These past days have been very emotional. I found I used my hospital stay to cocoon myself and hide from the reality of my world. Now that I am home, I have had to face some rather difficult decisions.
Dick has been after me to make necessary phone calls. He has the heart wrenching job of having to push me through and return me to our reality. He basically begged me to talk to Doctor Chris at CTCA. I followed his wishes and did so today.
Dr. Chris is generally a very upbeat, optimistic and hopeful practitioner. Today I heard fear in his voice. In few words, he expressed to me that the cancer was winning over. If we were going to do anything proactively, we would have to do it within the next two weeks. Personally, I was really hoping to recover from my most recent surgery before having to chase the next set of procedures. From what I am hearing, I do not have time for that.
The team at CTCA will not know exactly what I will be facing until I get there. From what Chris has shared with me, they seem to feel they can remove the tumors that are growing in my pelvic area. With that, they will need to provide another form of radiation to the area that branching out into my right leg.
Where did this all come from? How did this all happen so quickly? I was living so lightly and had a sense of freedom from this beast. Now all I can do is think of the torturous ending it has awaiting me. I try to hide my tears from my loving and ever vigilant daughter, Eileen. She is constantly at my side and sees the pain and fear growing within my eyes. I don't know who needs more support right now, her or I?
This is so unfair for a twenty year old to experience. She needs her mommy. I must overcome. I will fight this next battle.
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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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6 comments:
I couldn't sleep and I went on YouTube and wound up seeing your story Kathy. It's 214 am my time abdim laying in bed with my IPhone propped up and I want you to know that I am going to call 3 churches I know and get you on their prayer list. I will pray for you bug time. I have some more to 'pen' but my pain Rx is kicking in. Be comforted; and know that HE, is ever by your side. Hugs, Hunter
(A patient-LoneWolfe on DailyStrength.com)
I'm praying for you and your family, Kathy, from down here in Madison.
Kathy, I've been watching your post for awhile now, having originally viewed it via YouTube, I think, the show with Montel W. Anyway, I hope that you are still well enough to read this and know that you are loved by so many people, even many, many miles away and all across the Earth. God loves you most, and the best love of all. I pray that even now, there might be miracles of peace in your life and that you will know that you are being held up in prayers. love, Hunter
Kathy is no longer on facebook, has anyone heard anything, just a person that became a fb friend on mafia wars with her
Hi. I am still around. With the world of Facebook I have neglected this wonderful medium for communication. I am still on Facebook, but have reduced my friends to family and mostly grade school and high school friends.
I need to let many know what as been happening since my last post. I have not posted as there is very little good to share. Right now our goal is to keep my pain under control. I am currently being cared for by a wonderful hospice team. All treatment options have ended. As they say....It's the end of the road.
For you and many very curious, I will provide an update this week. It's a very emotional time, thus writing will be very difficult as well.
Thanks for checking in. Many blessings to you and those you love.
Kathy
God Bless You - I have followed you for a long long time and was always celebrating your successes with you. Cancer is a monster and it seems that once it gets a hold of you, you will see it again. God be with you as you make your journey and with your family as they mourn.
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