Ann's Journey with Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
Survivor: Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
Patient Info: Finished active treatment more than 5 years ago, Diagnosed: about 24 years ago, Female, Age: 84, Stage IV
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Experience Icon Descriptions
Procedure: Drag this icon to show a procedure.
Radiation: Drag this icon to show a specific radiation therapy experience.
Drug Therapy: Drag this icon to show a specific drug therapy experience.
Clinical Trial: Drag this icon to show a clinical trial experience.
Side Effect: Drag this icon to show experience with a specific side effect.
Oh No: Drag this icon to show when something bad happened (e.g., cancer’s back, lost job).
Celebration: Drag this icon to show when something good happened (e.g., last treatment, hair is back).
Loss: Drag this icon to show a time of loss (e.g., lost hair, lost loved one).
Decision Point: Drag this icon to show a time when you had to make a tough decision.
Other Care: Draft this icon to show a time when you needed other care (e.g., hospice, psychotherapy).
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Cancer has spread/Metastasized
Oh No
9 of 39 lymph nodes are positive
Colon surgery (colectomy or hemicolectomy)
Procedure or Surgery
Whole of ascending colon removed PLUS sigmoid-rectal junction removed. GREAT impact!!
Chemotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
Had PORT-A-CATH implanted in chest and carried its cassette at all times, 24/7. It had 5Fu in it, which was refilled once a week. I had radiation at the same time, 5 days a week at the hospital, as an out patient traveling in.
External radiation
Radiation
I felt VERY ill during this time and developed skin problems. Nausea and weakness may have been from radiation OR chemo -- or a combination may have cause diarrhea which was almost constant.
Diarrhea
Side Effects
Diarrhea, nausea (and some vomiting), fatigue/weakness almost constantly.
Too ill to function normally
Loss
The side/after effects went on for a VERY long time and SEVERELY impacted my life, making normal living impossible.
Could not continue my responsible professional career
Decision Point
After more than 2 years had to decide I could only take a very part-time lower-level professional position---a real loss for me.
Husband at home (still working professionally, however)
Other Care
My husband and daughter living 10 minutes away were marvelous. But totally necessary! (This surgery and treatment started in 1997. In 2001 I had to have a dural fistula in my head repaired by embolization (caused by bowel straining) AND in September 2001 I had emergency open gall bladder surgery. In 2004 and 2005 I had breast cancer surgeries. In 2010 I had a minor rectal surgery for removal of a benign polyp.) I am writing in 2012 and the past year has been very difficult with a recurrence of the after-effects of the colon cancer treatments---unwanted, sudden diarrhea attacks. I am under the care of a GI specialist.