Cancer Support and Caregivers Who Are Trail Blazers!

Teddybear · 10-24-2019, 01:37 PM

Good afternoon Peeps

So its been a little over a week since I had surgery. I had a total colestomy. Other then feeling like I am doing a million plus crunches a day I am doing well.

The doctor wants me to shoot for no more then 5 BMs a day. Some days its ore like 5 an hour.

The path report showed out of 25 lymph nodes only 3 showed signs of cancer. Only 1 tumor left in the colon and had shrunk to around 5 cm. Liver looked good.

I start back on treatment on Nov 4. Cant wait to find out how long I will now have to be on it.

Prayers and healing light to all.

Bèsame* · 10-24-2019, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teddybear

Good afternoon Peeps

So its been a little over a week since I had surgery. I had a total colestomy. Other then feeling like I am doing a million plus crunches a day I am doing well.

The doctor wants me to shoot for no more then 5 BMs a day. Some days its ore like 5 an hour.

The path report showed out of 25 lymph nodes only 3 showed signs of cancer. Only 1 tumor left in the colon and had shrunk to around 5 cm. Liver looked good.

I start back on treatment on Nov 4. Cant wait to find out how long I will now have to be on it.

Prayers and healing light to all.

Best Update So Far!!
XOXO

clay · 10-24-2019, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teddybear

Good afternoon Peeps

So its been a little over a week since I had surgery. I had a total colestomy. Other then feeling like I am doing a million plus crunches a day I am doing well.

The doctor wants me to shoot for no more then 5 BMs a day. Some days its ore like 5 an hour.

The path report showed out of 25 lymph nodes only 3 showed signs of cancer. Only 1 tumor left in the colon and had shrunk to around 5 cm. Liver looked good.

I start back on treatment on Nov 4. Cant wait to find out how long I will now have to be on it.

Prayers and healing light to all.

That is great news! So you had a colectomy (removal of large intestine) OR a colostomy (wear a bag on outside for BM's)....the colectomy is the better of the two. I had a hemicolectomy (partial removal of my colon) & they reattached the small intestine to that half large colon.

The BM's will decrease with time, and initially there will be "urgency" with them, but that, too, will lessen. Luckily for us, with these surgeries, we will not have the "dumping syndrome"....where one eats & immediately that food is rapidly passed thru stomach to gut, interfering with absorption of minerals & nutrients. They removed my ileo cecal valve (that holds foods in bowel long enough to let natural absorption of minerals & nutrients) so I am always going to have pernicious anemia, will take B12 shots rest of my life. A very good multivitamin is a good thing IF your MD says so.

Usually one has a lot of gas initially & that too will subside. Lying on left side with right leg flexed up on the left leg will stimulate natural peristalsis (movement of gas along bowel to be passed) and was a huge reliver for me post op. Even now I do that, too!

Anyway, sends healing energies to continue for you & will watch for future posts. Good luck, Ted.

Teddybear · 11-15-2019, 09:14 AM

So a month ago at this time I was being prepped for surgery. In the last month I have lost a little over 30lbs not that I didn't have it to lose.

Still trying to figure out what I can and cant eat. I also have figure out in what amounts I can eat. I maybe able to eat a whole 8 oz steak today and tomorrow barely able to eat a third of that.

Started back on Keytruda last week. Usual side effects but I would rather have them then what I had on chemo.

I am back on the every 3 week rotation with treatment and according to my dr that is going to be the schedule for some time.

Ms Norma and I will be heading to Ga for Thanksgiving in a cpl of weeks. This will be my longest road trip since surgery and since last March. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this time that my health will not be a factor like it was last time we went home.

Hope everyone has a great day and holiday season if I am unable to post before then

Teddybear · 05-06-2020, 11:27 PM

So I thought I would give an update.

Surgery Oct 2019 to remove my colon where the tumor had shrunk a enough I could have surgery. Still have some issues but they will continue the rest of my life.

Was pain free for a little over 3 months and now it is back with a vengeance.

Had a PET scan the end of Dec and Dr was a little worried about some up take where the surgery was. Was going to keep an eye on it.

Talk to the Dr every 3 weeks when I go in for treatment. I try to let them know about any and all pains that come up.

Since chemo I have had issues with my right hand going to sleep all the time. It usually means my iron level is low. Not the case this time. This time it is off the charts. Concerning so they run more test. Find my liver enzymes are off way off also.

My next PET is for the first part of April. Result show a new tumor and it looks like it is on the liver, or it can be a fat lymph node. MRI is ordered.

Phone rings on a Thurs night at 845 and it is the doctor. We all know what that means dont we.

Yes it is a new tumor and I will have to do radiation. 5 treatments 1 a day for 5 days,

They seem to think it will supercharge the Keytruda so it will be able to get rid of this tumor also.

Tuesday was my last radiation. Today it hit me and I slept most of the day. Thank goodness I work nights.

I hope everyone is doing well. Keep up the good fight.

rustedrims · 05-26-2020, 03:04 AM

Read my first posts. Still kinda in the same spot. Still getting pictures every 6 months. Dr. appt. today and a CT scan on the 1st then in july the MRI. Pictures still commin back good. Not workin and busy with my yards like i wanted. I gotta be extra careful. Sometimes i catch myself slipping a little. Balance off sometimes. That brings me to a tough decision. Probly gotta take the bike back. It is 5 years old with only 500 miles on it. Strength and coordination not like it was. My hair did all grow back. It has a deep wave in the front on top of my head. I guess with 52 staples and a drain hole hair grows back the way it needs to,. I am very grateful how i am still healing.

Thank you everyone for reading and caring.

s

rustedrims · 06-06-2020, 09:16 PM

Hello everyone..

Had my CT scan. Pictures always come back good and no worries. Scan on monday. Usually takes a week or more to see the Dr. bout the pictures. I saw her on thursday. Got the phone call to come in on thursday. Thought that was great that I can get an early appt. Found out why I got that early appt. I have 2 spots on my right kidney. My Dr. said she isnt concerned about this. She told me not to worry. She said we caught it early. If it is bad we get rid of it and that will be it. I trust her. She has been with me from the beginning. It will be 3 years in november. Gotta get an MRI and maybe a biopsy if they need to know more.

Went out to 1 of my yards to get my mind off things. Gotta say that it didnt work. Left and visited friends. That was a nice break. I did go back and got more done. Felt better later. Glad i went back. Moms neighbor. Had a little visit with her. Watched the cat dump the birdbath on her. It was funny and scared her.

We all have our stuff going on individually but we fight the fight together.
Thank you for reading and caring. Stay safe everyone.

s

Wrang1er · 06-07-2020, 03:47 PM

My mother isn't doing well. She started having abdominal pain shortly before Covid-19 struck. After that, I was unable to go in with her for chemo, oncologist appointments and tests. Although I continued speaking to them on the phone it made everything more difficult and continues to do do. In May they said she had a partial bowel blockage and she was in the hospital for 9 days. Her tumors are growing and pressing against her small intestine and colon. They did a biopsy and found that her cancer has a breast cancer mutation. Which means there is one chemo that is used for breast cancer that may possibly work. IF it gets approved. It could be denied because my mother has ovarian cancer. The oncologist said if it doesn't get approved or doesn't work she would have approximately 3-6 months. She had a drainage gtube put in Thursday morning. She seemed to be doing better on Friday but terrible yesterday and today.

I'm trying to make sure I'm doing everything possible to help her feel comfortable and feel better. I worry I may not do something correctly and she may suffer due to that. I'm more than a little stressed. My mother and I have not always had the best relationship but it breaks my heart to see her suffering and in pain. I'm trying to stay positive. I'm hoping things fall into place and she gets better.

I'm just confused and having trouble pinpointing what went wrong so quickly. She's been fighting this since July 2015 and for the most part kicking cancer's ass.

I'd appreciate if you read this if you would send prays, good juju... whatever you believe in for my momma.

Teddybear · 06-16-2020, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustedrims

Hello everyone..

Had my CT scan. Pictures always come back good and no worries. Scan on monday. Usually takes a week or more to see the Dr. bout the pictures. I saw her on thursday. Got the phone call to come in on thursday. Thought that was great that I can get an early appt. Found out why I got that early appt. I have 2 spots on my right kidney. My Dr. said she isnt concerned about this. She told me not to worry. She said we caught it early. If it is bad we get rid of it and that will be it. I trust her. She has been with me from the beginning. It will be 3 years in november. Gotta get an MRI and maybe a biopsy if they need to know more.

Went out to 1 of my yards to get my mind off things. Gotta say that it didnt work. Left and visited friends. That was a nice break. I did go back and got more done. Felt better later. Glad i went back. Moms neighbor. Had a little visit with her. Watched the cat dump the birdbath on her. It was funny and scared her.

We all have our stuff going on individually but we fight the fight together.
Thank you for reading and caring. Stay safe everyone.

s

Rusty,

I also had a new tumor try to start growing inside one of the lymph nodes close to the liver. I did 5 treatments of radiation and we should know the middle of next month if that did the trick.

Prayers for everything to work out like it should

10-24-2019, 01:37 PM	#1
Teddybear Senior Member How Do You Identify?: by my name Preferred Pronoun?: He, him Relationship Status: single Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Here there everywhere. Posts: 2,097 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,620 Thanked 6,233 Times in 1,687 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	UPDATE!!!!! Good afternoon Peeps So its been a little over a week since I had surgery. I had a total colestomy. Other then feeling like I am doing a million plus crunches a day I am doing well. The doctor wants me to shoot for no more then 5 BMs a day. Some days its ore like 5 an hour. The path report showed out of 25 lymph nodes only 3 showed signs of cancer. Only 1 tumor left in the colon and had shrunk to around 5 cm. Liver looked good. I start back on treatment on Nov 4. Cant wait to find out how long I will now have to be on it. Prayers and healing light to all. __________________ I am ME take me as I am or leave me be..

11-15-2019, 09:14 AM	#4
Teddybear Senior Member How Do You Identify?: by my name Preferred Pronoun?: He, him Relationship Status: single Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Here there everywhere. Posts: 2,097 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,620 Thanked 6,233 Times in 1,687 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	So a month ago at this time I was being prepped for surgery. In the last month I have lost a little over 30lbs not that I didn't have it to lose. Still trying to figure out what I can and cant eat. I also have figure out in what amounts I can eat. I maybe able to eat a whole 8 oz steak today and tomorrow barely able to eat a third of that. Started back on Keytruda last week. Usual side effects but I would rather have them then what I had on chemo. I am back on the every 3 week rotation with treatment and according to my dr that is going to be the schedule for some time. Ms Norma and I will be heading to Ga for Thanksgiving in a cpl of weeks. This will be my longest road trip since surgery and since last March. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this time that my health will not be a factor like it was last time we went home. Hope everyone has a great day and holiday season if I am unable to post before then __________________ I am ME take me as I am or leave me be..

05-06-2020, 11:27 PM	#5
Teddybear Senior Member How Do You Identify?: by my name Preferred Pronoun?: He, him Relationship Status: single Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Here there everywhere. Posts: 2,097 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,620 Thanked 6,233 Times in 1,687 Posts Rep Power: 21474854	So I thought I would give an update. Surgery Oct 2019 to remove my colon where the tumor had shrunk a enough I could have surgery. Still have some issues but they will continue the rest of my life. Was pain free for a little over 3 months and now it is back with a vengeance. Had a PET scan the end of Dec and Dr was a little worried about some up take where the surgery was. Was going to keep an eye on it. Talk to the Dr every 3 weeks when I go in for treatment. I try to let them know about any and all pains that come up. Since chemo I have had issues with my right hand going to sleep all the time. It usually means my iron level is low. Not the case this time. This time it is off the charts. Concerning so they run more test. Find my liver enzymes are off way off also. My next PET is for the first part of April. Result show a new tumor and it looks like it is on the liver, or it can be a fat lymph node. MRI is ordered. Phone rings on a Thurs night at 845 and it is the doctor. We all know what that means dont we. Yes it is a new tumor and I will have to do radiation. 5 treatments 1 a day for 5 days, They seem to think it will supercharge the Keytruda so it will be able to get rid of this tumor also. Tuesday was my last radiation. Today it hit me and I slept most of the day. Thank goodness I work nights. I hope everyone is doing well. Keep up the good fight. __________________ I am ME take me as I am or leave me be..

05-26-2020, 03:04 AM	#6
rustedrims Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Preferred Pronoun?: she/her Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Northern Ohio close to Lake Erie and ice-cream places Posts: 444 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,123 Thanked 2,553 Times in 367 Posts Rep Power: 21474851	Read my first posts. Still kinda in the same spot. Still getting pictures every 6 months. Dr. appt. today and a CT scan on the 1st then in july the MRI. Pictures still commin back good. Not workin and busy with my yards like i wanted. I gotta be extra careful. Sometimes i catch myself slipping a little. Balance off sometimes. That brings me to a tough decision. Probly gotta take the bike back. It is 5 years old with only 500 miles on it. Strength and coordination not like it was. My hair did all grow back. It has a deep wave in the front on top of my head. I guess with 52 staples and a drain hole hair grows back the way it needs to,. I am very grateful how i am still healing. Thank you everyone for reading and caring. s __________________ I don't want to be perfect because if I was then I will loose the ability to learn.

06-06-2020, 09:16 PM	#7
rustedrims Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Preferred Pronoun?: she/her Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Northern Ohio close to Lake Erie and ice-cream places Posts: 444 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,123 Thanked 2,553 Times in 367 Posts Rep Power: 21474851	Hello everyone.. Had my CT scan. Pictures always come back good and no worries. Scan on monday. Usually takes a week or more to see the Dr. bout the pictures. I saw her on thursday. Got the phone call to come in on thursday. Thought that was great that I can get an early appt. Found out why I got that early appt. I have 2 spots on my right kidney. My Dr. said she isnt concerned about this. She told me not to worry. She said we caught it early. If it is bad we get rid of it and that will be it. I trust her. She has been with me from the beginning. It will be 3 years in november. Gotta get an MRI and maybe a biopsy if they need to know more. Went out to 1 of my yards to get my mind off things. Gotta say that it didnt work. Left and visited friends. That was a nice break. I did go back and got more done. Felt better later. Glad i went back. Moms neighbor. Had a little visit with her. Watched the cat dump the birdbath on her. It was funny and scared her. We all have our stuff going on individually but we fight the fight together. Thank you for reading and caring. Stay safe everyone. s __________________ I don't want to be perfect because if I was then I will loose the ability to learn.

06-07-2020, 03:47 PM	#8
Wrang1er Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Me, myself and I Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Here Posts: 1,526 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 6,112 Thanked 7,043 Times in 1,354 Posts Rep Power: 21474850	My mother isn't doing well. She started having abdominal pain shortly before Covid-19 struck. After that, I was unable to go in with her for chemo, oncologist appointments and tests. Although I continued speaking to them on the phone it made everything more difficult and continues to do do. In May they said she had a partial bowel blockage and she was in the hospital for 9 days. Her tumors are growing and pressing against her small intestine and colon. They did a biopsy and found that her cancer has a breast cancer mutation. Which means there is one chemo that is used for breast cancer that may possibly work. IF it gets approved. It could be denied because my mother has ovarian cancer. The oncologist said if it doesn't get approved or doesn't work she would have approximately 3-6 months. She had a drainage gtube put in Thursday morning. She seemed to be doing better on Friday but terrible yesterday and today. I'm trying to make sure I'm doing everything possible to help her feel comfortable and feel better. I worry I may not do something correctly and she may suffer due to that. I'm more than a little stressed. My mother and I have not always had the best relationship but it breaks my heart to see her suffering and in pain. I'm trying to stay positive. I'm hoping things fall into place and she gets better. I'm just confused and having trouble pinpointing what went wrong so quickly. She's been fighting this since July 2015 and for the most part kicking cancer's ass. I'd appreciate if you read this if you would send prays, good juju... whatever you believe in for my momma.