Guest guest Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 In a message dated 11/28/2005 7:12:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, luvmydane3@... writes: Hi All, Am just wondering how you all stay so positive? I go for my CT scan on December 12 and this will be four months from the liver surgery for the mets. I am having quite a time staying positive about this whole cancer experience. I have even made my mind up that if the cancer returns I will not do any more chemo. Not sure if this is a common reaction but it helps me cope to think that I won't have to go through that again. Any advice on how to redirct my negative thoughts into positive ones? Many thanks, Sue Sue.... just take one day at a time, pray, try not to dwell on it (stay busy doing other " stuff " )...pray...we can't stay positive all the time...it's impossible, but when you find yourself thinking bad thoughts, actively try to get busy doing something else...think about something happy....a reason you'd like to stay among us... a loved one who needs you... Try not to think about " IFs " until it's time to make a decision.... and I'm sending tons of positive thoughts your way... and lots of hugs!!!! Lots of hugs and prayers, Donelle Caregiver to Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 It is so difficult sometimes to stay positive. I also had surgery then chemo and then mets and a second cancer was found. I had chemo again that worked pretty well but not completely. I started my third batch of chemo and it has kicked my butt. The first session of cpt-11 was not bad but the second was horrible. I am still sick 2 weeks from treatment. The diarrhea and vomiting have been awful. I had to go twice for fluids then went for a head ct because the dr thought I had brain mets I was so sick. I lost 12 lbs so far. I am able to eat a bit now but still have the diar. and occassional vomiting. I am due for another treatment next week and do not know if I will do it. I want to move near my family but can't get packed if I am so sick. My 15yo just moved out to be with her father. That was a hard thing to do but it is for the best. I want to liquidate my household but need to be stronger to do that. I am positive, I do not think I am ready to go yet but when you get so sick it is hard to keep thinking that way. Prayer and faith help tremendously. So does hearing how gracious others on the list are like Narice and Donnell. They give me tremendous strength. Thank you all. Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 28, 2005 Report Share Posted November 28, 2005 Jane, My heart goes to you with the hard decisions you are trying to make. Have you discussed this with your onc to see if he/she feels that this new chemo is worth all the stress it is putting on you? I am sending up extra Prayers for you. Love, Ingrid > > It is so difficult sometimes to stay positive. I also had surgery then > chemo and then mets and a second cancer was found. I had chemo again > that worked pretty well but not completely. I started my third batch > of chemo and it has kicked my butt. The first session of cpt-11 was > not bad but the second was horrible. I am still sick 2 weeks from > treatment. The diarrhea and vomiting have been awful. I had to go > twice for fluids then went for a head ct because the dr thought I had > brain mets I was so sick. I lost 12 lbs so far. I am able to eat a > bit now but still have the diar. and occassional vomiting. I am due > for another treatment next week and do not know if I will do it. I > want to move near my family but can't get packed if I am so sick. My > 15yo just moved out to be with her father. That was a hard thing to do > but it is for the best. I want to liquidate my household but need to > be stronger to do that. I am positive, I do not think I am ready to go > yet but when you get so sick it is hard to keep thinking that way. > Prayer and faith help tremendously. So does hearing how gracious > others on the list are like Narice and Donnell. They give me > tremendous strength. Thank you all. > > Jane > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 In a message dated 11/29/2005 9:50:32 AM Eastern Standard Time, milyandtheworld@... writes: Hi Jane, Why did your doctor think you may had brain mets? What are the signs of having brain mets, from colon cancer ? Does any one know? Jane, I am so glad you did not have any brain mets. And I am so sorry you have been having such a hard time. Can you get any social assistance? I am praying for you to get better. love, lydia Many patients have no or minimal symptoms related to the tumor, and their metastases are found during a routine medical evaluation. If there are symptoms, they depend on the site involved. Brain metastases may cause headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea or other symptoms related to the nervous system. Diagnosis of Brain Metastases Studies may include head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and head CT (computed tomography) scanning. Treatment of Brain Metastases The treatment of brain metastases depends on factors such as the tumor of origin, the number and location of lesions within the brain and the extent of cancer in places other than the brain. Radiotherapy is the primary treatment for brain metastases. Cranial irradiation provides palliation to the large majority of patients. Higher doses may be considered for patients whose systemic metastases are controlled. Steroids are usually administered with radiotherapy in patients with symptoms due to brain metastases; steroids are sometimes administered with radiotherapy in asymptomatic patients. Surgical treatment of brain metastases is limited to a few situations, such as diagnosis in patients with obvious primary tumor. Emergency craniotomy to relieve increased intracranial pressure is sometimes life-saving. In most cases, however, treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (dexamethasone in particular) may eliminate the need for such surgery. In the rare patient with presentation of a resectable tumor and single brain metastasis, surgical resection of the solitary brain lesion is indicated with appropriate postoperative chemotherapy and/or irradiation of the primary tumor site, and postoperative whole-brain irradiation. Chemotherapy has a limited role in treating brain metastases. Many chemotherapy drugs do not cross the blood-brain barrier but can reach malignant tumors in the brain, presumably through a local breakdown in the blood-brain barrier. In some chemotherapy-sensitive tumors like lymphoma, testicular carcinoma, small cell lung cancer, and breast carcinoma, chemotherapy can produce complete radiographic remissions, but its eventual place as a solitary therapy is still under evaluation. Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Brain Metastases Do any tests need to be done to determine what kind of cancer is involved and/or its origin? What treatment do you recommend? How soon will you start treatment and how long will it last? What are the side effects of them treatments? What is the success rate of the treatment? Will you be prescribing any medications? What are the side effects? Will surgery be considered? If so, what can be expected from surgery? What is the prognosis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2005 Report Share Posted November 29, 2005 Hi All, Thanks for the replies and suggestions and encouragement. I feel guilty about complaining about my upcoming CT scan after reading all the stories and what all of you are going through or have been through. I want to stay here and am hoping that I will get myself in an attitude that is more positive than it is now so that maybe I can help someone else that is faced with this dreaded disease. I do have a family that has been there for me every step of the way and I am so thankful for that. I have been in counseling and am on medication so I am trying my best to learn how to live with the ups and downs of a cancer diagnosis. Thanks for listening and am keeping all of you in my prayers. Sue > > It is so difficult sometimes to stay positive. I also had surgery then > chemo and then mets and a second cancer was found. I had chemo again > that worked pretty well but not completely. I started my third batch > of chemo and it has kicked my butt. The first session of cpt-11 was > not bad but the second was horrible. I am still sick 2 weeks from > treatment. The diarrhea and vomiting have been awful. I had to go > twice for fluids then went for a head ct because the dr thought I had > brain mets I was so sick. I lost 12 lbs so far. I am able to eat a > bit now but still have the diar. and occassional vomiting. I am due > for another treatment next week and do not know if I will do it. I > want to move near my family but can't get packed if I am so sick. My > 15yo just moved out to be with her father. That was a hard thing to do > but it is for the best. I want to liquidate my household but need to > be stronger to do that. I am positive, I do not think I am ready to go > yet but when you get so sick it is hard to keep thinking that way. > Prayer and faith help tremendously. So does hearing how gracious > others on the list are like Narice and Donnell. They give me > tremendous strength. Thank you all. > > Jane > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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