I see the GI surgeon on Tuesday and will find out the plan then. I also have a cyst on a kidney. The wait to get everything done has been agonizing. This all started mid October.

Things are slow and more frustrating than usual due to COVID - sounds like you are just about ready to have all the info gathered you will need to make treatment decisions. Here is a good treatment overview here - understand your options before you MD visit - it will [...]

Thank you Charles. Yes, I have abdominal/pelvic MRI’s and chest CT every 6 months and annual colonoscopy. I noticed some people are followed by oncologist ( my cousin is stage one breast cancer, no chemo/radiation and she has been followed by medical oncologist, not surgeon) It makes sense why oncologist [...]

Frankly it can be either or - as long as you have a defined follow up and surveillance plan in place.

My dad died a few months ago. His wish was to die at home. When the time came, I couldn't make that happen and he died in a nursing home under hospice care. I feel guilty about it sometimes, but mostly I take comfort knowing that he got far better [...]

My Mother died in Michigan less than a week after I had visited her from Texas. The Hospice nurse changed her care the day after I left. She was is Memory Care - died of Alheimer's - not cancer. I will always be glad I was with her near the [...]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Be patient with yourself and grieve at your own pace. My mom has been gone for 15 years and I still miss her. I use nature as my calm, when I see something in nature that makes me smile I know she is standing [...]

Very sorry to hear of the passing of your Mom. You should be proud that you and she fought hard and worked at to seek a solution. It does and will take time. You are doing the right thing by seeking grief support. We lost our Mom 5-years ago and [...]

Thee doctor performing your colonoscopies should be able to provide you with a reason for the denial. If you have been cancer free for 5 years is suspect Medicare no longer believes you need annual colonoscopies. Anyone getting a colonoscopy or other "elective" procedure should always get "pre-approval" from their [...]

Thanks Charles for your response. I am filing an appeal with Medicare as they only allow every 24 mos. With my situation I need to get annually. So without having special circumstances it is only covered every 24 mos

We are praying for you, your mom and family Izzy. Sorry your mom needed the ventilator but aren't we lucky there was one available to ease her breathing for now. I can feel your hope and strength and I am glad you have an aunt that is there too. It [...]

I'm praying for you all.

Colon cancer treatments are rarely an emergency. You seem to be progressing well. Don't sweat the delay, but remember "You are your own best advocate." If you are on Medicare, approvals take a little time, but they usually don't out your progress in jeopardy. I have not had a MRI [...]

My CT was of the lungs, abdomen, and pelvis. My MRI is if the rectum and pelvis where they found the cancerous polyp.

Thanks Beth. Yes, I definitely think this is largely psychological. It’s nice to meet people who understand. It’s amazing that colorectal cancer is so common yet I’ve never met anyone who has or had it. It’s been a lonely journey at times. I had no idea I was going to [...]

Yes the aftermath of colorectal surgery can be very challenging to live with. I have had bowel issues since 2004. Lomotil works for me when gets really bad. Some days it totally sucks! It's just something that you have to learn to deal with. I read a lot of books [...]

So sorry this is taking so much out of you as well as your mother. So many of us try to control what is happening only to eventually figure out we can only control what we eat and put in our body, but the ongoing disease is not something we [...]

Thank you, Marilyn,
I found out yesterday that it has spread to her liver. The doctors at MD Anderson Cancer Center never mentioned the liver to me. It angers me so much not having all the information. The doctors here in MD are great!! They all have taken the time [...]

Charles, thank you. This information is great!!!!!

They gave prescriptions for 3, #1-Prochlorperazine, #2-Lorazepam and #3-Ondansetron. I think they said, if needed, try #1, if that doesn't work well try #2, if that doesn't work try #3. You can ask the MD and nurses. I also recall that certain nausea meds are not recommended with all chemo [...]

In Michigan, treatment center wipes chairs, IV poles, bathroom doors, TV remotes - very satisfied. No visitors. Masks. I'm very confident all protocol is being met where I go for fruit juice (chemo - I don't like that word so I always say "fruit juice").

I hope all goes well with the "fruit juice." I like it "fruit juice" it is.

Thank you. She does want treatment so I'm going to reach out to John Hopkins. I will keep everyone posted.

Hi Izzy, I thought about hospice when my husband was first diagnosed thinking "I don't know what/how to do this".. Then I had a rethink and went nope forget hospice cause that's saying its the end.. Pallative care is OK as they're there for the person to help them with [...]

9 days at Stanford for colon/liver open surgery in Summer 2019. New mask on entry and questions, masks 100% of time inside, staff nursing, MDs and all staff sanitize with every entry and exit of room. Visitor can only enter 1 time per day, 1 visitor at a time. Drive-thru, [...]

If hospital does not take Covid precautions I would delay surgery or switch surgeon and hospital. Also I was supposed to stay overnight after surgery and decided to go home instead. That’s always an option although difficult without someone to stay with u. I was able to hire home nurse.

HI Izzy and Kristy, I totally agree with Kristy's suggestions and just wanted to wish you luck in getting a clearer picture of what is going on. Trust your instincts and don't hesitate to get a second opinion. Most docs have developed their own treatment plans to see what works [...]

Hi Izzy,
- You should definitely get more opinions. Go to a Research & High Number of Patients Cancer Center. University of Pennsylvania or another in Charles' list. High volume research centers see many more patients than smaller community hospitals. They have more advanced imaging techniques and equipment. And top [...]