could have surgery. Still have some issues but they will continue the rest of my life.

Was pain free for a little over 3 months and now it is back with a vengeance.

Had a PET scan the end of Dec and Dr was a little worried about some up take where the surgery was. Was going to keep an eye on it.

Talk to the Dr every 3 weeks when I go in for treatment. I try to let them know about any and all pains that come up.

Since chemo I have had issues with my right hand going to sleep all the time. It usually means my iron level is low. Not the case this time. This time it is off the charts. Concerning so they run more test. Find my liver enzymes are off way off also.

My next PET is for the first part of April. Result show a new tumor and it looks like it is on the liver, or it can be a fat lymph node. MRI is ordered.

Phone rings on a Thurs night at 845 and it is the doctor. We all know what that means dont we.

Yes it is a new tumor and I will have to do radiation. 5 treatments 1 a day for 5 days,

They seem to think it will supercharge the Keytruda so it will be able to get rid of this tumor also.

Tuesday was my last radiation. Today it hit me and I slept most of the day. Thank goodness I work nights.

I hope everyone is doing well. Keep up the good fight.