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REB Moderator

Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 450 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:59 am Post subject: Re: Dulcimergal |
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Denise, even though I felt lousy at the time, I still felt great getting that last treatment.
Congrats! One more treatment  _________________ 10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor & Temporary Colostomy
11-07-07 - 04-09-08 FOLFOX regimen and Avastin.
04-28-08 Colostomy Reversal
06-02-09 3 Tumors in the adipose tissue.
06-23-09 Start FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
10-26-09 Tumors gone.
11-25-09 Finish FOLFIRI, continue ERBITUX
01-27-10 Tumors in Liver and Adrenal Gland
01-28-10 start FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
Age Diagnosed 40. Current Age:43 |
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DulcimerGal Senior User

Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 217 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: Dulcimergal |
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Hey gang!
Had my CAT scan this morning, yuk - this one was the worst yet. I guess the first one I had was last February, as part of the diagnosis to see if I had more than just the rectal cancer, this was pre chemo,radiation, surgery etc. Then I had another when I had that abscess after my surgery - but then I had the ileostomy in place for the after-effects. This time - wow - I have not stopped going to the bathroom since I "drank the Kool-aid!"
I mean the barium drink of course - I got vanilla this time - two containers of the stuff - but I was running to the bathroom after drinking it even before they hooked me up to the IV for the scan .......and then after - I was just looking for a bathroom all the way home. My poor husband - I'm glad I took him with me - I was originally just going to go alone - wow - I'm glad he came!
I had planned to go shopping afterwards....well - had to scrap that fun plan - now I'm nursing the wood stove, feeling sorry for myself and looking for my aloe vera stuff with the numbing agent
MY BUTT IS SORE!!!
Stop laughing you guys - you're supposed to give me support and comfort.......!!!
Have to wait until next Friday for the Oncologist appointment to get the results...though I will probably call next week. Sure hope this stuff clears out of me soon, I have to go on a road trip Sunday - Wednesday for work....
Oh well - c'est la Vie!
Denise - love the Avatar! You sound like you are doing pretty well too.
REB - how are you doing today after your scan? Do you have problems like me? I sure hope the gallbladder thing works out ok for you.
Mike - 7 of 12 sessions is probably ok and enough to keep the cancer at bay. Do you have any plans for more chemo?
My surgeon said he will do another colonoscopy at one year after the surgery, so that will be June.
Cheers for now
DulcimerGal _________________ Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th 2008
Colostomy Reversal August 20th 2008
Five rounds of Xeloda (chemo) to ZAP anything left! |
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REB Moderator

Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 450 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: Dulcimergal |
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My scan went okay. On my PET scans they give me a shot of radioactive sugar, so I don't drink anything.
Monday is my CAT scan. I do get to drink the barium on that one...fun  _________________ 10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor & Temporary Colostomy
11-07-07 - 04-09-08 FOLFOX regimen and Avastin.
04-28-08 Colostomy Reversal
06-02-09 3 Tumors in the adipose tissue.
06-23-09 Start FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
10-26-09 Tumors gone.
11-25-09 Finish FOLFIRI, continue ERBITUX
01-27-10 Tumors in Liver and Adrenal Gland
01-28-10 start FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
Age Diagnosed 40. Current Age:43 |
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DulcimerGal Senior User

Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 217 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: Dulcimergal |
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You know REB - I pushed my Doctor to answer my questions about PET scans the last two times I've been for visits.....they have never given me one, nor do they plan to as both my surgeon and oncologist say the CAT scan and blood tests are enough of an early indicator for spread.
It worries me though as I see many folks on the forum getting them. Do you think it depends on the stage we are first diagnosed with? Should I push harder and insist on one? I am fairly sure my insurance would cover it if the Doc orders it.
I just worry that I am missing out on something I really should insist they do for me. Plus you are getting them every three months - that is really something and you should be happy with how proactive your team is. I am happy with my team too, but cautious as it is really early days yet....
Cheers, hope everything goes well with your next test
DulcimerGal _________________ Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th 2008
Colostomy Reversal August 20th 2008
Five rounds of Xeloda (chemo) to ZAP anything left! |
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mike3 Regular

Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 29
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject: Re: Dulcimergal |
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I had pet and cat at the same time, well first one then the other but all the sametime. I had to drink and have the shot both. I have had 2 pet/cat scans so far and both the same deal.
No more chemo in less something bad happens. I have to ask about removing my port next appointment. (couple weeks)
My hands and feet are pretty bad. It hurts to walk some times and the more I walk the worse it gets. O well.. K sir ra sir ra.
Hang in there everybody
Mike
It was about 4 weeks after chemo when I had the pet/cat scan. _________________ Rectal Cancer Diagnosed May 30th 08
Stage II, Surgery June 18th
6 weeks of Radiation and 6 Months of Chemo to follow. |
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REB Moderator

Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 450 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 8:30 am Post subject: Re: Dulcimergal |
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Cancer tumors gobble up sugar. They hog it. A PET scan takes advantage of this. When doing one, you don't eat or drink anything (except water) at least 6 hours before. This gets the blood sugar down and makes the cancer cells very hungry.
They inject a radioactive sugar solution. The cancer cells gobble it up and glow brightly on the PET scan.
I would demand one. _________________ 10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor & Temporary Colostomy
11-07-07 - 04-09-08 FOLFOX regimen and Avastin.
04-28-08 Colostomy Reversal
06-02-09 3 Tumors in the adipose tissue.
06-23-09 Start FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
10-26-09 Tumors gone.
11-25-09 Finish FOLFIRI, continue ERBITUX
01-27-10 Tumors in Liver and Adrenal Gland
01-28-10 start FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
Age Diagnosed 40. Current Age:43 |
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pam51255 Regular
Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Posts: 25 Location: Richmond, Virginia
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 8:20 pm Post subject: Pet Scan |
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My Doc doesn't think I need a Pet scan, as I've asked several times. He said the Ct scan and blood work is enough.
I have 8 more chemo treatments, then hopefully my illestomy reversal. _________________ Rectal Cancer stage III diagnosed May 8, 2008
Surgery June 5, 2008(Didn't get it all)
Xeloda/radiation 6 weeks
2nd surgery & Ileostomy Sept. 25, 2008
6 months chemo Nov. 17th,-May 14th 2009
Enlarged Spleen
reversal Oct. 12, 2009
Age 54 NED |
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denise1966 Regular

Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Michigan
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:59 am Post subject: Dulcimergal |
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| Has anyone heard from Dulcimergal? I was wondering how her CT scan went. |
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brainman Site Admin

Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 5976 Location: Tennessee
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DulcimerGal Senior User

Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 217 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 10:24 pm Post subject: Re: Dulcimergal |
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Hi everyone,
Thanks for asking about me Denise - I got the results and the Doc says No Cancer is present.
I am going to call him back this week as I have more questions - you know how it is - you think of stuff after you leave the office......
The path report (which he gave me) says I have a 3mm hypodense lesion in the posterior segment of the right hepatic lobe - too small to characterize and another 3mm one in the left lobe. I have the same thing in my kidney - only that one is 4mm - described the same way.
Has anyone else had these? Could they turn cancerous in the future?
The path report also says there is plaque like soft tissue density in the right hemipelvis which could represent a tumor recurrence..My doctor was certain this was left over from the abscess I had - fluid that did not drain and turned into this tissue.
This is what he was going to look at further and why I am calling him back. They compared this CT scan to the one I had one year ago when I was diagnosed. Doc wants to get a hold of the one they did in August after they drained the abscess.
I feel great and am getting back into regular excercise!
This Wednesday I fly to San Francisco to see my son - I am so excited! Much better than my last year birthday - when I finally called all my family and told them about the cancer.
Hope things are going well for you too. How about an update?
Cheers
DulicmerGal _________________ Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th 2008
Colostomy Reversal August 20th 2008
Five rounds of Xeloda (chemo) to ZAP anything left! |
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REB Moderator

Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 450 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:52 am Post subject: Re: Dulcimergal |
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Cancer free... that is great news  _________________ 10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor & Temporary Colostomy
11-07-07 - 04-09-08 FOLFOX regimen and Avastin.
04-28-08 Colostomy Reversal
06-02-09 3 Tumors in the adipose tissue.
06-23-09 Start FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
10-26-09 Tumors gone.
11-25-09 Finish FOLFIRI, continue ERBITUX
01-27-10 Tumors in Liver and Adrenal Gland
01-28-10 start FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
Age Diagnosed 40. Current Age:43 |
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Darwin Senior User

Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Perth, Western Australia
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 6:58 am Post subject: Re: Dulcimergal |
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WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is simply fantastic news. I am sooooooooooooo happy for you  _________________ In Perth Western australia - Ex husband's diagnosis was January 2006, stage IV bowel cancer with mets to liver and lungs. March 2006 Bowel re-section, then two+ years of continuous chemo, folfox then folfirri with two years of Avastin. Then MAX chemo. Had radiation to pelvic area and radioactive SIRT spheres injected through the portal vein into the liver. Prognosis 22 months he lived for 36 months and did a few very long road trips in that time which he enjoyed. |
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sheila Senior User
Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 479
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:16 am Post subject: Re: Dulcimergal |
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Dulcimergal-thats great news ! its a relieving feeling to hear someone getting their life back to less worries. Im happy for you Im sure this new appreciation of life will make your future an even brighter place. Congatulations on your strength and courage. wishing you a wonderfull future.  |
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denise1966 Regular

Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Michigan
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:54 pm Post subject: Dulcimergal |
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Dulcimergal,
Congratulations!!! I'm so happy for you!!! It must feel great to get back into "normal" life and start exercising and all those good things.
I finished my 12th round of chemo last friday and I need to make my appointment for my CT scan for the end of this month...nerves are already kicking in!! But, I'm only thinking good thoughts.
Have fun in San Francisco!!
Hugs,
Denise |
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johannabubela Experienced user
Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Posts: 72
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Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:02 am Post subject: Re: Dulcimergal |
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Yay! I'm so happy for you!
Take care!
Johanna |
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