Theresa - Re: Hi! I'm new here

[Guest guest]

Theresa, I hear you when you say you are still angry at some of your

doctors. Bert's father died of right sided colon cancer when he was

57 years old. Bert has been getting sigmonoscopies on a routine

basis since he was 42, with his doctor full well knowing that right

side is not seen on a sig and his doctor fully knowing that Bert's

dad died of the disease. It wasn't until Bert's insurance changed,

he turned 50, and less paperwork for his primary care physician in

requesting a colonoscopy that Bert had it done. When we heard

colonoscopy, we had no idea that the sig was not enough. Well,

that's when they found the beast...two of them, and from the looks of

them and the damage they had done, at minimum they had been growing

for five years. You see, my Bert need never have had colon cancer as

he was doing everything that we knew what to do to prevent it! I was

angry for months....months, but you know what. It is all wasted

energy...energy that I have learned to focus on helping Bert beat

this disease. You will too. You can't change the past...it's water

down the drain, but you can help change the future. Go for it!

Hugs,

Monika

> > Hello everyone.

> > I am 51 years old.

> > I was diagnosed with colon cancer this past March. I was admitted

> to

> > the hospital on March 1st for tests, and cancer colon was

> discovered.

> > I had 2 tumors!! I had surgery on the 9th.

> >

> > I was very sick all of last Fall and this past winter, and was

> being

> > treated for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I was in unbelievable pain

> and

> > misery, thus they finally admitted me for testing - and found the

> > cancer.

> >

> > I'm still in a bit of a fog about it all. And haven't even asked

my

> > oncologist or surgeon for many details. I believe they have told

> > things to me - but it was while I was still very drugged in the

> > hospital.

> >

> > I'm not even sure of the stage, but I think it's probably a 3.

Some

> > lymph nodes were found to contain cancer. For awhile they were

> > concerned that it had spread to my liver - but those tests came

out

> > okay. I'm not even sure of the size of the tumors. Seems that one

> was

> > about 7 centimeters? and the other about 5 (?). The surgeon did

say

> > theat they believed they had removed all cancer, and there are

> > currently no signs of cancer anywhere.

> >

> > Because I was so very ill for so very long 'before' the surgery,

I

> > went into the surgery very run down, malnourished/anemic etc. I

> went

> > from weighing about 160 lbs last summer to 103 lbs after surgery.

> > It is taking me quite awhile to recover from the surgery. I am

> still

> > very weak and tired, and my immunity is low. I keep coming down

> with

> > all kinds of virus/colds etc.

> >

> > My oncologist wants me to do chemo soon. He wants me to take

> xeloda.

> > He doesn't think I could cope with anything stronger at this

time,

> > but even so, I hear that xeloda can be rough... (?)

> > I have been delaying the chemo, as I just don't feel up to

tackling

> > it yet - and he is letting me wait awhile to rebuild a bit more

of

> my

> > strength and weight etc.

> >

> > This is the 3rd time I have had cancer in the past 24 years. All

> > unrelated. I had breast cancer in 1980 (at the age of 28), and

> > uterine cancer in 1995.

> > I had 'very' strong chemo after the mastectomy in 1980, as

they

> > thought it had spread to my bones (turned out to be arthritis! My

> > great miracle!!!)). At that time I had been given only about 2

> years

> > to live!

> > I had uterine cancer in 1995. Had a complete hysterectomy,

and

> > radiation treatments.

> > and... now my current problems...

> >

> > By the way, along with the 2 tumors removed from my colon, they

had

> > to remove a huge section of my intestine due to severe damage

done

> by

> > my previous radiation treatments in 1995. Plus they had to do a

> > repair to my bladder due to damage done to it also. I also now

have

> a

> > permenent colostomy.

> >

> > On top of everything, I have many sensitivities/reactions to many

> > meds now. My doc says it's probably a result of all the chemo I

had

> > many years ago. I had a lot of problems in the hospital with many

> of

> > the meds they tried giving me - including for pain, GERD (Gastric

> > Reflux problems), antibiotics, etc.

> >

> > While in the hospital, they gave me a version of Procrit (forgot

> the

> > name) to help build my sytem back up - and I had a reaction to

that!

> >

> > A part of me really does not want to go through with the chemo.

> But,

> > at the same time, I worry that if I don't, my odds will not be

too

> > good.

> >

> > I suppose I am just so darned weary of battling cancer and

illness.

> > Darn!! Cancer 3 times in 24 ears!! And all considered to be

> > unrelated!! But, then again, I was not expected to survive the

1st

> > time, and since then have had many good years on and off...

> >

> > I know I need to go into battle once again, but I am just so

darned

> > tired and my anxiety levels are horrendous.

> > and... on top of everything else, I am trying to taper off an

anti-

> > aniety med. as it no longer works properly - yet it causes all

> kinds

> > of horrid withdrawals problems.

> >

> > and so, there you have it. I have tried to sum things up, but

tend

> to

> > still write books....

> > I'd appreciate any and all advice.

> > Also, any advice on natural herbs etc to take?

> > I did take the herb pau D'Arco and essiac tea when I had uterine

> > cancer. I really have no idea if it helped or not.

> >

> > Theresa

> >

> > ****Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings,

> > while the dawn is still dark****