catherinemarr's Journey with Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
Patient: Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
Patient Info: Finished active treatment less than 5 years ago, Diagnosed: almost 9 years ago, Female, 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).
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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Work problems
Oh No
ive been unable to work since diagnosis,we are practically destitute.....no insurance either IVE APPLIED for medicaid and disability no word
Colon surgery (colectomy or hemicolectomy)
Procedure or Surgery
initial diagnosis was leading to immediate colon surgury,nodes an polyps were all negative,but three days later developed peritionitis,more radical surgury,,two months in hospital trying to recover,,,,,secondary muscle weakness also have post polio syndrome,which slows recovery further,,,,,im improving but terribly slowly,,,,,,developed a clot in left leg after this but thankfully no chemo or radiation so far.....this began in june 2012
Body part/function
Loss
a two month in the hospital,for three abdominal surguries,,left me with severe weakness left the hospital with nooo ability to walk,no money for rehab,,this was on aug 13th,2012,,now,dec 2nd ,2012 I CAN TAKE SOME STEPS BUT STILL UNABLE TO WORK
Cancer is back/Recurred
Oh No
call from oncologist this am,CEA test is elevated further than October,,,this is a cancer marker test,she reccommends PET scan,and We have no insurance and no money
Cancer is back/Recurred
Oh No
CEA is up,15 in October...40 in January need PET scan,per oncologist,no insurance,no cash...scrambling for funding,living in fear,AGAIN
Cancer has spread/Metastasized
Oh No
PET scan reveals lesion on Liver now will probably require more surgery and chemo,,,,very depressed also turned down medical funding
Decision Point
we decided to move into Dallas for further care ,as there was none forthcoming in the small town Cleburne Texas,,this was traumatic,but also exciting as we moved closer to family
Oh No
Second Pet scan displayed a 2.5 cm lesion on liver,need surgery than chemotherapy...seeing surgeon this am VERRRY WORRIED previous surgeries have been disastrous
Surgery
Procedure or Surgery
Just returned home from liver resection yesterday,,Ill have to say,while no picnic,It was very quickly to recover from,in fact,Im restraining myself from moving too quickly! What a difference from the from the first summer.Dr Tropp and team at UT SCIENCE in Dallas are first class!
Chemotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
on my ninth chemo,nine out of twelve,minimal side effects ,mainly neuropathy,but certainly livable.Im taking folfax,and consider myself lucky ,,,,,soooo farrrr