tjsantorelli's Journey with Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
Survivor: Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
Patient Info: Finished active treatment less than 5 years ago, Diagnosed: about 12 years ago, Female, Age: 49, KRAS mutation positive: Don't Know, BRAF mutation positive: Don't Know, Stage II
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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).
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Other Care: Draft this icon to show a time when you needed other care (e.g., hospice, psychotherapy).
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Diagnosed
Oh No
I cant believe that I was being diagnosed with rectal cancer at age of 37, what did it mean for me and my children. How can this be happening to me I was young.
Chemotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
External radiation
Radiation
I worked everyday after my treatments in the morning. I was very tired but the actual treatment did not effect my body until my very last two weeks. I had problems going to the bathroom and painful urination. it subsided in a few weeks right before my surgery.
Vaginal dryness or irritation
Side Effects
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Removal of rectal tumor
Procedure or Surgery
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Body part/function
Loss
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
How do I tell my children, mom has cancer?
Decision Point
I have to say I was extremely upset and worried about telling my then 18 year old and 8 year old. How would they react. I dont want them to worry. They were fine as long as they knew mom was going to be ok.
the cancer is not in my lymph nodes
Celebration
One of the best days of my life was hearing that the cancer had not spread to my lymph nodes.
Other Care
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.