Shattered

Brent · Regular Joined: 26 Sep 2009 Posts: 13

In June 2008, just before I turned 25 I was diagnosed with stage III bowel cancer. I had 6 months of chemo.

I was feeling great, but recently I have had a bit of soreness across my abdomen area, and a bit in the back.

I had my scheduled CT scan a couple of days back and found out on Friday I have an enlarged abdominal lymph node and 3 nodules in my lungs. I have noticed some pain in my rectal area. A bit of a throb.

My blood results came back okay so I just don't know what's going on.

I'm just so shattered. I worked so hard to get fit and healthy and only 9 months on from chemo these have popped up. I get a pet scan Thursday and find out not long after.

I'm only 26 and I'm just so scared. I just want to be normal. Crying or Very sad

DulcimerGal · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:34 pm Post subject: Re: Shattered

Brent,

Don't give up.
That hard work getting fit will pay off as you continue to fight this latest news. It will help you deal with the next round of treatment - whatever it is.

Don't for one minute say you are not normal, you are the same person you were before they found this - yes you have a tough fight and I hope and pray you have family and support around you. That will help - and keep posting here - we have many members who are struggling with this and they will share advice with you.

Did you have surgery already as well as the chemo? I am glad you are having a PET scan - that will really help the Doctors figure out the next course of action. Keep us updated - and please try not to be scared, this is not the end there are sooo many new drugs out there and you will be in good shape to take on whatever they suggest next.

Brent you can beat this!

Cheers for now
DulcimerGal
_________________
Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th 2008
Colostomy Reversal August 20th 2008
Five rounds of Xeloda (chemo) to ZAP anything left!

sheila · Senior User Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 480

Dulcimer Gals right! stay positive.youve got your youth going for you too.
for fighting back and healing faster.

Brent · Regular Joined: 26 Sep 2009 Posts: 13

Yep, I'm ready to go. I have a meeting tomorrow with a fella who has just finished his second dose of chemo after find a few secondaries on his lungs, seems like my case except for the lymph node.

I'm ready to get this done again now. I have my blinkers on. I visited the chemo ward today and talked to the girls. They reckon I'll do well.

My only symptom is abdominal and leg soreness, everything else feels good so I'm primed and ready for a fight.

I had a large tumor and 3 cancerous lymph nodes 1st time round, and had chemotherapy.

I was very worried about going through it again as last time it gave me severe neuropathy in my hands and feet, but the chemo girls said they'll do a different drug if I ask.

I've reflected over the last few hours, I've calmed down, my bloods are good, so I should go alright.

Thanks for the kind words. Absolutely every little bit of support helps. Smile

REB · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:43 am Post subject: Re: Shattered

I am sorry Brent. I had to hear those dreaded words again a year after I finished chemo. Back in June, I was were you are.

The neuropathy was bad for me. It never totally went away. I am not doing Folfox or Avastin this time. I am doing Folfiri and Eurbitux, which seem to be working. On my last scans, the cancer was almost gone. I will find out in 2 weeks if the chemo is still working. So don't give up.

I'll pray for you.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor & Temporary Colostomy
11-07-07 - 04-09-08 FOLFOX regimen and Avastin.
04-28-08 Colostomy Reversal
06-02-09 3 Tumors in the adipose tissue.
06-23-09 Start FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
10-26-09 Tumors gone.
11-25-09 Finish FOLFIRI, continue ERBITUX
01-27-10 Tumors in Liver and Adrenal Gland
01-28-10 start FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
Age Diagnosed 40. Current Age:43

Brent · Regular Joined: 26 Sep 2009 Posts: 13

Okay so I got my PET results today, and the nodules and lymph gland are cancer. Have surgery in the near future, and probably a little more treatment.

Guess it takes a couple of times to get it right sometimes.

topazil · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:52 am Post subject: Re: Shattered

Brent, I am very sorry to hear the news but you have the right attitude, no letting this get you down and no backing down from the fight for this is the greatest of all things to fight for. My thoughts and prayers are with you this day and I hope to hear good things in the future from you.
_________________
Total hysterectomy July 23 2008, mass in colon.
Colonoscopy Aug 2008
Rigid Sigmoidoscopy with a laparoscopic-assisted partial colectemy with en bloc small bowel resection Sep 2008
Diagnosed: Stage IV Colon Cancer mets to lungs and liver. (T3,N2,M1,G2) KRAS Mutation
Started chemotherapy: 09/14/09 Folfox-6 with Avastin then Avastin alone.
Next treatment 03/22/10 Camptosar with Avastin every 2 weeks for 3 months then PET scan
Most recent CEA Level: 03/08/10 79.4 down from 240 on 03/01/10

sheila · Senior User Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 480

Brent stay strong were routing for you. let us know how your doing from time to time hope your surgery goes well.

Grateful · New User Joined: 13 Oct 2009 Posts: 6

Hello Brent,

Let me just say that I completely understand the shattered part. The first time around with my colon cancer and 6 months of chemo that gave me terrible neuropothy with some residual damage, I was shattered when I heard that a tumor returned in my rectum. I think I was so positive and sure the first time around and every one kept telling me to just stay strong and once I get through the chemo, I'll be all better and can move on with my life. I was completely blindsided and somehow just never considered the posibility the cancer would return. I was an emotional wreck. That was 10 months ago. I got 3 1/2 weeks of radiation and 5FU chemo pump which shrunk the tumor and then had another resection with a colostomy in May of this year. I am just getting ready to start my 6th of 8th chemo cycles on a Chemo in Pill form, Xeloda. The side effects from the pill are so much more managable then from the treatment you and I got with the first occurrence of cancer. You should ask about that. I am 45 with a 10 year old and a 13 year old and my fear was for leaving them motherless. I will share with you something that really made a big difference in my ability to be positive about my outcome. I asked the doctor to confirm some statistics that I found about my chance he said that yes, statistically speaking, there was a XX% chance of recurrence in 5 years. He said the statistics that I had looked up applied to that particular group of individuals in that group but for me, there is 100% chance if my living a long life after this.

I am sorry that you need to endure the treatement again, but you are very young, very strong and have 100% of beating this nasty disease. You need to know that.

I'll be thinking about you as you progress towards your recovery. Keep us posted.

Tina
_________________
March 07- diagnosed with Stage II Colon Cancer
had laproscopic resection - no colostomy needed
April 07- radiation treatements X 6
June through December 07 - Folfox, 5 FU, Oxiplatin, Ativan
Feb 09 - recurrence with Tumor in Rectum
March - April - 3 1/2 weeks 5-FU Pump with radiation twice daily
May 09 - Resection with temp colostomy
June 09 - Dec 09 - Xeloda Chemo pill
Jan 2010 - hopefully successful colostomy reversal Smile

Current age - 45

DulcimerGal · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:24 pm Post subject: Re: Shattered

Grateful - so agree with your tips on Xeloda - that stuff is great and you can get on with your life even though the side effects are not fun. I also had infusions with the port at first - and I hated that. Mentally it is so different to get hooked up for an infusion than just taking those horse pills!

Cheers - and thanks for posting your story too
DulcimerGal
_________________
Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th 2008
Colostomy Reversal August 20th 2008
Five rounds of Xeloda (chemo) to ZAP anything left!

Brent · Regular Joined: 26 Sep 2009 Posts: 13

I guess being Australian and having free health care is a big advantage. I am very poor due to cancer, so I'm very lucky.

I am finding a lot of positives. I'll beat it. Count on it. Smile

And the support here helps even more so.

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