9th June 2006
thanks to all of you for posting, CD, hiswife, and Phil.
You guys are so right, chemo is a personal choice. I've talked with three different onocologist, one the leading guy for the east coast, or at least I am told that by everyone, he's mentioned in a few colon cancer books I've read too. He stated that I was in a gray-matter area, because of my age, the fact that it's genetic, and the fact that it's stage II without going to the lymph nodes, he can't really tell me whether or not chemo would benefit me or not down the road. He stated that if it were him, he would go through a 6 month regimen, they all have said the same thing, I am not the typical cancer patient, age, family hx, etc., and I am sure you guys might hear the same thing. The dh has set in and I am going frequently. I have been taking immodium and what not and that has kind of helped, but the burning is back-Phil-I know you know what I am talking about-it's almost an antiseptic type burning around the area, like if you were to put alcohol or something on an open sore. I keep applying the vaseline, that's the only thing that helps, A&D oniment seems to make it worse.
I went back Thursday, they called me and told me that my labs came back out of wack-the labs they took before I started the first dose of chemo-and my potassium, calcium, everything was low. I thought I was going to have to get fluids too, but they didn't give them to me, my H&H went up, since they gave me the aranesp shot on Monday instead of procrit-so I can get it every two weeks, I will have to go back Monday for another round of blood work. Ironically, I didn't mind being stuck, and I don't mind the little pain of the needle going in the port, but when they draw blood out of that thing, it grosses me out so much for some reason.
Today I feel better than I have all week, I have lost 6 pounds, and the tingling is gone, and so is the sensitivity to cold for the most part, but my joints ache so, my knees and hips mainly.
I just wonder, how many people that have had genetic HNPCC have benefited from chemotherapy? I have a tendency to be realistic, to the point of negativity sometimes and it's not good-here's my go-if it's in my genes I can't do anything about that, if it comes back it will come back in the rectum, what's left of my large intestine, however, the doc stated there is a 5-10% chance of that, which is darn good, however, since everyone in my family that has had this-my mom, her brother, sister, father, and other sister, all of them have passed-but they did not have this total colectomy that I had done, so I just wonder, when and if it's going to come back. I sometimes feel like I am waiting for it to happen again :rolleyes: I know that's horrible when so many of you out there are going through much more than I am, that I complain about this complacent little things. I think chemo makes me depressed too-since it leaves me helpless and I have no control over it's symptoms.
Okay, I am going to stop ranting now. CD-I think I am going to look into the disability with Advantage if I continue chemo, I've talked with my partner, she wants me to continue, she states if it will prolong my life and help me, she wants me to do it so I am here with her another day, however, I don't know-we will both have to discuss this togheter.
Hiswife-Larry is still having some of the symptomatic complications from the chemo I assume from what you've posted. My aunt, through marriage, had breast cancer, she underwent chemo and it was really rough for her, she still has the nerve and ligament damage and is on daily pain medication and management for the long-term damage. This is also a consideration I must think about. I hope things start looking up for Larry soon with the swelling and what not.
Phil-I am glad to hear you're doing well for the most part, but try not to over do it, heck, I might be under-doing it.
You guys are so right, chemo is a personal choice. I've talked with three different onocologist, one the leading guy for the east coast, or at least I am told that by everyone, he's mentioned in a few colon cancer books I've read too. He stated that I was in a gray-matter area, because of my age, the fact that it's genetic, and the fact that it's stage II without going to the lymph nodes, he can't really tell me whether or not chemo would benefit me or not down the road. He stated that if it were him, he would go through a 6 month regimen, they all have said the same thing, I am not the typical cancer patient, age, family hx, etc., and I am sure you guys might hear the same thing. The dh has set in and I am going frequently. I have been taking immodium and what not and that has kind of helped, but the burning is back-Phil-I know you know what I am talking about-it's almost an antiseptic type burning around the area, like if you were to put alcohol or something on an open sore. I keep applying the vaseline, that's the only thing that helps, A&D oniment seems to make it worse.
I went back Thursday, they called me and told me that my labs came back out of wack-the labs they took before I started the first dose of chemo-and my potassium, calcium, everything was low. I thought I was going to have to get fluids too, but they didn't give them to me, my H&H went up, since they gave me the aranesp shot on Monday instead of procrit-so I can get it every two weeks, I will have to go back Monday for another round of blood work. Ironically, I didn't mind being stuck, and I don't mind the little pain of the needle going in the port, but when they draw blood out of that thing, it grosses me out so much for some reason.
Today I feel better than I have all week, I have lost 6 pounds, and the tingling is gone, and so is the sensitivity to cold for the most part, but my joints ache so, my knees and hips mainly.
I just wonder, how many people that have had genetic HNPCC have benefited from chemotherapy? I have a tendency to be realistic, to the point of negativity sometimes and it's not good-here's my go-if it's in my genes I can't do anything about that, if it comes back it will come back in the rectum, what's left of my large intestine, however, the doc stated there is a 5-10% chance of that, which is darn good, however, since everyone in my family that has had this-my mom, her brother, sister, father, and other sister, all of them have passed-but they did not have this total colectomy that I had done, so I just wonder, when and if it's going to come back. I sometimes feel like I am waiting for it to happen again :rolleyes: I know that's horrible when so many of you out there are going through much more than I am, that I complain about this complacent little things. I think chemo makes me depressed too-since it leaves me helpless and I have no control over it's symptoms.
Okay, I am going to stop ranting now. CD-I think I am going to look into the disability with Advantage if I continue chemo, I've talked with my partner, she wants me to continue, she states if it will prolong my life and help me, she wants me to do it so I am here with her another day, however, I don't know-we will both have to discuss this togheter.
Hiswife-Larry is still having some of the symptomatic complications from the chemo I assume from what you've posted. My aunt, through marriage, had breast cancer, she underwent chemo and it was really rough for her, she still has the nerve and ligament damage and is on daily pain medication and management for the long-term damage. This is also a consideration I must think about. I hope things start looking up for Larry soon with the swelling and what not.
Phil-I am glad to hear you're doing well for the most part, but try not to over do it, heck, I might be under-doing it.