6 hours ago · @pworley · Chemo or not?

Just had t-4nomo tumor removed. No lymph node invasaion. Got a 6 on the recurrence score on oncotype test. Doctor wants to do chemo but I am getting another opinion to help decide? Anyone else had this situation? Any thoughts? [...]

Posted by pworley, 6 hours ago

Thank you for the information

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Posted by pworley, 6 hours ago

Thank you

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Sat, Aug 25 9:53am · @HesterBIDMCModerator · Question about Be Well Programs

I have been asked to give a lecture at a training session for Be Well instructors. I know that many of you have taken this course at the Y, and I am hoping you will give me your suggestions. What do you wish the instructor had known? Were there topics [...]

Sat, Aug 25 9:51am · @411769p · Stage IV colon cancer

I've been Xeloda, Irinotecan and Avastin for a year and I've become resistant to all of them. My oncologist is recommending Lonsurf. Anyone out there with any experiences with this drug. [...]

Posted by bethbourg, Sat, Aug 25, 2018 9:51am

I’m following your thread as my husband on the same path. Lonsurf is next on the list....

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Thu, Aug 23 9:22pm · @lolymo2569 · After chemo

I have finished chemo in march for colon cancer. Since then I have been fatigued and exhausted, weak and not much of an appetite. Is it normal for the fatigue to last thing long after chemo ends? Does anybody know? Thank you in advance for any help that anyone [...]

Posted by charles, Thu, Aug 23, 2018 8:14am

Certainly can; there are however other common causes of fatigue post treatment. The most common of which are anemia and insomnia. Make sure you are not anemic and if you are having trouble sleeping talk to your doctor. its an easy fix!
C

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Posted by skadad, Thu, Aug 23, 2018 9:22pm

Might want to get your B12 levels checked too. Had the same issue for several months and discovered that was the cause.

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Wed, Aug 22 8:13am · @marunemom2082 · Skin rash and itching

Is there something that I can use [...]

Posted by bethbourg, Wed, Aug 22, 2018 8:13am

If you think it is a chemo reaction let your oncologist or nurse know. My husband ended up with several prescriptions from dermatology due to chemo side effects on skin.

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Sun, Jul 22 8:24am · @lisacan · Intra Abdominal abscess

Hi, I am new here, my husband was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer that metastasized to his peritoneum and ometum. He had the colon resection on 2/1/18. Went through 6 rounds of chemo. then on 6/3/18 he was near death when I took him to ER, he was having [...]

Posted by carolcowan, Sun, Jul 22, 2018 8:24am

lisacan,
I'm Carol, a moderator here. I'm also a retired oncology and hospice RN. Welcome to the group. The nurse who told you she "would be after blood" and that she'd never seen that did you no favors. My role as a nurse is to help you deal with what's

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Thu, Jul 19 8:23am · @HesterBIDMCModerator · Considering Summer

Depending on how you measure it, we are either middway through summer (that would be June 21-September 21) or holding on tightly as we see the end coming (that would be Memorial Day to Labor Day. However you think about the season, it is short. Please read these thoughts and [...]

Mon, Aug 27 1:18pm · @kzinzer · Free or Reduced Hair/Nails/Skin Services for OH Patients & Caregivers

"Healing Hands Power of Touch" in Columbus OH offers patients free wigs and a free handmade turban.... And haircuts (free for patients-survivors/$5 caregiver), manicures ($5/$10), pedicures ($10/$15), facials ($5/$15) and more. Services are provided with students and supervisors. There are a few locations. I visited "The Spa School" @ 5050 [...]

Posted by marunemom2082, Sun, Aug 26, 2018 8:03am

My husband has boils in his arm pit has anyone had this and what did u do

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Posted by carolcowan, Mon, Aug 27, 2018 1:18pm

That must be very painful. You definitely need to get a doctor's help with that.
Carol

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Mon, Jul 16 7:55am · @taylor1365 · CEA level

I was diagnosed with stage III colon last year, had an elevated CEA level that normalized after surgery. My last CEA level was 1.4 at the end of chemo and for my first 3month check yesterday its 9.8. Has anyone ever had a false CEA? I have scans in a [...]

Posted by georgebeker, Mon, Jul 16, 2018 6:49am

My wishes go your way. Based on my experience, CEA has not been a good predictor and level changes have brought much worry. A question, please - what was the CEA level before the chemo/surgery?

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Posted by taylor1365, Mon, Jul 16, 2018 7:55am

Thank you. 8.4 but then 0 postsurgery leveling out to 1.4-1.7 for the past year. The 9.8 was a big jump. I panicked and know that it just means look close and they are.

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Thu, Jul 12 3:32am · @ranij · Pain on the left side upper thigh

Pursuant to my posting of 7th June 2018 above, I would like your advice as I have now completed my six courses of Xeloda tablets on 25th June 2018, and the oncology Dr has asked me to see him only on 5th November, 2018 prior to which I have to [...]

Mon, Jul 23 9:24am · @HesterBIDMCModerator · Insensitive Comments

We all get them: the comments about our cancers that leave us furious, in tears, or speechless. Here are my thoughts and some suggestions re how to manage them. Please read the blog and then come back here to share your experiences: How to Reply to the Ominous, the Invasive [...]

Posted by 10speedack, Mon, Jul 23, 2018 7:24am

Good Morning. I don't know how I got to this page when I opened the site up, but I read your posts and thought about it. With me, the best way to handle all the comments is with honesty. I just tell folks what I know and what i am

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Posted by HesterBIDMCModerator, Mon, Jul 23, 2018 9:24am

You clearly have a mature and very useful perspective. Thank you for sharing and, especially, for your humor.

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Liked by 10speedACK

Sat, Jul 14 10:33am · @HesterBIDMCModerator · All I learned from my patients

Hester Hill Schnipper, LICSW, OSW-C, and author of our Living with Cancer blog, writes about her last day as a social worker at BIDMC. Read her thoughts and see what she's up to next (including continuing to write the blog!). http://bit.ly/2KUMNbk BIDMC.ORG Transitions and Remarks | BIDMC Translations on [...]

Posted by kzinzer, Sat, Jul 14, 2018 10:33am

Thanks for sharing- that was lovely.

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Mon, Jul 9 8:28am · @kzinzer · "Colontown"

Sharing one more resource to connect to people who are navigating colorectal cancer treatment - whether as one affected, as a family member or as a caregiver. https://colontown.org/ [...]

Fri, Jul 6 11:03am · @HesterBIDMCModerator · Alcohol and Cancer Mortality Risk

Many of us are all too familiar with the continuing discussion about the risks of alcohol consumption and cancer. There have been a number of studies that looked at the association between alcohol and the risk of developing cancer or the risk of recurrence. This one comes at it from [...]

5 days ago · @alexab · Please share any thoughts.

Hello, Cancer Connect. My partner (new partner of 5 months) is gratefully cancer free as of March of this year. The recuperation process after having his colon removed has been extremely challenging. He does not sleep because he is up through the night - every night about 10-15 [...]

Posted by amkeller, Wed, Jul 4, 2018 4:36pm

Your friend might want to try juicing fruits and vegetables, that way he will get all the nutrients that he needs. It is easier to digest and absorb nutrients from liquids than solids. He could try eating some fruits that are easy to digest that doesn't cause gastric upset.

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Posted by alexab, Thu, Jul 5, 2018 4:33pm

My partner is WITHOUT colostomy bag. His most recent operation was Ostomy reversal. Instead, he has had his colon removed and most all function has been diverted to his small intestine. (Please forgive the hard summation.)

Thank you again for your responses.

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