Re: Newbie intro/

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/7/2005 3:57:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, montemomm

a2002@... writes:

Hi I am in NC.My dad had emergency surgery 3 weeks ago for a

tumor that obstructed the colon.It was as big as his fist and it was

cancer -stage 2 B I think ,If I remember right.He removed 12 inches

of colon and 12 inches of small intestine.The tumor was at the top

of the colon, growing into the small intestine.The good news , the

margins were clear and the lymph nodes were free from cancer.The

surgeon beleives he got it all....However the surgeon is almost

positive the oncologist will recomend chemo and he will need a port.

Here is our delema. He are trying to decide if Chemo is right for

him.Hes 78 years old and has always been active and vital until the

past 4 months or so.He travels and Birdwatches .He wants to know how

debilitating chemo is ,How long he will be out of commission, and

given that most men dont live past 80 years old whether it would be

worth it.

The surgeon indicated it would be a 2 year recovery from the

chemo.Is this true?how long before he would be strong enough to

resume his lifestyle.? Amazingly he is recovering from surgery very

quickly and feeling stronger every day.without chemo hewill probably

be feeling pretty good ina couple of months.If he passes on the

chemo , would this cancer come back?Couldnt anual colonoscopys catch

a reoccurrence in time to remove it?

Has anyone here had to face a similar decision?Any thoughts or

recomendations?Id appreciate allthe input we can get.

IN NC

Hi ...welcome to the group!! You will get much more info from lots of

folks, but I wanted to welcome you and tell you that we will help support you

in any way we can. We are all here for each other...some are patients, some

are caregivers and some are SURVIVORS!!!

Seems they caught your Dad's cancer fairly early....Stage 2B...no nodes

involved... thank goodness!! It's so hard to really answer these questions,

b/c

every body is soooo different and responds to surgery, treatment and recovery

equally differently. Some people after the surgery, recoup quick enough and

start chemo and continue to work through the whole thing. Others are not

that lucky.

If he decides to go with the chemo, which will lessen the chances of

recurrence, a port is really the way to go. It relieves all the destruction

that

happens when he would have to get IV's every week for each treatment.

Every one does have to make their own choices and hopefully you can support

your Dad with whatever choice he makes...do lots of research, ask lots of

questions of us and the doctors...and make them explain things to you!!! Find

out what kind of chemo they are going to give him, how often, and for how many

treatments, etc. Find out percentages of additional life after chemo and

without chemo...and I'm sure someone here can give you that info, too.

Good luck to you and your Dad....I'll add him to my prayer list if you'll

give me his name...

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/7/2005 3:57:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, montemomm

a2002@... writes:

Hi I am in NC.My dad had emergency surgery 3 weeks ago for a

tumor that obstructed the colon.It was as big as his fist and it was

cancer -stage 2 B I think ,If I remember right.He removed 12 inches

of colon and 12 inches of small intestine.The tumor was at the top

of the colon, growing into the small intestine.The good news , the

margins were clear and the lymph nodes were free from cancer.The

surgeon beleives he got it all....However the surgeon is almost

positive the oncologist will recomend chemo and he will need a port.

Here is our delema. He are trying to decide if Chemo is right for

him.Hes 78 years old and has always been active and vital until the

past 4 months or so.He travels and Birdwatches .He wants to know how

debilitating chemo is ,How long he will be out of commission, and

given that most men dont live past 80 years old whether it would be

worth it.

The surgeon indicated it would be a 2 year recovery from the

chemo.Is this true?how long before he would be strong enough to

resume his lifestyle.? Amazingly he is recovering from surgery very

quickly and feeling stronger every day.without chemo hewill probably

be feeling pretty good ina couple of months.If he passes on the

chemo , would this cancer come back?Couldnt anual colonoscopys catch

a reoccurrence in time to remove it?

Has anyone here had to face a similar decision?Any thoughts or

recomendations?Id appreciate allthe input we can get.

IN NC

Hi ...welcome to the group!! You will get much more info from lots of

folks, but I wanted to welcome you and tell you that we will help support you

in any way we can. We are all here for each other...some are patients, some

are caregivers and some are SURVIVORS!!!

Seems they caught your Dad's cancer fairly early....Stage 2B...no nodes

involved... thank goodness!! It's so hard to really answer these questions,

b/c

every body is soooo different and responds to surgery, treatment and recovery

equally differently. Some people after the surgery, recoup quick enough and

start chemo and continue to work through the whole thing. Others are not

that lucky.

If he decides to go with the chemo, which will lessen the chances of

recurrence, a port is really the way to go. It relieves all the destruction

that

happens when he would have to get IV's every week for each treatment.

Every one does have to make their own choices and hopefully you can support

your Dad with whatever choice he makes...do lots of research, ask lots of

questions of us and the doctors...and make them explain things to you!!! Find

out what kind of chemo they are going to give him, how often, and for how many

treatments, etc. Find out percentages of additional life after chemo and

without chemo...and I'm sure someone here can give you that info, too.

Good luck to you and your Dad....I'll add him to my prayer list if you'll

give me his name...

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Sorry your dad is going thru this and I cannot answer your questions and I can't

answer your questions about the " what ifs " . I think they are all questions we

come up against here.

But I am sure you will get many answers here from others. This is definitely

the right place.

Karima

Re: Newbie intro/

In a message dated 8/7/2005 3:57:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, montemomm

a2002@... writes:

Hi I am in NC.My dad had emergency surgery 3 weeks ago for a

tumor that obstructed the colon.It was as big as his fist and it was

cancer -stage 2 B I think ,If I remember right.He removed 12 inches

of colon and 12 inches of small intestine.The tumor was at the top

of the colon, growing into the small intestine.The good news , the

margins were clear and the lymph nodes were free from cancer.The

surgeon beleives he got it all....However the surgeon is almost

positive the oncologist will recomend chemo and he will need a port.

Here is our delema. He are trying to decide if Chemo is right for

him.Hes 78 years old and has always been active and vital until the

past 4 months or so.He travels and Birdwatches .He wants to know how

debilitating chemo is ,How long he will be out of commission, and

given that most men dont live past 80 years old whether it would be

worth it.

The surgeon indicated it would be a 2 year recovery from the

chemo.Is this true?how long before he would be strong enough to

resume his lifestyle.? Amazingly he is recovering from surgery very

quickly and feeling stronger every day.without chemo hewill probably

be feeling pretty good ina couple of months.If he passes on the

chemo , would this cancer come back?Couldnt anual colonoscopys catch

a reoccurrence in time to remove it?

Has anyone here had to face a similar decision?Any thoughts or

recomendations?Id appreciate allthe input we can get.

IN NC

Hi ...welcome to the group!! You will get much more info from lots of

folks, but I wanted to welcome you and tell you that we will help support you

in any way we can. We are all here for each other...some are patients, some

are caregivers and some are SURVIVORS!!!

Seems they caught your Dad's cancer fairly early....Stage 2B...no nodes

involved... thank goodness!! It's so hard to really answer these questions,

b/c

every body is soooo different and responds to surgery, treatment and recovery

equally differently. Some people after the surgery, recoup quick enough and

start chemo and continue to work through the whole thing. Others are not

that lucky.

If he decides to go with the chemo, which will lessen the chances of

recurrence, a port is really the way to go. It relieves all the destruction

that

happens when he would have to get IV's every week for each treatment.

Every one does have to make their own choices and hopefully you can support

your Dad with whatever choice he makes...do lots of research, ask lots of

questions of us and the doctors...and make them explain things to you!!! Find

out what kind of chemo they are going to give him, how often, and for how many

treatments, etc. Find out percentages of additional life after chemo and

without chemo...and I'm sure someone here can give you that info, too.

Good luck to you and your Dad....I'll add him to my prayer list if you'll

give me his name...

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn

[Guest guest]

Thanks Donnel,

He has an appointment with the oncologist in 2 weeks.Im trying to learn as

much as I can before then.Whatever he decides Im there for him!

IN NC

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

Hi ...welcome to the group!! You will get much more info from lots of

folks, but I wanted to welcome you and tell you that we will help support you

in any way we can. We are all here for each other...some are patients, some

are caregivers and some are SURVIVORS!!!

Wilkins

http//:www.juiceplus.com/+lw55887

The Children's Research Foundation Children 6-15 FREE for 3 years

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Karima,

Thanks for the welcome,

IN NC

Barbara Gari karima1@...> wrote:

Hi ,

Sorry your dad is going thru this and I cannot answer your questions and I can't

answer your questions about the " what ifs " . I think they are all questions we

come up against here.

But I am sure you will get many answers here from others. This is definitely

the right place.

Karima

Re: Newbie intro/

In a message dated 8/7/2005 3:57:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, montemomm

a2002@... writes:

Hi I am in NC.My dad had emergency surgery 3 weeks ago for a

tumor that obstructed the colon.It was as big as his fist and it was

cancer -stage 2 B I think ,If I remember right.He removed 12 inches

of colon and 12 inches of small intestine.The tumor was at the top

of the colon, growing into the small intestine.The good news , the

margins were clear and the lymph nodes were free from cancer.The

surgeon beleives he got it all....However the surgeon is almost

positive the oncologist will recomend chemo and he will need a port.

Here is our delema. He are trying to decide if Chemo is right for

him.Hes 78 years old and has always been active and vital until the

past 4 months or so.He travels and Birdwatches .He wants to know how

debilitating chemo is ,How long he will be out of commission, and

given that most men dont live past 80 years old whether it would be

worth it.

The surgeon indicated it would be a 2 year recovery from the

chemo.Is this true?how long before he would be strong enough to

resume his lifestyle.? Amazingly he is recovering from surgery very

quickly and feeling stronger every day.without chemo hewill probably

be feeling pretty good ina couple of months.If he passes on the

chemo , would this cancer come back?Couldnt anual colonoscopys catch

a reoccurrence in time to remove it?

Has anyone here had to face a similar decision?Any thoughts or

recomendations?Id appreciate allthe input we can get.

IN NC

Hi ...welcome to the group!! You will get much more info from lots of

folks, but I wanted to welcome you and tell you that we will help support you

in any way we can. We are all here for each other...some are patients, some

are caregivers and some are SURVIVORS!!!

Seems they caught your Dad's cancer fairly early....Stage 2B...no nodes

involved... thank goodness!! It's so hard to really answer these questions,

b/c

every body is soooo different and responds to surgery, treatment and recovery

equally differently. Some people after the surgery, recoup quick enough and

start chemo and continue to work through the whole thing. Others are not

that lucky.

If he decides to go with the chemo, which will lessen the chances of

recurrence, a port is really the way to go. It relieves all the destruction

that

happens when he would have to get IV's every week for each treatment.

Every one does have to make their own choices and hopefully you can support

your Dad with whatever choice he makes...do lots of research, ask lots of

questions of us and the doctors...and make them explain things to you!!! Find

out what kind of chemo they are going to give him, how often, and for how many

treatments, etc. Find out percentages of additional life after chemo and

without chemo...and I'm sure someone here can give you that info, too.

Good luck to you and your Dad....I'll add him to my prayer list if you'll

give me his name...

Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle

Caregiver to Glenn

[Guest guest]

Gently said: way to go mother. God Bless her. She sure kicks my butt with the

things she does.

Prayers for her ongoing.

Karima

Re: Newbie intro/

, my mom had a rectal tumor removed last August. She turned down the

radiation as they said this would affect how she felt more (she was 84 years

old) but she did the chemo. That took a bit longer than planned as she had some

health problems during that time, not all chemo related, she had cataract

surgery, had to stop chemo for a bit, she had a heart catheritization, had

breathing problems, (she has COPD) and was in intensive care for awhile, so they

stop chemo while she was doing these other things. Her last chemo was in late

June, she is doing ok, still rather tired, but she is 85 now. Just wanted you to

know an 85 year old made it through the chemo and she's pretty frail. ~~Dianna

Wilkins montemomma2002@...> wrote:Thanks Donnel,

He has an appointment with the oncologist in 2 weeks.Im trying to learn as

much as I can before then.Whatever he decides Im there for him!

IN NC

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

Hi ...welcome to the group!! You will get much more info from lots of

folks, but I wanted to welcome you and tell you that we will help support you

in any way we can. We are all here for each other...some are patients, some

are caregivers and some are SURVIVORS!!!

Wilkins

http//:www.juiceplus.com/+lw55887

The Children's Research Foundation Children 6-15 FREE for 3 years

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

, my mom had a rectal tumor removed last August. She turned down the

radiation as they said this would affect how she felt more (she was 84 years

old) but she did the chemo. That took a bit longer than planned as she had some

health problems during that time, not all chemo related, she had cataract

surgery, had to stop chemo for a bit, she had a heart catheritization, had

breathing problems, (she has COPD) and was in intensive care for awhile, so they

stop chemo while she was doing these other things. Her last chemo was in late

June, she is doing ok, still rather tired, but she is 85 now. Just wanted you to

know an 85 year old made it through the chemo and she's pretty frail. ~~Dianna

Wilkins montemomma2002@...> wrote:Thanks Donnel,

He has an appointment with the oncologist in 2 weeks.Im trying to learn as

much as I can before then.Whatever he decides Im there for him!

IN NC

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

Hi ...welcome to the group!! You will get much more info from lots of

folks, but I wanted to welcome you and tell you that we will help support you

in any way we can. We are all here for each other...some are patients, some

are caregivers and some are SURVIVORS!!!

Wilkins

http//:www.juiceplus.com/+lw55887

The Children's Research Foundation Children 6-15 FREE for 3 years

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

, my mom had a rectal tumor removed last August. She turned down the

radiation as they said this would affect how she felt more (she was 84 years

old) but she did the chemo. That took a bit longer than planned as she had some

health problems during that time, not all chemo related, she had cataract

surgery, had to stop chemo for a bit, she had a heart catheritization, had

breathing problems, (she has COPD) and was in intensive care for awhile, so they

stop chemo while she was doing these other things. Her last chemo was in late

June, she is doing ok, still rather tired, but she is 85 now. Just wanted you to

know an 85 year old made it through the chemo and she's pretty frail. ~~Dianna

Wilkins montemomma2002@...> wrote:Thanks Donnel,

He has an appointment with the oncologist in 2 weeks.Im trying to learn as

much as I can before then.Whatever he decides Im there for him!

IN NC

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

Hi ...welcome to the group!! You will get much more info from lots of

folks, but I wanted to welcome you and tell you that we will help support you

in any way we can. We are all here for each other...some are patients, some

are caregivers and some are SURVIVORS!!!

Wilkins

http//:www.juiceplus.com/+lw55887

The Children's Research Foundation Children 6-15 FREE for 3 years

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

, my mom had a rectal tumor removed last August. She turned down the

radiation as they said this would affect how she felt more (she was 84 years

old) but she did the chemo. That took a bit longer than planned as she had some

health problems during that time, not all chemo related, she had cataract

surgery, had to stop chemo for a bit, she had a heart catheritization, had

breathing problems, (she has COPD) and was in intensive care for awhile, so they

stop chemo while she was doing these other things. Her last chemo was in late

June, she is doing ok, still rather tired, but she is 85 now. Just wanted you to

know an 85 year old made it through the chemo and she's pretty frail. ~~Dianna

Wilkins montemomma2002@...> wrote:Thanks Donnel,

He has an appointment with the oncologist in 2 weeks.Im trying to learn as

much as I can before then.Whatever he decides Im there for him!

IN NC

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

Hi ...welcome to the group!! You will get much more info from lots of

folks, but I wanted to welcome you and tell you that we will help support you

in any way we can. We are all here for each other...some are patients, some

are caregivers and some are SURVIVORS!!!

Wilkins

http//:www.juiceplus.com/+lw55887

The Children's Research Foundation Children 6-15 FREE for 3 years

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thank you Karima, we're convinced mom has 9 lives. She had pulmonary embolisms

after 2 surgeries, gall bladder removal 4 years ago and the rectal tumor last

August. She's on Coumadin for that and has high blood pressure. She actually has

been very well until the gall bladder thing 4 years ago. And she had to stop

driving then, her vision got so bad, she hated that very much. Now her hearing

is VERY bad, but she got help with that from Donelle's mom's hearing aids. Mom

is very stubborn, she wont use the aids much, but can hear alot better with

them. She also got a port, that's still there, has had numerous scans and Pet

scans and 3 colonoscopies. Been in intensive care twice since the cancer, once

with the gall bladder. When she got the heart cathertization, she says " I'm

back " even her cardiologist was amazed she got thru back, but her heart arteries

are to kill for he said. His words were " Phenomenol " . Well, anyway, I'll tell

her what you said, she'll like that, thanks alot. Hope

you feel alot better tomorrow! ~Dianna

Barbara Gari karima1@...> wrote:Gently said: way to go mother. God Bless

her. She sure kicks my butt with the things she does.

Prayers for her ongoing.

Karima

Re: Newbie intro/

, my mom had a rectal tumor removed last August. She turned down the

radiation as they said this would affect how she felt more (she was 84 years

old) but she did the chemo. That took a bit longer than planned as she had some

health problems during that time, not all chemo related, she had cataract

surgery, had to stop chemo for a bit, she had a heart catheritization, had

breathing problems, (she has COPD) and was in intensive care for awhile, so they

stop chemo while she was doing these other things. Her last chemo was in late

June, she is doing ok, still rather tired, but she is 85 now. Just wanted you to

know an 85 year old made it through the chemo and she's pretty frail. ~~Dianna

Wilkins montemomma2002@...> wrote:Thanks Donnel,

He has an appointment with the oncologist in 2 weeks.Im trying to learn as

much as I can before then.Whatever he decides Im there for him!

IN NC

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

Hi ...welcome to the group!! You will get much more info from lots of

folks, but I wanted to welcome you and tell you that we will help support you

in any way we can. We are all here for each other...some are patients, some

are caregivers and some are SURVIVORS!!!

Wilkins

http//:www.juiceplus.com/+lw55887

The Children's Research Foundation Children 6-15 FREE for 3 years

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Well I am glad you are passing along my thoughts to your mom. One person doing

it one day at a time helps to rally the rest of us when we are having a slump.

I just gotta love ya both.

Karima

Re: Newbie intro/

, my mom had a rectal tumor removed last August. She turned down the

radiation as they said this would affect how she felt more (she was 84 years

old) but she did the chemo. That took a bit longer than planned as she had some

health problems during that time, not all chemo related, she had cataract

surgery, had to stop chemo for a bit, she had a heart catheritization, had

breathing problems, (she has COPD) and was in intensive care for awhile, so they

stop chemo while she was doing these other things. Her last chemo was in late

June, she is doing ok, still rather tired, but she is 85 now. Just wanted you to

know an 85 year old made it through the chemo and she's pretty frail. ~~Dianna

Wilkins montemomma2002@...> wrote:Thanks Donnel,

He has an appointment with the oncologist in 2 weeks.Im trying to learn

as much as I can before then.Whatever he decides Im there for him!

IN NC

Grandmommyandme@... wrote:

Hi ...welcome to the group!! You will get much more info from lots of

folks, but I wanted to welcome you and tell you that we will help support

you

in any way we can. We are all here for each other...some are patients,

some

are caregivers and some are SURVIVORS!!!

Wilkins

http//:www.juiceplus.com/+lw55887

The Children's Research Foundation Children 6-15 FREE for 3 years

__________________________________________________