Typical Monday morning conversation; So...what did you do this weekend? My response would be 'I tried to control the pain that has been continuing to build. On Saturday, Dick and I ran errands. I should restate that. Dick ran errands. I sat in the passenger seat and watched him run in and out of stores. Saturday night I found myself very restless and without sleep. The pain that I had been experiencing in my rib area turned into spasms. Add to that the gastrointestinal problems I am experiencing from the pain meds I had been taking...I had a 'trying' weekend'.
When one lacks sleep it is difficult to think straight. Many things run through a worn and weary brain. My thought process concluded that I was experiencing liver or kidney problems, as the pain I have been experiencing is in that area. All I know is I was very uncomfortable. Sunday morning greeted Dick with me in tears and asking that he take me to the emergency room.
The emergency room decided a CT scan was in order. The results came back with what appears to be erosion of the bone between ribs 9 and 10 on my right side. Bone mets. It has been confirmed with me that erosion of bone is uncomfortable and painful. It's nice to know I'm not a wimp.
From the emergency room I have been admitted into my very familiar room at Fairview Southdale. Room 819 is going to be known as my signature room. I am going to start decorating it and adding my own personal touches to it soon. Funny...but not so much. It's a private room. That is always appreciated.
Right now the focus is to get my pain under control using various forms of morphine. We are also working on getting my intestinal disturbances under control. From there discussions will be taking place with regards to a treatment plan regarding my rib area. The word 'radiation' was thrown into the conversation yesterday. Ugh! As the next few days unfold the plan will become clearer. Right now we are dealing with the three P's....pain, poop and plan.
It's been a difficult twenty-four hours. I feel as if the wind has been knocked out of our sails. We had been living with such high hopes as we felt the Vitamin C infusions were assisting me in turning the corner. I'm not ending that part of this fight...just taking a bit of a detour.
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When initially diagnosed with Stage IIb anal cancer, I was one month shy of my 47th birthday. Unknowingly, I had been fighting tumor growth for a minimum of seven years. Prior to my diagnosis, I had been to the emergency room several times with lower abdominal pain, only to be sent home without answers. I had also expressed concern to my gynecologist. The answer was a prescription for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. No tests...just a prescription to make it go away. Needless to say, the pain continued to get worse, as I was erroneously diagnosed.
Stage IIb is a very treatable cancer. July 2006 treatment began with initial 120 hour infusion of 5-FU chemotherapy regimen. At the same time, I underwent five weeks of pelvic radiation therapy, with a second infusion of 5-FU at the end of radiation to complete treatment.
Follow up testing and biopsy in November 2006 found no indication of cancer. I was officially in remission and life celebrations began.
Fast forward to May 2007. My colorectal surgeon recommended a PET scan during a follow up appointment. PET revealed tumor growth in right lung. Within days of new diagnosis, lung surgery revealed that the same squamous cell anal cancer had metastasized and required the lower lobe of my right lung to be removed. Unfortunately, there are also tumors in the lining of my lung, which is inoperable.
Upon healing from thoracic surgery, Folfox6 chemotherapy regimen began. At the same time, I traveled to Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York for a second opinion. The doctor at MSK agreed with the treatment prescribed. Unfortunately, the doctor also advised that I was incurable and gave me a prognosis of approximately 5 years, due to the tumors in the lining of my lung.
August 2007 chest x-ray revealed tumor growth. My cancer was resistant to Folfox6 regimen. Time for 3rd and 4th opinions. Traveled to Cancer Treatment Center of America in Illinois and Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Made the decision to be treated with Dr. Axel Grothey at Mayo Clinic. The suggested regimen is Taxol/Carboplatin.
February 2008 regimen was changed to Irinotecan/Erbitux. Due to a rare reaction to the infusion, this specific regimen is no longer available for my treatment. This was my final option for chemotherapy treatments.
April 2008, after being considered for thoracic surgery, was advised once again my condition is inoperable.
June 2008, accepted into Cancer Treatment Centers of America first ever FDA approved Phase I trial for Vitamin C Infusion Therapy. Therapy showed necrosis of largest tumor.
August 2008, receiving TomoTherapy treatment at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. This therapy is directed to my right lung to alleviate pain in my ribs. The pain is due to the cancer spreading to a portion of bone adjacent to one of my tumors.
October 2008, follow up CT scan revealed either complete obliteration or significant decrease in size of tumors.
New tumor found in left lung. Currently undergoing five additional weeks of TomoTherapy.
February 2009. follow up CT revealed that TomoTherapy treatment worked! Currently in remission. No further treatment or scans necessary for six months!!!
I chose to share my story through this blog, as I have a great desire to educate and get the word out that colorectal cancer is not an old man's disease. Colorectal cancer is afflicting younger people and early screening is crucial.'
Stage IIb is a very treatable cancer. July 2006 treatment began with initial 120 hour infusion of 5-FU chemotherapy regimen. At the same time, I underwent five weeks of pelvic radiation therapy, with a second infusion of 5-FU at the end of radiation to complete treatment.
Follow up testing and biopsy in November 2006 found no indication of cancer. I was officially in remission and life celebrations began.
Fast forward to May 2007. My colorectal surgeon recommended a PET scan during a follow up appointment. PET revealed tumor growth in right lung. Within days of new diagnosis, lung surgery revealed that the same squamous cell anal cancer had metastasized and required the lower lobe of my right lung to be removed. Unfortunately, there are also tumors in the lining of my lung, which is inoperable.
Upon healing from thoracic surgery, Folfox6 chemotherapy regimen began. At the same time, I traveled to Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York for a second opinion. The doctor at MSK agreed with the treatment prescribed. Unfortunately, the doctor also advised that I was incurable and gave me a prognosis of approximately 5 years, due to the tumors in the lining of my lung.
August 2007 chest x-ray revealed tumor growth. My cancer was resistant to Folfox6 regimen. Time for 3rd and 4th opinions. Traveled to Cancer Treatment Center of America in Illinois and Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Made the decision to be treated with Dr. Axel Grothey at Mayo Clinic. The suggested regimen is Taxol/Carboplatin.
February 2008 regimen was changed to Irinotecan/Erbitux. Due to a rare reaction to the infusion, this specific regimen is no longer available for my treatment. This was my final option for chemotherapy treatments.
April 2008, after being considered for thoracic surgery, was advised once again my condition is inoperable.
June 2008, accepted into Cancer Treatment Centers of America first ever FDA approved Phase I trial for Vitamin C Infusion Therapy. Therapy showed necrosis of largest tumor.
August 2008, receiving TomoTherapy treatment at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. This therapy is directed to my right lung to alleviate pain in my ribs. The pain is due to the cancer spreading to a portion of bone adjacent to one of my tumors.
October 2008, follow up CT scan revealed either complete obliteration or significant decrease in size of tumors.
New tumor found in left lung. Currently undergoing five additional weeks of TomoTherapy.
February 2009. follow up CT revealed that TomoTherapy treatment worked! Currently in remission. No further treatment or scans necessary for six months!!!
I chose to share my story through this blog, as I have a great desire to educate and get the word out that colorectal cancer is not an old man's disease. Colorectal cancer is afflicting younger people and early screening is crucial.'
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