topic Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3 in Treatments and side effects

Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Craig_Bartlett — Sun, 05 May 2013 08:53:52 GMT

Hello, My name is Craig. I have stage 3 Colon Caner at age 39. One month ago I had my ascending colon removed due to the large tumour. The surgeon took out 37 lymph nodes and the Biopsy showed 2 nodes with cancer cells in them. Tomorrow (Monday 6th May) I am having day surgery to install the injection port into my chest. Then on Wednesday 8th may I start the Chemo. I am self employed with a small Graphics business where I cover al roles. Married with a baby boy who turned 1 year old 2 days ago.... My wife is going to give birth to our second child in two weeks. Due Date 18th May 2013. So much going on... Should be the best time of my life........ But then CANCER!!! How and I going to handle all this..... I am guessing the Chemo is really going to make a mess of me.

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Sun, 05 May 2013 12:10:14 GMT

Hi Craig, I'm new to this site 🙂 I just wanted to wish you well for your upcoming treatment, and let you know Chemo side-effects aren't always as awful as most people assume. My husband (43) has bladder cancer & recently underwent 4 months of chemo. Apart from nausea, he handled it really well. I hope the coming weeks bring you more joy than sorrow. -Nicole.

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

sarah_hopes — Mon, 06 May 2013 00:42:34 GMT

Hi Craig, Good luck and I hope everything goes well with today and the upcoming treatment period. Stay strong and positive! I know it's going to be hard but keep fighting and kick cancer in the butt! 🙂 This site is great because there's people that share their experiences through their Cancer journey and share their emotions as well. I'm new to this site as well and I found it really helpful to communicate with other people that are sharing the same feelings as me. I have stage 2 Bowel cancer and I'm 27 years old. I start my Chemotherapy today. I'll be taking tablets instead of the I.V but my Oncologist told me it's pretty much the same thing in terms of results. I'll let you know how I go with it. I wish you all the best with your treatment and stay POSITIVE! Sarah

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Craig_Bartlett — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:49:34 GMT

Hi Nicole, If Nausea is my only side effect I would be very happy with that. Hope you husband is recovering and clear from this terrible disease. Kind Regards, Craig.

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Craig_Bartlett — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:57:56 GMT

Hi Sarah, Thank you for your interest and engouraging comments. My Sugery like any surgery was daunting to say the least however the port is in now and I am feeling OK, a little sore but OK. 27 YO, Wow that is really young. How did you find out you had it at stage 2? Please let me know how your oral Chemo goes as I would be intersted how different it is. How long is you treament? Best wishes and as you say Stay Positive. Thanks. Best Regards, Craig

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Karen_X — Wed, 08 May 2013 02:16:15 GMT

Hi Craig, Good luck with chemo today! I completed FOLFOX treatment in January 2012. I presume this is the treatment you will be having? If so, I won't lie, it wasn't easy (for me!), but it wasn't all hard either. I suffered with nausea to begin with, but my onc upped my antiemetics and that really took care of it, which was a pleasant surprise. There really are some great anti nausea drugs available now. Fatigue was probably the biggest issue for me. As I had treatment every two weeks, I found I had a good week (the off week) when I felt pretty normal, and a bad week when I was fatigued and tired. I often spent a day or two in bed after an infusion, so I made sure I made use of my good week, doing jobs I needed to get done and planning fun things to do, so I had something to look forward to when I wasn't feeling well during my bad week. The other issue with FOLFOX was the neuropathy. Both the acute (where you can't touch/drink anything cold) and the cumulative/peripheral (which didn't develop for me until the very end). The acute neuropathy wasn't too much of a bother, just a pain in the butt (excuse the pun) having to watch what I touched/drank. It tends to go away a few days after the infusion, so it wasn't too bad, but the cumulative/peripheral neuropathy took a few months after treatment finished to go away and got quite painful. Make sure you keep an eye on this and let your onc know if it is troubling you. That all said, chemo treats everyone differently and some people tolerate is a lot better than others. I hope it's nice to you. Regards Karen

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Karen_X — Wed, 08 May 2013 02:30:45 GMT

Hi Sarah, I was also 27 when I was diagnosed with stage 2 bowel cancer. It was such a surprise to be told. It's definitely NOT something on the radar of a 27 year old young adult, is it?! I also had chemo (IV though, not oral) following my surgery. Six months of 5FU (the IV version of xeloda). I tolerated it fairly well. At first, I didnt notice any side effects at all! But the side effects were definitely cumulative for me. By the end of it, I was only working 4 days a week due to the fatigue and trying to control my nausea. In retrospect, I wish I had seen my onc about the nausea, because I am sure he would have been able to prescribe something to control it, but that's easy to say in retrospect! I hope it goes well for you Regards Karen

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Stace — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:54:42 GMT

Hi Craig My name is Stacey, I too had stage three colon cancer I was diagnosed at age 29 after just having my second child. I had the port put in for chemo, I then had six weeks of continuous chemo and radiotherapy. After this step I had a six week break, I then had the bowel op to remove the tumour which of all the lymph nodes, I think there was 18 removed from memory only three were cancerous. I had to have a colostomy bag for nine months and then another six months of chemo after the bowel op. As far as the treatment went I found it very tiring, slightly nauseating but as was said earlier in another conversation the medications they put you on are fantastic, I used to take all of them!! I hate feeling sick! I also couldn't touch anything cold. This whole process you will be finding very daunting, plus having bub number two due anytime soon, you don't want to have to be dealing with this in your life right now. But draw strength from your family, that is what kept me going, I had to get better for my husband and kids as there was no way I was letting this awful disease take me away from them! You will need your rest, the best advice I can give is listen to your body, eat healthily, I found towards the end of my treatment I was having trouble with my blood levels but that's ok, its nothing to panic about it just means maybe having a weeks break and the whole thing dragging out a little longer, you will learn a lot from the nurses I asked so many questions and this website is fantastic. I wish you all the best on this journey, keep positive you will be fine!!Goodluck with bubba number two. If people offer you and your family support and help don't be too proud to accept it! Kind regards Stacey

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Stace — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:54:58 GMT

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Craig_Bartlett — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:39:54 GMT

Hi all, Thank for your comments. It is nice to get so many responses. I had the first Chemo last week...... Wednesday was spent in the hospital being hooked up to all the Chemo bags etc. Then sent home with the pump to keep another chemo injecting into the port for 2 more days. I felt the effects of the Oxaliplatin that same day in my jaw. Although not severe was certainly uncomfortable. The by the evening of the Wednesday I was not feeling too bad and but was tired and slept from 7:30 pm through to the morning around 7am. So going OK at this stage. Thursday was no so bad either until the evening when my body started to feel the effects of the chemo. I took all the anti nausea meds etc but nothing stopped the next 24hrs of body and mind poisoning from this Chemo. I surely did not expected to be hit so hard... Friday the pump was finally removed from me and I hoped the symptoms would start relieving quickly. My mind was an aching cloud and my body was feeling very similar. I felt the common symptoms along with all body pain and a completely unfocused mind with unstable emotions. I have never been like that ever. It was Sunday afternoon before I started to regain my true self back again...... A midday 2 hour nap then I awake to my surprise with the my mind back in place and my body feeling as close to alive again. It was like waking from a horrible 4 day nightmare, with the difference being I remembered all the undesirable details. Today I am feeling pretty normal however a little lethargic and carrying on working. My poor wife did her best to take care of me. The nurse even commented that this round has really hit me hard. The Oncologist mentioned I may deal with the next round better as my body would have healed more from the previous surgeries and the take home pump dose will be slightly lower. Not looking forward to the second round..... But no choice I guess. We are expecting our little girl to arrive any day now. Glad I am feeling better for it. Thanks. Regards, Craig.

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Stace — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:04:43 GMT

Hi Craig well done on getting through the first round!! You may find the next round a little easier as you know what you are in for and your body might not get such a shock. In reading what you wrote I can totally relate to the foggy cloud you were in and the unstable emotions, no one can completely understand them until you are going through it, its bloody awful! All the very best for the new arrival, at least you have something nice too look forward to! Goodluck Craig Stacey

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Ron50 — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:24:20 GMT

Hi Craig, I was dxed stage 3c ,6/13 nodes involved at age 48. That was back in 1998. I had surgery and 48 sessions of old regime chemo. Some of it is banned now for use on humans. I have been ca free ever since. I have some long term issues from side effects of chemo. At the time they said they would deal with them when and if they arose. They haven't. But I continue to live and work. Good luck for the future..Ron.

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Craig_Bartlett — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:45:29 GMT

Hi Ron, Glad to hear your still free. Thats great! Are you able to tell me what were the drugs that they gave you? i would like research them if possible. What are your ongoing issues caused by the Chemo. I am keepiong a close eye on the side effects of this Chemo. I really dont like being pumped full of toxic chemicals, but there does not seem to be a medical alterantive. Regards Craig.

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Craig_Bartlett — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:53:29 GMT

Thanks

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Craig_Bartlett — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:53:55 GMT

I Start my second session this Wednesday. I feel a lot better going into this session than the last. Probably because I have healed more from the surgeries and I know what to expect. At this stage I am a lot more positive with my attitude. However I am still not confident in the Chemotherapy.... Being pumped full of extremely toxic chemicals that destroy many types of cells and can damage internal organs.... Is that really the only possible way?

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Ron50 — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:50:31 GMT

Hi Craig, My mainstay was still good old 5fu which I got via canula in the back of alternate hands each tuesday. Every second week for the three days after chemo I took 3tablets of levamisole each day.You find levamisole under vetrinary drugs. Basically it is an anti-parasitic used to treat intestinal worms in animals. It was dose critical in humans,too little and it did nothing,too much and it killed you. I think the technical term for the class of drugs is immuno-modulator. It was banned in the US in 2000 because of its fatal side effects and they believed there were better drugs. I don't believe that a drug gets banned because there is something better. It has become more prominent in recent times as the drug preferred by illicet drug dealers to cut cocaine. They believe that up to 70% of the street cocaine in the us is now cut with levamisole. It has led to some deaths and a lot of emergency visits to er's. I was ok for a few years ,then I got on a fitness kick. I was walking up to 50 miles a week. I began to lose feeling in my feet and lower legs. I suffered a bout of acute pancreatitis and lost my gallbladder(quite common after cc chemo). I continued to lose touch with my legs and it then started in my left hand. I began to suffer from peripheral oedeema,swelling of the legs. I was tested for congestive heart failure but my heart was ok.I started to pass kidney stones and in one urine test blood was found. I was checked for bladder ca,clear. Another random urine test showed excess protein in my urine. You can lose up to .015 grms of protein a day thru your urine. I was losing 3 gramms. I have had 3 kidney biopsies . All showed problems but none that relate to known kidney disease. Protein keeps your blood in your veins. When it gets low fluid leaks thru the veins and into surrounding tissue....Oedeema. My ccondition has continued to worsen. I lose around 4 grams a day and have developed pulmonary oedeema and an enlarged heart. they have treated me with all manner of crap drugs,prednisone,sulfasalazine,arave,methotrexate on three different occassions. The prednisone rotted my bones and caused osteoperosis and type two diabetes. The methotrexate whilst originally helping my protein loss causes flares in the neuropathy. I suspect the neuropathy has reached some critical areas and is causing neurological problems ,particularly with my heart which has starte producing ventricular ectopic beats. Simplified ,if you take my pulse I seem to skip every third beat. My 15 years of survival has not been easy. It is very difficult to convince doctors of l/t side effects of chemo, There is no research on it ,so there is no evidence of it,therfore it does not exist. So it seems I have some rare and unknown auto-immune disease. That in itself is very convenient as if Suffer any organ failure I am not elligible for a transplant because I am immuno-compromised. May you have a smoother path thru survival than me,cheers Ron.

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Karen_X — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 08:26:39 GMT

Hi Craig, It's good to hear you are feeling more positive. It can take a couple goes to get the dose right, so hopefully this round is easier. I have had both 5FU (completed in January 2009) and FOLFOX (completed in January 2012) and have no lingering side effects from either - although admittedly, I am not as far out from having completed treatment as Ron. Sorry that you have been through so much, Ron. It is sometimes hard to accept that chemo is the only way; that the only treatment they recommend to us (apart from surgery) kills both 'good' and 'bad' cells indiscriminately. But if it wasn't for chemo, I might not still be here....perhaps I would be regardless,but I just don't know. I have had two recurrences since my initial diagnosis in 2008 and during my latest one (picked up in December 2012), whilst I was eligible for surgery, my oncologists recommended against chemo. In my particular circumstances, there was no evidence that chemo would do anything for me (at this stage, at least). Even without chemo, though, my CEA (which appears particularly sensitive to the comings and goings of my cancer) is at an all time low (<0.5). Perhaps my surgeons just got it all this time? As horrid as chemo is, I am a bit lost without it now. Chemo provided me with some reassurance. I was doing all I could, medically speaking, to knock this thing on the head. Still I know there are other things I can do to look after myself. Nourish my body with good food, keep fit and active (there is evidence that physical exercise can reduce the chances of recurrence, particularly with colorectal cancer) and avoid stress. And so far, so good! Chemo isn't easy, but despite having my cancer come back, I have never regretted my decision to have it. Hang in there Craig. Karen

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

joybell16 — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 10:26:10 GMT

Hello Craig I would really like to have an update on your progress if at all possible. Mainly in regard to the chemotherapy treatments. My husband has been diagnosed with small bowel/duodenal cancer which has metastisized but is on the same chemo regime as you had. He has just had his 2nd cycle. IV on Tuesday and then portapump put on which was removed today. Very hypo on Tuesday night and didn't sleep well - it seems to give you a high. Portapump off today and very tired. Any info/advice/suggestions would be appreciated :) Joy - WA

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Craig_Bartlett — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 10:58:49 GMT

Hi Joy, It effects everyone differently. The"Hypo" is caused from the Steroids.. For me no Hypo but made me moody!!! He will be having the IV and the Oxaliplatin. The IV is the old school cancer treatment that is in the pump. The Oxaliplatin is the one to watch as it causes nerve damage in fingers and feet + others. to much to tell here. Happy to help call me 0423 006 619. remember the time difference. Best regards Craig.

Re: Colon Cancer - Stage 3

Craig_Bartlett — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 11:17:35 GMT

My biggest current side effects at this stage are, my short term memory is terrible + the neuropathy. Apart from the nerve damage (neuropathy) + I have trouble remembering new information, I expect a almost full recovery. I had my most recent check up (Colonoscopy+ blood test) and all is OK.. I had the ascending Colon REMOVED a year ago... I do wish the best.. Its hard yet manageable..... Im a business owner and I kept it all going. it was HELL!! He will need a lot off support, it will be hard... I WANT TO HELP.