Colorectal Cancer Community

jbearva,

Congratulations on your surgery and your wonderful wife!
Please inform us when you hear about your lungs. You are also in my thoughts and prayers!

Oh my that so sounds like me...I sure wish they had recommended I get that section of colon removed when they found the polyp which was stage I (insitu) ....now here I am fighting for my life with stage IV just 3 years later...guess everything happens for a reason...God will take me where I need to be.

I am happy to report that my surgery was a success. It was a pretty major operation though. It turned out I wasn"t a good candidate for laproscopic surgery, so I have a pretty huge incision, plus a permanent colostomy. The biopsies of all surrounding lymph nodes plus my liver showed no signs of cancer. I am so grateful for the outcome. However... I am having a heck of a time healing in my rectum. It has truly been a challenge enduring the pain and discomfort. I am still working with my surgeon 3 weeks post-op trying to control the pain. She attributes the pain and slow healing to being radiated before the surgery. Anyway, enough complaining. I am just so anxious to get back to my life and actually be able to sit down normally in a chair!!

Thank you so much for getting back to us about your surgery. I'm so sorry that you are having a time with the healing and pain, but WOW and YAY to the no signs of cancer on your lymph nodes and liver! Please complain anytime!!! That is what we are here for, no apologies necessary.

((((hugs)))) to you cjtigers and I wish you the best on your road to recovery and sitting comfortably again. You will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers, and I hope that you will also continue to post on how you are doing.

I was diagnosed in 2006 with colon cancer (tumor in the transverse colon). It had gone through the colon wall into 1 lymph node. I didn't have the colonoscopy like I should have at 50 years of age, and the tumor wasn't found until it was quite advanced. The good news is that this type of cancer is very slow growing. I had surgery to remove 1/2 my colon and 6 months of chemo. This type of chemo is not as toxic or aggressive as some others. I was never sick and did not lose my hair. I had some fatigue and a neuropathy in my hands and mouth (very cold sensitive) which pretty much went away eventually. My advise is to educate yourself as much as possible, have someone close to you attend your doctor appointments to take notes & ask questions and have as many people pray for you as possible (if you are spiritual at all). One silly thing I did was when I was having my chemo, I would picture the chemo circulating through my body, hunting down all the little cancer cells and pummelling/killing them, sort of like in a comic book. I noticed your post was from some time ago, so you are probably into, possibly done with, your treatments. I hope all is well with you.

Tomorrow is my follow up appointment with my oncologist. Although the surgery went well, it sounds like they want me to go thru one more round of chemo just to be sure. So, now the nerves are starting up again. I tolerated the first round really well, but my body is just not healing at the rate I was hoping for. It's been 5 weeks from my surgery date and am still having one hell of a time controlling the pain in my "rear end" (to be a little modest). I am in tears most days from the pain. Is this normal?? The surgeon has been treating the pain with a fentanyl patch and percocet, but it still doesn't seem like enough, which scares the heck out of me. I guess tomorrow will be a good opportunity to get that second opinion. Does anyone have any advice for me?

I wish that I had some advice on the pain, but I am praying for you at your appointment today. Hopefully, your doctor can answer those questions and help with relief. Please update when you get back. My fingers and toes are crossed for you!

Well, the drama continues. As I continue to heal physically, I've begun to deteriorate mentally and emotionally. Last week I had so many meltdowns that I finally decided I needed to seek out some professional help. I went to my first cancer patient support group. It was helpful. This week I go to my first one on one couseling session. I am hoping and praying these steps help me regain what used to be my normal personality. I've become an insecure, frightened and needy person who always seems to be on the verge of tears. While I realize this cancer has changed me physically, I never realized it would change me so much as a person. I long for the days when I was a confident, self sufficient person. Please tell me there is still hope for me to regain some of the "me" that used to be.

I recall the day vividly when I had that awful diagnosis. It is now two and a half years later and after many months in a nursing home I am now home and doing well. I am surviving very well without all my lower organs. Hang in there. It CAN be done. Humans are amazingly adaptable to all situations. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. I have been through it all.

More complaining coming your way. Since my last post I've been put on zoloft for my depression and xanax too. I feel like I'm falling down a dark hole and sometimes wonder how the heck I'm gonna get through the day. Before the cancer, I was such a capable, even keel person. I feel like I'm fighting for not only my life, but also for who I am.

I am proud of you for addressing these emotional symptoms and doing something about it! You should pat yourself on the back because many people don't try to better their lives and attitude and just push it away. I think that you are an extremely brave soul and can definitely overcome this! We're here for ya, don't give up.

I felt the same way but finally did tell them. What did you end up doing?

Well, I am happy to report that the zoloft and the counseling have helped me tremendously. I am doing so much better emotionally now. Thank God these things worked. I just started my 2nd round of chemo. I'm doing 4 months of Xeloda. The first few days were fine, but the queasiness caught up with me today. Hopefully I can control it with the meds. I'm still taking pain meds, but I have been able to cut the amount in half in the last few weeks. Gosh, when does the pain go away?

Anxiety happens when people are under stress. A cancer diagnosis is a BIG STRESSOR. I'm sorry. It is very difficult to hear the words , "you have cancer". Please know that cancer can be cured and you don't have to be alone during your treatment. I've been a registered nurse for 37 years and my specialty is cancer nursing. Some form of anxiety hits almost every one when they are told they have cancer.
The first thing I suggest is to take a deep breath. It sounds simple but people have studied what a good old fashioned deep breath can do for your mind and body. A deep breath can help reverse the physical effects of anxiety on your body.
You can take a deep breath right now and anywhere"026 any time. So take a deep breath and blow out to the count of 6. With the next breath, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth (like you are blowing up a balloon) to the count of 6. Take more time breathing out than in. You can think of it as blowing away the stress. As you breathe out let your shoulders come down away from your ears.
Then call your doctor or cancer center and ask to speak to a cancer counselor. Where I work we also have a stress management therapist. I often recommend both, especially to begin with. They can help you through your entire treatment course and afterwards, too.
Talk to your doctor about your feelings of anxiety and what it is doing to you. Doctors are familiar with this and your doctor may prescribe something that may help you.
Please remember you are not alone and you don't need to go through treatment with out a whole bunch of help. Get to know your cancer team. The doctors, nurses and social workers/counselors are there for you.
Wishing you well. You are in my prayers.
http://www.thecancernurse.com

I pray that God would touch your body and give you relief.and give up the red meat,sugar and dairy products it will be hard to but you can and you will feel better