Bowel Cancer My Story of Success so Far

[dunedigger]

I have escaped the clutches of St George Private hospital and spent the last 2 days in a nearby hospital associated unit. Still very sore but managed to walk about a One Km lunch. It was worth it. I am quite sore tough but managing with Panadol. I see the Professor in a months time before having radioactive microspheres (SIR-Spheres®) that contain yttrium-90 that emit high energy beta radiation in about 6 weeks time. Go here http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/11/021112075901.htm for more information. It does involve a overnight stay at StVincents Hospital. This as I understand is just to mop up any tumor tissue that may have been missed, and is a nice once off alternative to precautionary post Operative chemotherapy. I continue to be amassed at the wealth of treatments available once you step out of the Chemotherapy mold. I feel very privileged to have been treated by Professor Morris, and he has given my family a far greater hope. I had 11 tumors ( all but 4 mostly small) in my liver and was very lucky that he finally agreed to treat me. Rarely can so many tumors be treated with out significant risks. I guess I had fitness and a determination to beat the 'litle buggers' So people reading this who have been touched by bowel cancer and metz don't give up, keep fighting, and find cancer specialists who give you the results you want Enough for now Dunedigger

[stevec]

Congratulations dunedigger! I'm glad to hear the operation was a sucess and its great to hear your up and about. I've just read this post from the start and it makes quite a story. I'd never heard of the yttrium microspheres before either - very interesting!

[#3]

Hi Dunedigger, Congratulations, It's great to hear that you are up and about and the operation fixed the "little buggers" You truly are an inspiration to everyone. I know it wont be long till you are going flat out due to your determination, your story is remarkable. I am hoping to be just as determined when i have my next op in Sept, but then again i have 7 kids to push me again, Wishing you all the best, Sham

[samex]

Hi Dunedigger aka Rex, I just read your story after posting my first blog with a little of my own fears. You have made me feel so much better. I have nothing in my liver (just stage 3 bowel) and with a bit of luck (and a more controlled diet) I may never have. I was 50 when diagnosed and I'll feel really cheated if I don't make another 20. As you said - too much to do!! Keep those "buggers" at bay, Samex

[samex]

Hope that your holiday was fabulous!! Samex

[dunedigger]

Hi Everyone, I m glad that my ramblings has been an inspiration. I did intend it to be that way some time after I started the thread. Actually, on the old site blogs were not available but it may have been more appropriate to have been a blog, but I'm not going to start now. I know a lot of people who read this will have just been diagnosed and will take heart at my story along with a lot of other people stories. When I was first diagnosed with bowel cancer I could ( just ) live with that and the operation (s) that would take place. However the following week after my CAT scan showed multiple lesions in my liver my ( our ) world fell apart. I was told there was not much hope. It took 12 months before we started to seek surgical opinions. After this, a new world opened up. I have since found another site like this in another country, where surgical options for liver cancer are enormous, but we do have them in Australia, but they don't seem to be well known. I have learn't that many medical professionals don't really know all of the options that are available and remain comfortably in the cocoon of their own world of knowledge. ( This seems to apply especially to Oncologists who just use Chemo, no offense intended to any particular person ) Get out there and ask. If you don't live in the big citys, be prepared to travel to get the treatment you deserve and never stop fighting and asking questions till you get the answer YOU LIKE. Dunedigger EDIT 24/7/09 I am booked into St Vincent's for the SIRS, after all day tests on 3 different scanners. I have also learnt that the professor took about 1/3rd of my liver AND most of it had been killed by Folfox6, Avastin and Vitamin C We are off to Norfolk Island of a week on 2nd August

[thaker]

Hi Dunedigger I've just read this post from the start and feel so much better. I am normally an optimist and nothing really gets me down. However, last week, we were told that there is a recurrence of hubby's brain tumour (only 5 months since his resection in March) and it took the wind out of our sails. He will probably have surgery in 4 weeks time but his original diagnosis of GBM and the recurrence had me feeling like the odds were being stacked against us. Reading the posts above have given me a boost. We are off the the God Coast with the kids this Saturday for a week and I am sure thatw ill give us theb reak we need and get us psyched up for round 2 with this tumour. Hubby is only 50 so I want him around for another 30 years! Sang

[dunedigger]

Hi Everybody. I'm back bigger and better than ever, well in my mind anyhow. Norfolk was fabulous. . A bit of a problem getting up before 10 am but anyway . . Ate our selves silly and broke all my ( self imposed ) diet rules. 4 Days after coming back I had the SIRSpheres internal radiation ( SIRT ) done, with out too many problems. I don't feel wonderful but feel a little better each day, nausea being controlled with a little medication. I will now go back on Avastin and have a CAT scan done in two months. Can't wait for the results. Fingers crossed I'm cancer free. If I am Cancer free, there will be some excited health professionals who have helped me on my way including two Professors. If you are fighting cancer, keep fighting, keep asking questions, and never say die, There are lots of treatments available that you have to search out, that is past being experimental but has not reached mainstream. Yours in the fight ! Dunedigger

[dunedigger]

Well the SIRT has taken it's toll. I have had fatigue and a feeling of illness for the full 6 weeks. Basically I have felt as bad for the last 4 weeks as if I had just had chemo. However it will be worth it if the radiation mops up the surviving cancer cells. SIRT is so much more powerful than external radiation. Unfortunately I (I We ) still have a business to run and although we are slowly selling parts of the business, it is hard to plan for the future retirement and traveling, not to mention my love of Endurance ( Horse ) Riding. However I don't have time for cancer now and a CAT scan will confirm what my Surgeon said while I was in recovery . . . We think we got it all ! Get on with it and get out there !

[Jules2]

Hey dunedigger I have done a couple of endurance rides, was quite a few years ago and i no longer ride. I did enjoy doing them though. Julie