Re: Brand new with experience

July 20, 2004

Welcome to our group and family. You are right about the wealth of

knowledge here. I think you have found the best support site on the

WEB.

Anytime you have a question do not hesitate to ask, thats what we

are all about. It's great to hear you have a good medical team

because that is the most important thing.

My husband was diagnosed with colorectal cancer 4 years ago.

Best Wishes,

Joyce-- In colon_cancer_support , " sunspotshe "

<msheila7@a...> wrote:

> Oh joy! Glad to know there is a good group to be around in this

> difficult time. I've just been diagnosed with stage III invasive

> moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Rectal tumor and

affected

> lymph node. Have just gone through the first battery of tests and

> will be seeing oncologist soon to discuss treatment in depth and

> determine extent. Seems chemo, radiation, chemo and then surgery

is

> the course of choice. All this time I was told it was a hemi (I

> could be bitter about this but why bother?). My adopted mom had

the

> same thing in the same place. Weird coincidence or what?

>

> I'll be around alot...I believe knowledge is power...and there is

a

> wealth of knowledge here. And a great deal of kindness as well.

I'm

> counting on support, and hoping I will be able to provide this as

> well. For now, I have to decide, who to tell and how, what to

tell

> my employer...etc etc...

>

> I praise God for many things: a good doctor, a great staff,

medical

> technology, an understanding boss, good friends.

July 20, 2004

Welcome to our group and family. You are right about the wealth of

knowledge here. I think you have found the best support site on the

WEB.

Anytime you have a question do not hesitate to ask, thats what we

are all about. It's great to hear you have a good medical team

because that is the most important thing.

My husband was diagnosed with colorectal cancer 4 years ago.

Best Wishes,

Joyce-- In colon_cancer_support , " sunspotshe "

<msheila7@a...> wrote:

> Oh joy! Glad to know there is a good group to be around in this

> difficult time. I've just been diagnosed with stage III invasive

> moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Rectal tumor and

affected

> lymph node. Have just gone through the first battery of tests and

> will be seeing oncologist soon to discuss treatment in depth and

> determine extent. Seems chemo, radiation, chemo and then surgery

is

> the course of choice. All this time I was told it was a hemi (I

> could be bitter about this but why bother?). My adopted mom had

the

> same thing in the same place. Weird coincidence or what?

>

> I'll be around alot...I believe knowledge is power...and there is

a

> wealth of knowledge here. And a great deal of kindness as well.

I'm

> counting on support, and hoping I will be able to provide this as

> well. For now, I have to decide, who to tell and how, what to

tell

> my employer...etc etc...

>

> I praise God for many things: a good doctor, a great staff,

medical

> technology, an understanding boss, good friends.

July 20, 2004

I am sorry that you have reason to join this group, but welcome.

There are a lot of really great people here.

I can sympathize with your situation, at 46 I thought I had

hemorroids also until my doc palpated a mass. I was diagnosed

initially with stage 3 but later changed to stage 4 rectal carcinoma.

5/02.

As for when and who to tell, I think that it varies widely with how

you feel about it and your individual situation.

I was so scared and upset that I did not tell anyone at work until I

had a port put in and walked around with an infusion pump giving me 5-

FU for a couple days. At that point I got up the nerve to tell

people. I told them I fully expected to get through this without

serious problems, and reminded them that I looked no different on

chemo than a few days before. I think before that I would have

burst into tears if I said anything earlier. Everyone was

fantastically supportive when I told them however.

Although I worked through chemo and radiation and more chemo, and my

doctors were mostly within 10 minute drives of where I worked, I

still had unexpected appointments which necessitated me sometimes

having to change my schedule at the last minute. The fact that they

all knew about it, made that easier to do.

I so hope things go smoothly and sucessfully for you. Let us know how

things are going. There are a large number of people here who have a

great deal of experience battling this thing and have great advice to

offer.

Best wishes,

Kris

July 20, 2004

I am sorry that you have reason to join this group, but welcome.

There are a lot of really great people here.

I can sympathize with your situation, at 46 I thought I had

hemorroids also until my doc palpated a mass. I was diagnosed

initially with stage 3 but later changed to stage 4 rectal carcinoma.

5/02.

As for when and who to tell, I think that it varies widely with how

you feel about it and your individual situation.

I was so scared and upset that I did not tell anyone at work until I

had a port put in and walked around with an infusion pump giving me 5-

FU for a couple days. At that point I got up the nerve to tell

people. I told them I fully expected to get through this without

serious problems, and reminded them that I looked no different on

chemo than a few days before. I think before that I would have

burst into tears if I said anything earlier. Everyone was

fantastically supportive when I told them however.

Although I worked through chemo and radiation and more chemo, and my

doctors were mostly within 10 minute drives of where I worked, I

still had unexpected appointments which necessitated me sometimes

having to change my schedule at the last minute. The fact that they

all knew about it, made that easier to do.

I so hope things go smoothly and sucessfully for you. Let us know how

things are going. There are a large number of people here who have a

great deal of experience battling this thing and have great advice to

offer.

Best wishes,

Kris

July 21, 2004

Sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis but this group has really

helped me and it will help you too. I was diagnosed in March with

rectal cancer and optioned for preoperative chemo and radiation to

help shrink the tumor. The surgery I recently had only removed the

tumor but my surgeon is now recommending to have the lymph nodes

removed and checked. I was wondering how they knew yours was in the

lymph nodes since you did not mention any surgery.

RM

> Oh joy! Glad to know there is a good group to be around in this

> difficult time. I've just been diagnosed with stage III invasive

> moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Rectal tumor and

affected

> lymph node. Have just gone through the first battery of tests and

> will be seeing oncologist soon to discuss treatment in depth and

> determine extent. Seems chemo, radiation, chemo and then surgery is

> the course of choice. All this time I was told it was a hemi (I

> could be bitter about this but why bother?). My adopted mom had

the

> same thing in the same place. Weird coincidence or what?

>

> I'll be around alot...I believe knowledge is power...and there is a

> wealth of knowledge here. And a great deal of kindness as well.

I'm

> counting on support, and hoping I will be able to provide this as

> well. For now, I have to decide, who to tell and how, what to tell

> my employer...etc etc...

>

> I praise God for many things: a good doctor, a great staff,

medical

> technology, an understanding boss, good friends.

July 21, 2004

Sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis but this group has really

helped me and it will help you too. I was diagnosed in March with

rectal cancer and optioned for preoperative chemo and radiation to

help shrink the tumor. The surgery I recently had only removed the

tumor but my surgeon is now recommending to have the lymph nodes

removed and checked. I was wondering how they knew yours was in the

lymph nodes since you did not mention any surgery.

RM

> Oh joy! Glad to know there is a good group to be around in this

> difficult time. I've just been diagnosed with stage III invasive

> moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Rectal tumor and

affected

> lymph node. Have just gone through the first battery of tests and

> will be seeing oncologist soon to discuss treatment in depth and

> determine extent. Seems chemo, radiation, chemo and then surgery is

> the course of choice. All this time I was told it was a hemi (I

> could be bitter about this but why bother?). My adopted mom had

the

> same thing in the same place. Weird coincidence or what?

>

> I'll be around alot...I believe knowledge is power...and there is a

> wealth of knowledge here. And a great deal of kindness as well.

I'm

> counting on support, and hoping I will be able to provide this as

> well. For now, I have to decide, who to tell and how, what to tell

> my employer...etc etc...

>

> I praise God for many things: a good doctor, a great staff,

medical

> technology, an understanding boss, good friends.

July 21, 2004

Welcome to our group although I am sorry for the circumstances that

brought you here. Yup, this is one heck of a group....not only

knowledgable but extremely compassionate and supporting as well. I

truly believe I have made it as far as I have because, in part, for

this group's help and advice. Infact, my husband is with the

oncologist that he is with now because of someone on this board and

we couldn't be more pleased and happy with that choice. Hang in

there and yes, learn as much as you can about this disease because

knowledge truly is power. By the way, my name is Monika and I am

caregiver to my husband Bert, diagnosed July 2003 stage III right

colon cancer, resection, chemo for over 10 months, currently NED, and

my mother, diagnosed inoperable lung cancer September 2002, currently

on chemo and still holding her own.

Again, welcome.

Monika

> Oh joy! Glad to know there is a good group to be around in this

> difficult time. I've just been diagnosed with stage III invasive

> moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Rectal tumor and

affected

> lymph node. Have just gone through the first battery of tests and

> will be seeing oncologist soon to discuss treatment in depth and

> determine extent. Seems chemo, radiation, chemo and then surgery is

> the course of choice. All this time I was told it was a hemi (I

> could be bitter about this but why bother?). My adopted mom had

the

> same thing in the same place. Weird coincidence or what?

>

> I'll be around alot...I believe knowledge is power...and there is a

> wealth of knowledge here. And a great deal of kindness as well.

I'm

> counting on support, and hoping I will be able to provide this as

> well. For now, I have to decide, who to tell and how, what to tell

> my employer...etc etc...

>

> I praise God for many things: a good doctor, a great staff,

medical

> technology, an understanding boss, good friends.

July 21, 2004