Maria Fox said:Hi everyone! I hope you're all staying positive and upbeat despite this terrible weather 🙂
Something just crossed my mind, so I wanted to pick the brains of those with more experience here...
I'm curious about what kind of follow-up tests are typically done after finishing treatment (meaning, once chemo and radiation are wrapped up)? And yes, we're talking about colon cancer, if that makes a difference... I assume check-ups happen every 6 months later on, right? Is it blood markers and a PET scan, or something else? I read somewhere—though I'm not sure if it was accurate—that a PET scan might not catch everything 😕)
Thanks so much in advance for the help!!! 🙂
I'm actually heading into my third check-up next month! My first one included a CT scan, ultrasound, chest X-ray, CBC, and tumor markers. After that, I had a PET/CT at Mayo Clinic along with full blood work. And, of course, a colonoscopy is a must. This February, I'll be back for more blood work, markers, chest imaging, an ultrasound, and then another colonoscopy right after that...
cosmiceagle4 said:Here is some firsthand insight into how cancer can truly be overcome: Dr. Lorraine Day was a regular professor at medical school. She was diagnosed with breast cancer, and it grew until it was the size of a ball. The cancer had metastasized everywhere, and she couldn't even get out of bed anymore. Everyone had basically given up on her...... Check out her story. It is so incredibly encouraging!
Man, don't you see that people like us dealing with short bowel syndrome aren't supposed to follow that specific diet? It’s worlds apart from what someone with a different type of cancer would eat...
Sending nothing but good vibes to everyone—here’s hoping this new year brings us all much better health. Grace Fowler, hang in there, and Nancy Hernandez43, stay strong... Mom is going to pull through this, I'm positive she will...
Hey everyone... just got my test results back, all neatly packaged and everything, but they’re pretty lousy news... inflammation in the intestines, swollen lymph nodes in the abdomen, and some nasty stuff on the colon scan... I'm really wondering what's going to come of all this...
Hey everyone, it's been a while since I last checked in... I'm still hanging in there, just waiting on my PET scan results with a bit of nervous energy... if I'm being totally honest, I'm pretty scared, but I'm not giving up! Sending good vibes to you all, and of course, wishing for everyone's recovery
Angela Wright said:How can they tell from the CT scan that it moved if they don't even know where it went? I mean, surely it shows up on the CT if that's what they're basing their suspicions on.
Stay strong! Nothing is lost yet. This journey is long and bumpy, and you knew that from the start. It hasn't changed. Just keep pushing forward bravely and try to arm yourself with good vibes and optimism. I know it's easy to say but much harder to actually do, but you've got to find that inner shift somehow. It will make everything so much easier...
The CT report mentions something about non-homogeneous structures... it seems to be located somewhere near the pelvic area or abdomen, especially since the pain is spreading through those areas. But I'm not giving up... not yet!
I’m so sorry, I won't be able to make it... I'm not even in Chicago right now, but my heart is truly with all of you. I saw my oncologist yesterday to go over my CT scan results—it’s back, but we can't pinpoint where exactly. They’re sending me for a PET scan now to track it down. I have to admit, I'm feeling pretty scared for the first time. It’s only been three months since my chemo finished, and I was so certain I was in the clear, but now...?
So, I have a quick question. Does anyone know more about the Johanna Budwig recipe? It’s the fresh goat cheese mixed with flaxseed oil... What specific type of cheese and which oil should I look for, and where can I find them? Also, has anyone here ever worked with the energy healer Marijan Kero from Bibinje? Thanks!
Just grab any kind of fresh goat cheese—use two tablespoons—and one tablespoon of flaxseed oil (you can find that at any local health food store). You can even mix in some ground flaxseeds, which you can also pick up at a health food shop. Just mix it all together and enjoy!🙂
Hey... please don't play games with this... I tried to handle things on my own once and ended up fighting intestinal cancer. A little radiation from diagnostic tests is nothing compared to the risk of waiting while you get a colonoscopy under anesthesia. JUST DON'T WAIT OR OVERTHINK IT TOO MUCH!
slyseal28 said:I suggest you copy all your test results and send them over to our group so we can try to get a second opinion. You probably already mentioned this, but I completely forgot—where are you getting treated?
Thanks so much for the offer to help,,,you guys are truly amazing! My gastroenterologist recommended a PET CT, and I actually have the referral for MedPost in hand as of today... I'm hoping to get scheduled 👎tomorrow... and my oncologist is actually based in a small town in the Midwest...but I really think it's time to find a different specialist in a bigger city🤷
Angela Wright;16025110 said:If there aren't any metastases, things look good, so I really don't get what the oncologist is thinking]🤷
I completely agree with everything gentlemoose62 said!👍
Thanks so much for all the support... but honestly, what am I supposed to do when I need an oncologist's referral and they refuse to give one unless I pay out of pocket? $3000 Where would I even get that kind of money... to hell with all this bureaucracy!
Hi everyone, I haven’t posted in a while because my CT scan results were pretty devastating. They say there aren't any metastases, but there’s fluid in my abdomen and between the loops of my small intestine... everyone just seems to be shrugging their shoulders at me... My surgeon wants a PET scan, but the oncologist doesn't think it's necessary... or rather, they won't recommend it, and my stomach is basically being pushed out of place... I honestly don't know what to do... I'm losing heart...
Thanks so much for all the kind words... but honestly, what can you do? That yellow tint always finds its way back to me. I'm heading in for an abdominal CT scan in two weeks... fingers crossed for my little liver 🙂
shadowmason6 said:My mom finished her first round of chemo on June 27th (she’s doing six cycles total following the Mayo Clinic protocol). She starts back up on July 28th... Her oncologist actually gave her an extra week to recover after that first round since she wasn't sure how Mom would handle it, but otherwise, they are sticking to the 1+3 schedule! I was too nervous to post anything sooner. Once her cycle finished, I was just sitting there anxiously waiting to see how her body would react... Honestly, I think we can be pretty happy with how things are going (even if her reaction doesn't necessarily dictate how well the therapy is working). She didn't deal with any nausea, just some loose stools—actually, it was pretty much diarrhea—on the first day of treatment. Her hair hasn't fallen out yet, though I'm still staying super vigilant... 🙂) Three days after my cycle ended, I noticed some sores on my lower lip—even though I’ve been super diligent with brushing and rinsing with chamomile and sage. Luckily, they didn't spread deeper into my mouth and have already started healing. She was using Gelclair and some alcohol-free propolis (which is basically her go-to remedy for everything, even if no one actually suggested it for this specific issue)... 🙂)
I’d be so happy if the therapy finished with nothing more than these side effects. But honestly, I have my doubts... I’ve heard the body can get pretty worn out after the third cycle? It probably all comes down to the individual, but I would be so grateful if anyone could share what they’ve been through...
Nancy Thomas18 Hasn't been posting much lately!? Does anyone have an update on how she's doing? Keeping my fingers crossed... I really hope she made it through her last round of chemo...
Hey everyone, just checking in... technology can be such a pain sometimes! My computer crashed on me right when I needed it most, so I was totally stuck... I unfortunately missed my last chemo session... after the seventh round, the nausea and weakness were just way too much to handle... I’m going through my follow-up tests right now, and the CEA is up again. My liver numbers look like they belong to an old alcoholic... I still have a CT scan with contrast ahead of me, and honestly, everything is just starting to feel a bit indifferent. I even stopped taking the propolis and Enshure, but it feels like someone is slowly draining all my strength through a straw...
Hey everyone! My oncologist just dropped by and practically dragged me straight into my seventh round of chemo. I was already counting down the days—just four more to go—so I’m definitely not throwing in the towel yet... Jane, I've already taken on so much debt that I can't even think about taking on any more, but thank you so much for the suggestion though. And honestly, what else is there to say? Please don't let yourselves falter like I did for a moment... we have to keep fighting!
Reading through all your posts about how hard everyone has fought—and seeing that some of you are still battling alongside your loved ones—it’s honestly making my own will to keep fighting start to flicker... This forum and the other one really mean the world to me. To be honest, I had a moment the other day where I just told myself, "enough is enough" when it comes to treatment. I have two chemo cycles left, but I'm just completely out of strength, out of money for the supporting meds, and honestly, just out of heart for it all. My son has been right by my side since day one, but he nearly lost it when I told him this. That said, I do have four vials of Aloxi left over, so if anyone could use them, please just send me a private message!