Hi Donelle

[Guest guest]

Donelle,

Sorry about the blank reply, I hit enter instead of tab, and off my email went

without any text.

I appreciate the welcome you have extended to me from the group.

My wife's name is Debbie, We have been married for almost 14 years. We have two

children Tyler, our son is 12, and a 10 year old daughter, . I am a

firefighter/paramedic and I work in a dental lab on my off days from the

station(24hrs on 48 hrs off.) Debbie is a full time mom, and a great one too.

We live about 20 miles south of Birmingham, Alabama. Debbie is getting her

treatment at University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham. We are very fortunate

to be so close, we see so many people in the clinic that have traveled from all

over Alabama, and beyond.

Where are you?

I am so glad that I found this group, It is nice to chat with people that

understand where you are in your life, without feeling like you may be imposing.

I wish the best for you and Glenn,

Mike

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

In a message dated 7/20/2005 9:25:04 PM Eastern Standard Time,

mikee4420@... writes:

Hi,

My name is mike, my wife has crc. I found and joined this group a few

days ago.

she is 44. She had an abdominal hysterectomy on 4/8/05, and the

pathology report came back with malignancy that was later determined

to be colon cancer. primary tumor was in transverse colon, and was

softball size. resection was done on 4/15/05 the tumor involved the

omentum, which was also removed.

mets in lungs, and liver. After the resection CEA was 72.

Chemotherapy was started on 5/13/05 she is taking avastin,

oxaliplatin, and xeloda. she is now 5 days into her 4th treatment and

her CEA is now 27.

she is very determined, and has tolerated the treatment very well.

there has been nausea despite emend,zofran,and anzamet. she has drank

diet canada dry ginger ale by the case(room temperature of

course),chewed on crystalized ginger(which she says really helps

sometimes) the emend and zofran really seem to help for the first

week, but the second is tough for her she says that the anzamet

doesn't seem to do anything for her.

As far as the Oxaliplatin goes, she has the cold sensitivity that last

for about 10 days (she was told 3-4 initially) and she has an odd

neuropathy that her onc said she had never heard of, her eyes feel

like they are being shocked if she cries for about one week after the

infusion. She also has a shocking, pin-prick like sensation when she

first taste anything. the sensation stops after having thae food/drink

in her mouth for 20-30 seconds, and then doesn't return untill she

starts eating something else.

We were both blindsided by this, and even now after more than 3 months

it doesn't seem real.

Hope this helps someone. please feel free to write me direct with any

questions you have, but please use mikee442xx@... (remove the xx)

Mike

Welcome to our group Mike and wife..so very sorry you had to find us for the

reason you did, but so very glad you found us!!! We are here with lots of

info (check out the main webpage and databases for tons of info). You are

free to vent, cry, scream...whatever you need to do and we'll be here for you!!

Maybe your wife would like to join in, too.

" Blindsided " ...what a great word!! I think many of us were blindsided by

this disease...many with no former family history of the disease and many with

not even an inkling that a Cancer might be growing inside our bodies!!!

There are patients on the list, as well as caregivers and SURVIVORS, so you

have come to the right place, Mike. The patients are awesome FIGHTERS, and

the caregivers FIGHT in their own awesome battles. Glad to have you with us.

You and your wife will be added to our daily prayer list!! What is your

wife's name if you don't mind telling us. Also, feel free to tell us more

about

yourself and your family... we like the fun stuff, too!!!

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn

Colon resection 6/03 removing 9 in. of colon including cancerous tumore and

3 of 22 removed lymph nodes were also cancerous.

Infection set in at surgical site...Open wound for 2 months, chemo for 8

months

Mets to Liver found 4/04, inoperable; one tumor too close to artery and vein

Chemo infiltration to chest 8/04 with severe side effects including severe

pain and muscle damage (permanent??)

10/04 Severe lower ab pain unable to eat, colon shut down, hospitalization

w/morphine 8 days. Sent home with basically no diagnosis. Possibly the cancer

causing the pain.

Ascites (Fluid build-up) and Paracentesis (draining) on a regular weekly

basis

11/09/04 on 5FU/Leu/Oxaliplatin/Avastin " cocktails " 46 hr. infusions

Mid Dec. 04 - CT. Scan shows largest tumor on liver has reduced 1/3,

remaining 11 tumors stable; no growth. Chemo is working...Yippee!!

02/05 Continued bi-wkly Ascites and Paracentesis may mean chemo no longer

working.

Emergency CT. Scan performed. Tumors are reducing in size, some as much as

half!!! Chemo is working!!!

Found a blot clot in the vein going in to the liver!!! Waiting for MRI so

GI Dr. can decide to treat with meds or surgery. Onc. now believes the blood

clot is reason for the continuing Ascites.

March 04...Lovamax shots nightly to dissolve the clot and open the portal

vein going in to the liver, hoping the liver will function more normally.

Still not sure if blood clot or tumor. Why? No answers.

ICU hospitalization twice..total of 9 days out of 14 for varices bleeding in

the esophogus. No chemo now for 6 wks. Drs., Liver specialists, and GI

specialists working on a plan. Ascites is doing more damage than chemo to

Glenn's

body. Have to " take a chance " (Drs. words) and do the shunt surgery and

very SOON!!

" Chemo Vacation " to build up Glenn's body for whatever!!!

Liver Spec. does not agree with GI Dr. re: shunt surgery...now what??

TRYING TO KICK BUTT with this darn disease!!!