PhillieG's Avatar

PhillieG

Monroe, NY

  • Patient: Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
    Patient Info: Living with cancer as a chronic illness (undergoing adjuvant therapy), Diagnosed: over 8 years ago, Male, Age: 54, Stage IV
  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    New Follow 2 months ago

    PhillieG

    is following CarolLHRN

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    New Follow 2 months ago

    PhillieG

    is following Does anyone have any information about college scholarships for children of cancer patients?

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    New Follow 2 months ago

    PhillieG

    is following How has cancer changed you?

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    New Follow 2 months ago

    PhillieG

    is following rustysflygirl

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    New Follow 2 months ago

    PhillieG

    is following newly diagnosed colon cancer and possible job loss

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    Experience 3 months ago

    PhillieG

    Celebration (Anniversary): On Feb 25, 2004 I was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer. On Feb 25, 2012 it marked 8 years of my "Living with Cancer".
    It was a good day..?
    :-)

    • ttisme's Avatar

      Comment 3 months ago

      ttisme

      yeah! (what's going on)

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    New Follow 5 months ago

    PhillieG

    is following Time after cancer

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    Experience 6 months ago

    PhillieG

    Oh No (Cancer has spread/Metastasized): Lymph nodes in lung look inflamed/larger. Quite possibly a problem. Going to go back on Irinotecan & Erbitux every other week until further notice. I have had some bad reactions to Irinotecan where I get stomach cramps that can be real bad. I am waiting until next week to start up with that since I want to enjoy Thanksgiving. I also have one of those Erbitux ulcer growths on my right "Grand Toe" that is causing a lot of pain. I will have to have them cut the nail away on that toe. That's loads of fun too...

    I just had my second infusion of Irinotecan & Erbitux yesterday. It really knocked my socks off but I do not feel too bad today. I've found if I get up and get out I can do pretty well for a while. I hope I haven't spoken too soon...

    • Ratan's Avatar

      Comment 6 months ago

      Ratan

      Hi Phlip,
      I was Reading ur some of the Coments i was so happy for u.My Name Ratan i.m from South Africa.My Wife she is 42 & She's haveing a Rectum Cancer Stage iv.When i Read ur Dtory i read to her She is so Happy.We are a normal Family form South Africa.And we want to get a treatment but our finance is not that Strong.She & me we both Surfing at the internet for a Trial some institute in USA.Well u are a Survivor of A Cancer.Is there any kinda way u might know that we can get a Trial for my wife it would help us Lot.Maybe I can have my in my Life for Few more Years.Thank you Very Much.My e-mail id:[email redacted]

    • PhillieG's Avatar

      Comment 6 months ago

      PhillieG

      Sorry to hear your wife is not well. I do not know of any trials. I suggest you search the ACS site any Govt sites to see what's available.

  • RE16's Avatar  

    Wall Post 6 months ago

    RE16 wrote on PhillieG's wall

    Hi Phil, just popped in to say hello and wish you well!

    • PhillieG's Avatar

      Comment 6 months ago

      PhillieG

      Hi RE, doing ok..trying to spend a little more time over here now. Hope you are well too.

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    New Follow 7 months ago

    PhillieG

    is following Jane

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    Experience 7 months ago

    PhillieG

    Celebration (RFA went A-OK): The RFA went well and I was able to get home the same day. I was concerned that since I had a sort of late start time (12:30) that I might not get out the same day but things went smoothly. I feel a bit sore, as to be expected, but at least I'm a sore winner!
    Still on chemo, I go back on Nov 2nd for more...

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    Experience 7 months ago

    PhillieG

    Procedure or Surgery (Implant chemotherapy port): Shortly after getting my second opinion at Sloan and we had a plan of action, I had my port installed at a different hospital. I started chemo right away.

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    Wall Post 7 months ago

    PhillieG wrote on Kimbre's wall

    Welcome Kimbre

  • Jayne's Avatar  

    Wall Post 8 months ago

    Jayne wrote on PhillieG's wall

    PhillieG: was reading your story, I see an amazing Thorasic surgeon at Duke (Thomas D'Amico) who is spearheading lung wedge resections laproscopically. I've had 4 surgeries this way and the recovery sounds much easier than what you endure. Might want to ask your docs at Sloan about it?

    • PhillieG's Avatar

      Comment 7 months ago

      PhillieG

      He uses a Spearhead???
      Ouch ;-)

    • Jayne's Avatar

      Comment 7 months ago

      Jayne

      Bad choice of words! Too funny.....

    • PhillieG's Avatar

      Comment 7 months ago

      PhillieG

      Hi Jayne, just to follow up, I had my RFA done on Oct 17 and it went very well. I am back on chemo as of last week. I'll have a scan in another week or two.
      I hope you are doing well

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    New Follow 8 months ago

    PhillieG

    is following Jean

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    New Follow 8 months ago

    PhillieG

    is following Looking for similar treatment of colon cancer.

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    New Follow 8 months ago

    PhillieG

    is following Using public transportation while undergoing chemo

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    Update 8 months ago

    PhillieG posted an update

    I met with the Radiologist who has done my previous RFAs and we set a date for RFA #4. October 17th. It's become a yearly thing and I'm fine with it. Of course I'd RATHER be done with cancer but this beats cancer being done with me! It's an easy procedure (for me so far) and I plan on having it be a same day procedure. It really was nice to see the doctor and his nurse again. It's funny how one can develop relationships/friendships with people. I wish I didn't just see them under these circumstances but that's how it goes...Maybe I'll see them on the street one day and I'll treat them to lunch!
    ;-)

    • RE16's Avatar

      Comment 8 months ago

      RE16

      You're a good egg so to speak! I hope all goes smoothly for you! I really like my onco and way back when I first had chemo my husband used to get free ski tickets so we would share them with him as he loves to ski. It was a little gesture of friendship, he has done so much for me we wanted to do something for him.

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    Experience 8 months ago

    PhillieG

    Procedure or Surgery (RFA): So I have a date set for my 4th RFA. It will be on October 17th. It seems like they are yearly procedures at this point of my journey and I am 100% comfortable with this. It's become routine for me and the "plan" is that I will be out the same day barring any problems.

    • Jane's Avatar

      Comment 7 months ago

      Jane

      What is an RFA. My cancer has been in my lung twice. I had shaped beam radiation the first time. The second time it was in the scar tissue so needed surgery. I was in icu for 4days and long recovery at home. I'm not looking forward to that if I have it in the lung again.

    • PhillieG's Avatar

      Comment 7 months ago

      PhillieG

      RFA: Radio Frequency Ablation.
      They insert a needle into the tumor, then heat it up which dissolves the tumor. It can't be used all the time on everyone but over the past 4 years, I've been having small tumors grow in both lungs that were able to be taken out that way. I know what you mean about surgeries, I've had 3 of them on my lungs. Two other surgeries for the initial colon and liver work. IF you can have the RFA done, it's so much easier Jane. It's certainly worth looking in to. I went home the same day, you can't beat that...
      I hope this is of some help to you
      -p

  • PhillieG's Avatar  

    New Follow 8 months ago

    PhillieG

    is following How did you tell your boss you have cancer? Knowing what you know now, would you do anything differently?