Update for Deb's Sam

[Guest guest]

Hi, everyone. Welcome new members; sorry you have this dreaded

disease. Those who had good news recently, we share your joy. Those

who are hurting, we share your pain. Phil and Glenn, God bless you

and give you comfort. May God give your wife, children and families

patience to endure this. To those who are suffering silently, we

pray for you, too.

We are all just taking it day by day. It seems a lot of our dreams

have been dashed. But there's no time to feel sorry. We just have to

go with what we have.

Now that Sam's surgery, chemo and radiation are over, maybe things

will be ok. Not great, but ok. Thank you for your prayers. We are

praying for all of you. Take care.

~Deb from KS

wife and caregiver to Sam

colonoscopy 8-19-2005

tubular tumor was blocking the colon by 50 per cent

CEA prior to surgery 3.9

lap surgery on 8-26-05 but opened up to get hand in there

Rectosigmoid, low anterior colon resection (6 days in hospital)

removed 22 x 8 cm. sigmoid and adjacent rectum (approx. 8 inches)

adenocarcinoma size 6 x 5 x 2.5 cm

14 lymph nodes -- no evidence of metastatic tumor Woohoo!

T3 N0 MX

6 weeks of rest after surgery

portacath implanted 10-07-05 -- very sore chest for two days

chemotherapy began 10-10-05

chemo pump for 5 weeks -- 5fu and fanny pack

radiation began 10-12-05

drives himself to chemo refills and radiation treatments!

after two weeks of chemo/radiation: tired, nausea, mouth sores

skin darkening on hands, forehead and neck

rectal bleeding begins after radiation #11

after third week, mouth sores hurt and he doesn't want to eat

got gelclair -- mix with water to gargle, stops pain in mouth

bloody nose, hair loss, restless legs, easily gets angry

too sick, chemo stopped for one week break, but radiation continues

using Aquaphor cream and suppository with Lidocaine in it

radiation did not stop but skipped Wednesday for one day break

started on Fentanyl 25 mcg pain patch that lasts for 3 days

went to the 50 mcg patch for better pain management

for breakthrough pain he takes Tylenol #3

learning to use Imodium so that he can go shopping

chemo pump removed 11-21-05 Woohoo!

beginning to feel better with the chemo finished!

portacath remains for 1 year

finished 32 sessions of radiation 11-30-05 Woohoo!

feels happy this is over, thank God!

radiation doctor said side effects will last two more weeks

Next step: 2 week checkup 12-14-05 & 6 week checkup 1-11-06