My Journey so Far

I decided to keep a journal to help me get through this horrible disease.  I hope I will be able to hear from others that are in the same boat as I am and help others so they can catch this earlier and not have to go through this.

I was going to write about all the medical mistakes that led me to where I am but that's water under the bridge now and I refuse to dwell on it.  My fight is the here and now with Colon Cancer not what did or didn't happen to get me here.

I am a 51 year old mother and grandmother and I was diagnosed as Colon Cancer Stage 4.  I had surgery to removed the right side of my colon, my belly button (yes I have no belly button!) the Omentum and 13 lymph nodes 7 weeks ago yesterday.  A 5 cm cancer tumour was found blocking my colon, a 2-3cm tumor was found on the inside of my belly button, 1 out of 13 lymph nodes had cancer in them and the Omentum had cancer in it.

I went to see an Oncologist, Dr. S, and she told me that the pathology report showed I had Stage 4 colon cancer and it was the primary cancer.  There had been some doubt until then that the colon cancer could have been a secondary cancer and that the primary was someplace else.  She said she didn't have all the information that she wanted yet and wanted a blood test for the colon cancer markers in my blood.  They had gone from 166 before surgery to 5.9 after surgery.  I had thought this was good but she didn't.  She said it could mean I still have more cancer inside.  If the count doesn't go down I may have to get a PET scan.  She ordered a CT scan on my chest, abdomen and pelvis to be done at my hometown hospital.  What she told me next terrified and confused me.
She said
IF the surgeon got all the cancer out then I would have Chemo and I have a 30% cure rate and a 70% chance the cancer will come back someplace else.
IF the surgeon didn't get all the cancer during surgery and it's operable then I will travel out of province to have it removed then chemo.
IF the surgeon didn't get it all and it's inoperable then I will go on pallitive care.

I was understandably upset and thank God my husband and daughter were with me because they quickly explained that this is what they tell anyone with cancer when they don't know the specifics yet.  I was scared and they comforted me and after I thought more on it they were right, it isn't specific to my case yet.  Statistics show that some people do survive this and it might as well be me!

I went for a follow-up appointment with my surgeon, Dr. P., and he seemed very pleased with the CEA going from 166 to 5.9 and extremely pleased at how the surgery went.  He's pretty positive he removed all the cancer during the surgery and he has a very positive outlook on my case.  He spoke to the oncologist and told her that he felt he removed it all too.  It sure was a change from the Oncologist!  So for now I am going with what Dr. P. says because that has everything to do with MY specific case at this time!

I have another appointment with Dr. S. the Oncologist on Friday.  I am hoping I will get information about my case and a treatment plan.  If not, I think I will be shopping for a new Oncologist!