Everyone has a story...My story

tommybracing · Regular Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Oklahoma

whipsnade,
my therapy car is a 1969 mustang fastback with a big block that I race on weekends when I'm up to it. It runs low 10 sec 1/4 mile on the engine and 9.35 with nitrous. And I know what a Pantera is. cool car. But I'm sure most of the folks reading this aren't "car people".

Going in for treatment tomorrow, gonna rent a movie and watch it on my portable DVD player. If you all don't have one, you should get one. It will keep your mind off your chemo...

all for now.
Tom

whipsnade · New User Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 8 Location: socal

hey now tom, i hope you are tolerating the chemo well. it sounds like you spent time/duckets on your ride. i will take my car someday (when i feel better) to the quarter track. i probably run it very gingerly. i am very worried about breaking something (can"t afford it right now). it has a dart iron eagle block (462ci) with aluminum heads, 680 lift rollcam, 11:1 compression, demon 900cfm carb and tuned for running 116. i can go on but you get the idea. i don"t have the strength i use to have (at least for now). i just had ct scan to determine what needs to be done for my cancer removal/colostomy. they called me the next day (left message) to come in to "review" the results. they dicovered a 12 cm mass in my liver not a met from original cancer. that surguery was cancelled a new one was arranged for liver section. this growth occured in less than a year. they will first look at surrounding tissue, if all clear, they will continue the operation. if not they will close up and, well, thats as far as his explanation went. he also said that most people can live with less than 25 percent of their liver? anyway i can't believe how fast things could change in such a small amount of time. i will be praying for you as well as others including myself and ask god to help us understand why we are going through this crap, and ask for his mercy along with his magic touch.
_________________
stage 2 colorectal/diag march 2007/post chemo-radiotherpy

tommybracing · Regular Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Oklahoma

whipsnade,
If you would like to talk cars, email me at tommybracing@hotmail
we can talk all about it and not bore others here. I think everyone needs something to keep not just the mind, but the body busy to fight this disease. I have several hobbies and split my energies between them. I excercise every day because it helps with my energy level. I play my trumpet and sing for my own enjoyment as well as others. (I play for the retirement center where my mom lives) and my car activities take up the rest. If I just sit around and think about this, I get sad...so I don't. I have all my affairs in order and I keep this updated as things change. I plan on being here a long time....
Tommy

REB

Not to get too far off topic, but I like working on cars too. I was in the process of getting a DeLorean when the cancer hit. Medical bills ate up the money I was saving for the car, but I am glad I had that money.

I wouldn't mind getting a 67 VW Bug and converting it to electric.

I got to get stronger and get my savings back up before I can take on any car project.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor and Temporary Colostomy
Started Chemotherapy 11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil) and leucovorin, oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
Last Chemo treatment 04-09-08, Colostomy Reversal 04-28-08 Age:41

tommybracing · Regular Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Oklahoma

I have some new therapy I'm looking into...does anyone have any experience with the following:

Dendritic Cell Vaccine
Gemcitabine
Ralititrexed

and last but not least the Cyberknife looks very promising to us all. There is one in the town I live in and it's been in the news lately. I have some info from the program coming in the mail.

I'm going to quiz my oncol at my next treatment.
God Bless you all and see you well.
Tommy

tommybracing · Regular Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Oklahoma

I am officially a Grandfather this morning. My daughter gave birth to a healthy girl early this morning. All is well and I am so thankful I'm still here to enjoy this...my heart is so full of joy today I'm about to burst.
Her name is Jamie. She is named after my daughter's best friend who was killed by a drunk driver just over a year ago.
Tommy

tommybracing · Regular Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Oklahoma

I got some bad news from the onc yesterday. The Mytomicin and Vextibix are not effective on my lung mets and the CEA has now went from 721 to over 1100. They will continue to give me the Vextibix and FUDR in my pump and look for alternives. I have another CT on Friday then see the doc next week. It doesn't sound good and the doc (not my regular) gave me an expiration date with my progression. 6 months to a year, not good.
I still feel fine and just finished a weeks vacation for our Mustang show here in town. Over 30,000 spectators in 4 days for one of the biggest shows in the country (USA). I'm back at work today and have some hard decisions to make soon. The doc shot down the treatments I had researched as in my above post. Anybody have any other suggestion I may have missed? I'm going to work a while (months) and finish my own "bucket list" as portrayed by Morgan Freeman and Jack Nickleson in the movies. I'm going to spend some time with my new grandaughter for sure. All for now, more later.

REB

I am sorry to hear that Tommy.

Anyway you can come down to MD Anderson here in Houston? They are doing amazing work there.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor and Temporary Colostomy
Started Chemotherapy 11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil) and leucovorin, oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
Last Chemo treatment 04-09-08, Colostomy Reversal 04-28-08 Age:41

tommybracing · Regular Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Oklahoma

Yes, one of my best freinds from college lives near there and I am more than welcome to stay there. next doc visit I will suggest just that. Thanks.

DulcimerGal

Tommy,

I am so sorry to hear your latest news, I hope you got out the trumpet and played the most rousing music you know. You will put playing time on your list I hope, you have time to learn a really super piece of music....something worthy of your spirit.

You are in my prayers
DulcimerGal
_________________
Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th
6 months Chemo to follow

DJL · Regular Joined: 26 Apr 2008 Posts: 10

Tommy,

I'm so sorry to hear your news.

You have been so strong and such an inspiration to all of us.

I haven't seen The Bucket List movie yet, but plan to watch it this week when it comes out on Pay Per View.

You will be in my prayers.

Hugs,
Dorothy
_________________
54 year old Female
Diagnosed with rectal cancer 10/02/2007
Chemo & Radiation
Permanent Colostomy & Rectum Removed 01/21/2008

Sharon727 · Regular Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 24

Tom - God bless you!! I am new to this forum...just joined tonight...and I was so happy to see such a positive message as the first post! Just goes to show that the doctor's aren't God and we decide our own fate when faced with this stuff. I am a cancer survivor...stage 1 cervical cancer a little less than a year ago, but so far so good with that. I am on this particular site because three years ago I had 5 adenomas measuring from 3 to 6 centimeters removed from my colon. This was only after 3 years of bleeding and MANY trips to the doctor. They couldn't find hemorroids or a fissure so they finally ordered colonoscopy. I am on three year regimen now and having many problems since and am terrified! You said you were 48 years young...I am almost 38 years young and female...not your text book patient! Anyway, I will do another post to address my concerns, but I was compelled to tell you that you go boy! I love a fighter!!

PrairiePrincess · Regular Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 10

Thankyou for the wonderful posts Tommybracing. I am very sorry about your illness, but am deeply moved by the way you are embracing life, rather than bracing for it.

I do have one question. I have posted elsewhere that my brother is getting treatment for metastatic colon cancer. His prognosis is grim, with multiple liver and lung mets; he is now on Irinotecan/Avastin infusions.

As family and bystanders, it is hard to know what to do for him, especially as he is not always a very easy person to be with. Angry, you know, and prone to lash out at people. He's always been like that.

However, what helps/helped you most from the people around you?

tommybracing · Regular Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Oklahoma

Getting someone to talk about this is very difficult for some, and easier for others. I don't have any problem with communication whether it be with freinds or on this board. Your brother should try to get over his anger and know that his friends and family are just trying to help him and cope with this themselves. I have some of my freinds that don't want to talk about any of this and I respect their wishes. Sometimes I really enjoy company and other times I just want to be alone. I don't know if I would call it meditation, but I have quiet time every day after work for about an hour. Tell your brother you just want to help and if he deals with his cancer better alone, just be there when he needs you. Sometimes my problem is I have TOO many freinds. (this is a great problem to have) and I get tired out from visiting. I personally love to see all the old pictures I have been getting lately and maybe your brother could get a laugh or two from some old family pics.
Thank you for all the kind responses. I really appreciate them.
Tommy

tommybracing · Regular Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Oklahoma

It looks like I'm going to be the guinea pig for everyone here. I'm going for a consult for the CyberKnife. They are going to "hit" some of the bigger tumors in my lungs. My liver is still stable with the HAI pump in my abdomen, but they took me off the Vectibix because it is having no effect on my lung mets. My CEA is 1172 now. I'll let everyone know how effective it is. I don't know how many treatments they will give me but I will keep you all informed.
God Bless you All and see you Well.
Tom

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