Re: Re: new to this....

[Guest guest]

Ingrid said it well. The chemo can be difficult as it is for me but it is

worth it if it kills the cancer cells. I am sick for 7 days and then slowly

recover to the point of actually feeling well and then they blast me again. I

am on FOLFOX (Oxaliplatin/Leucovorin (sp?), 5FU) plus Avastin. However, I

am stage 4 meaning that it my colon cancer spread beyond the colon, in my case

into the liver and other organs. It sounds like your liver is clear (this

is where it likes to go) which puts you way ahead of the game. However, you

need to call now and get your pathology report. Your oncologist has it as

does your surgeon and you should be able to have it faxed to you the same day.

Also, you can go through your hospital to get it but it will take longer and

you will have to complete a request for medical records. This report will

tell you the status of your disease; i.e., number of lymphs involved, etc.

They know your stage of disease now and you should be told. Let us know what

you learn. We are here to support you.

in California

In a message dated 11/13/2005 6:34:24 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,

lowenco@... writes:

Hi, Sorry you have had to go through this. You will get through this.

What stage are you?

I agree you need to get your pathology report. Your Onc will

discuss all with you in detail. He will tell you what chemo drugs

would be best for you and what to expect. Most of the time they will

put you on a chemo treatment called Folfox. You get chemo every other

week. The side effects are tolerable. Now a days they give you lots

of drugs to keep from feeling sick. I finished my chemo last April. I

was stage three. You get tired when on chemo but alot depends on the

your body. All people are different. Some even work through out thier

chemo. Others do not telerate it well and get to feeling very tired

and sick. Everyone is diffeent. Most do just fine on chemo. You have

to look at it as to better your chances of the cancer not coming

back.

I know right now you have a lot of scared thoughts. That is quite

normal. This is why we have this support group. To offer support and

to help with questions that you may have. Most here have gone through

what you are going through. Please come back and post and tell us

more about yourself. You will find the people here very caring and

willing to help. Hope this helps you. Ingrid

>

> i was diagnosed with colon cancer on october 20th....had surgery on

> the 24th....got out of the hospital on the 31st....and am scheduled

to

> see my oncologist on the 21st of this month. the surgeon told me

he

> thinks he got it all, but there were microscopic cancer cells found

in

> nearby lymphnodes. he didn't give me the details of the pathology

> report and i expect to get that on the 21st. he did however,

> indicate he thought i'd be starting a 'light' chemo treatment

> beginning soon after the 24th of this month.

>

> i have a lot of unknowns floating through my head...and a lot of

> unanswered questions. i'm sure i'll get most of them answered

when i

> see my oncologist but it would still help to hear how many of you

have

> gotten through all of this.

>

> thank you!

>