This is all good to know. As I've stated. I have stage 4 rectal cancer. Which is both bad and good. Why? HIPEC. Which is similar to stage three " moping up " the cancer to reduce future problems. Stage 4 is bad. And most often terminal. I am not terminal. Standard surgery won't work for me. So this is the path I'm going down. I don't know if I'll lose my rectum. At least not yet. But I'll live. So I'm happy.
I’m so sorry. Getting a cancer diagnosis is so scary, but there are unfortunately many others out there in a similar situation. Know that you aren’t alone, and there are many of us that are more than willing to connect and help each other through this difficult time. I’m here for you 💙
Lots of good info here.. I was diagnosed on Jan 17 22 with colorectal cancer too. Taking a while to get all these tests. Not sure what stage I’m in, was told I’m gunna probably have a bag for the rest of my life, I’m 47. Hoping it goes well.
Just completed the 3 scans (18F-FDG PET/CT, MRI, and EUS). MRI and EUS agree it's T2, and EUS (but not the other two) saw two suspicious local lymph nodes, so here comes chemo - T2N1M0. No symptoms ever - discovered during a screening colonoscopy. Your narrative captures the array of hassles/tasks which fill each week. Solid videos - thanks.
I suspect I have colon cancer. Currently waiting for a call to schedule a colonoscopy. Also worried it has spread to my liver because my liver enzymes and calcium levels were elevated... anyone have experience with this? I’m hoping I am just being paranoid and it’s all just due to IBS or something. Been watching and learning everything I can about colon cancer. Thanks for the videos!
I don't have personal experience with elevated liver enzymes or calcium levels so I unfortunately can't help you with that one. I hope you get the call soon to schedule your colonoscopy!
I didn’t ever get body aches or a fever, but I did have some nausea and diarrhea. The nausea was pretty well managed with meds. Having the ileostomy while going through FOLFOX helped keep me from experiencing any bad diarrhea side effects.
This is so helpful and reassuring. Getting all my tests done this week to see where my stage is. What was the time between May 2016 and first surgery for you?
James Cassidy my surgery was in October 2016. My surgeon wanted to wait closer to 12 weeks after I finished radiation and oral chemo to give the tumor the best opportunity to shrink as much as possible.
Thanks so much for your videos, they're exactly the kind and level of information I was hoping to find. (Note that the poll doesn't show up - maybe it's been too long?) My rectal cancer was diagnosed Aug 18, 2022. It's Stage II T3N0M0. The plan is 5 days of radiation (of which I've so far done 2, the rest is coming up this week), 9 two-day treatments of chemo every two weeks (that sounds like what you did), and then resection surgery. It sounds like I'll only have a temporary ileostomy, for which I'm grateful. I went through many of the same things you did at the beginning. It's fantastic to get input from a survivor instead of a doctor or nurse (I didn't realize the vag dilator was for life...). I'm going to go watch more of your videos now!
Yes, UA-cam has since gotten rid of polls 😕 So happy to hear my videos are exactly what you were looking for 💙 I hope treatment isn’t too rough on you. Thanks for watching!
@@BlackDragon8624 you're welcome! Of course since I'm a CRC survivor a lot of my videos are focused on that, but some parts of the cancer journey are similar for other cancers so I hoped that others like you could still find relevant info. Glad you're finding some good stuff here 💙
As always thank you for all your videos. As far as my CT scan, MRI and blood tests show, my lymph nodes appear to be cancer-free. But you never know until you remove and examine them. I currently am being diagnosed as Stage II, T3 N0 M0. My doctors want my treatment plan to start with 8 rounds of Folfox. Rest 2 weeks. Then 28 days of radiation/light chemo. Rest 10 weeks then surgery with an ileostomy. Rest 3 months then reconnective surgery. I wonder what the difference is in doing the chemo with Folfox up front instead of later?
That’s a good question, and I’m not sure of the answer. If you watched my video where I interviewed another stage 3 survivor she had a similar treatment plan to you. It could be the oncologist’s preference, or perhaps the type of tumor (like if it had certain mutations). 🤷🏻♀️ Best wishes to you as you begin treatment. 💙
Hey, thanks for your videos. I've watched 3 so far. You're a great story teller. What do you mean by bloody mucus? Like red mucus? Small spots of blood in the mucus?
I’m always amazed at how people can get on camera and share such personal stories as these and post them for all the world to see. Maybe I’m just too afraid of being judged. Maybe one day I’ll have the courage to share something. lol Otherwise, thanks for sharing your story. 👍
Jelena this is exactly what I was diagnosed with, stage 3 and the lymph nodes were inflamed. I was scheduled for 8 rounds chemo and after 4 cycles did MRI and lymph nodes had shrunk back to normal and tumor was not visible. completed 2 more rounds of chemo blood work showed high liver enzymes . Oncologist cancelled the last 2 rounds and I start the 5 weeks of radiation and chemo pills on Monday. Thank you so much for sharing your well documented story. It has helped me through this process more than anything else has. Love & health to you and your family
Im so scared 😭. I think I have gastric or colorectal cancer…. And unfortunately all my symptoms were dismissed and so I normalized them for many years. Now, at 32, they are finally taking me seriously and there is a high probability that I do have cancer because even though my age would say its rare.. I have a bunch of swollen lymph nodes now to go along with worsening GI pain. Most concerning being that my left supracavicular node is like 1.5x2.1 cm .. I have done a lot of research to try to find an inkling of hope but .. no virus or infection was found, I havent been sick only tired and constipated and unable to stomach much food .. I have read that these symptoms esp metastasis to the lymph nodes is a very bad sign and poor prognosis. I wanna be strong I do but I feel like Im gonna die .. I feel like although, I shouldve been more self aware and pushed harder to get tests done.. they let me down. They told me I just had anxiety which upset my stomach and made me out to be crazy. Now this is all hitting me hard at once and I just know in my gut that I am screwed.. I just want my life back cause I cant be ok with this
I know you’re scared, and it’s hard to not jump to conclusions, but try not to freak yourself out too much before you get a diagnosis and know for sure what you’re dealing with. Try to take this one step at a time. 💙
@@SurvivorJelena Sorry- I was very upset and in full blown panic mode when I wrote that comment. Just dumping all my fears and emotion there but I am trying to be positive and “hope for the best, prepare for the worst”. I appreciate your response. Thank you ❤️
Make sure that you've voted in my poll (starts at 0:36) to let me know what stage you or a loved one was diagnosed.
This is all good to know. As I've stated. I have stage 4 rectal cancer. Which is both bad and good. Why? HIPEC. Which is similar to stage three " moping up " the cancer to reduce future problems. Stage 4 is bad. And most often terminal. I am not terminal. Standard surgery won't work for me. So this is the path I'm going down. I don't know if I'll lose my rectum. At least not yet. But I'll live. So I'm happy.
How are you
@@okthen5000 I beat cancer. Just to have it come back. So I'm beating it again.
@@onlyhereonce7290how are you now?
Just diagnosed this week at 33 and a mom of three. I’m so scared right now. Thank you for sharing. I have been feeling so alone. All the best to you.
I’m so sorry. Getting a cancer diagnosis is so scary, but there are unfortunately many others out there in a similar situation. Know that you aren’t alone, and there are many of us that are more than willing to connect and help each other through this difficult time. I’m here for you 💙
Thank you. I will continue to follow your posts for encouagement.
Lots of good info here.. I was diagnosed on Jan 17 22 with colorectal cancer too. Taking a while to get all these tests. Not sure what stage I’m in, was told I’m gunna probably have a bag for the rest of my life, I’m 47. Hoping it goes well.
So sorry about your diagnosis. There are SO many tests! Hope things go well for you too.
I was diagnosed stage 3 no mo March 7. We go to surgeon next week. Thank you for videos.
You’re welcome 💙 I hope you have a good meeting with the surgeon.
We just found out my husband has colon cancer, we are waiting on biopsy results to learn more. You are really an inspiration. Ive enjoyed your videos.
Just completed the 3 scans (18F-FDG PET/CT, MRI, and EUS). MRI and EUS agree it's T2, and EUS (but not the other two) saw two suspicious local lymph nodes, so here comes chemo - T2N1M0.
No symptoms ever - discovered during a screening colonoscopy.
Your narrative captures the array of hassles/tasks which fill each week. Solid videos - thanks.
Your channel is amazing. I was just diagnosed and my ct is next week. 😮
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Glad to help you out with my videos along your way.
Hi hun, this is my plan, but I am T4....Meeting with team on Wednesday.
As long as it hasn’t metastasized to any organs, this is a common treatment plan. Hope the meeting goes well 🤞🏼💙
Just been diagnosed but don't know stage yet. MRI next....I think you are wonderful ❤ ♥ ✨ I have same Ca as you
Thank you 🥰 I hope you can have the same outcome as me 🤞🏼
I just had my port put in on Thursday and start chemo this week. I will be doing 12 rounds of Folfox.
Jelena I am just getting started I am 71 they have to check my heart ferst
This is awesome information. I am exactly at this stage. Thank you so much for sharing your story.♥️
How did your diet change post cancer and what preventive measures do you take besides scheduled dr visits?
I suspect I have colon cancer. Currently waiting for a call to schedule a colonoscopy. Also worried it has spread to my liver because my liver enzymes and calcium levels were elevated... anyone have experience with this? I’m hoping I am just being paranoid and it’s all just due to IBS or something. Been watching and learning everything I can about colon cancer. Thanks for the videos!
I don't have personal experience with elevated liver enzymes or calcium levels so I unfortunately can't help you with that one. I hope you get the call soon to schedule your colonoscopy!
Survivor Jelena thank you!
How are you now
Heidi-Ho how are you doing? Did you get a colonoscopy yet?
Unfortunately I am still waiting because of coronavirus... thank you for asking!
Great info!
Thanks 😀
Hi did u get severe body aches during treatment? How bad was the diarrhea and nausea??did u ever get fever ?
I didn’t ever get body aches or a fever, but I did have some nausea and diarrhea. The nausea was pretty well managed with meds. Having the ileostomy while going through FOLFOX helped keep me from experiencing any bad diarrhea side effects.
I am stage 4. Metastasis to my right lung
I’m so sorry to hear this. Have you started treatment? If so, how has it been?
How are you now?
This is EXACTLY what I have and the steps I am going through.
How did I miss this vedio ☹️☹️☹️ my brother has stage three and thank God it didn't spread anywhere else
Well I’m glad you found it 😃. That’s very good they managed to catch it at stage 3.
This is so helpful and reassuring. Getting all my tests done this week to see where my stage is. What was the time between May 2016 and first surgery for you?
James Cassidy my surgery was in October 2016. My surgeon wanted to wait closer to 12 weeks after I finished radiation and oral chemo to give the tumor the best opportunity to shrink as much as possible.
Thanks so much for your videos, they're exactly the kind and level of information I was hoping to find. (Note that the poll doesn't show up - maybe it's been too long?)
My rectal cancer was diagnosed Aug 18, 2022. It's Stage II T3N0M0. The plan is 5 days of radiation (of which I've so far done 2, the rest is coming up this week), 9 two-day treatments of chemo every two weeks (that sounds like what you did), and then resection surgery. It sounds like I'll only have a temporary ileostomy, for which I'm grateful.
I went through many of the same things you did at the beginning. It's fantastic to get input from a survivor instead of a doctor or nurse (I didn't realize the vag dilator was for life...). I'm going to go watch more of your videos now!
Yes, UA-cam has since gotten rid of polls 😕 So happy to hear my videos are exactly what you were looking for 💙 I hope treatment isn’t too rough on you. Thanks for watching!
Just got diagnosed stage 3 rectal cancer. Starting out on my chemo and radiation treatment journey.
I was diagnosed with stage IB Esophageal cancer. I get my final test results Monday to see if I stay at stage IB or go to stage IV.
Oh my gosh, I hope it stays at 1B 🤞. Sending you strength as you impatiently wait over the weekend to get the results.
@@SurvivorJelena Thanks for these videos. I know it's not the exact same thing, but they have been very useful especially the one on the port. :)
@@BlackDragon8624 you're welcome! Of course since I'm a CRC survivor a lot of my videos are focused on that, but some parts of the cancer journey are similar for other cancers so I hoped that others like you could still find relevant info. Glad you're finding some good stuff here 💙
Stage IV rectal cancer. It spread to anus and sphincter and vagina during treatment. Permanent colostomy and partial vaginectomy.
As always thank you for all your videos. As far as my CT scan, MRI and blood tests show, my lymph nodes appear to be cancer-free. But you never know until you remove and examine them. I currently am being diagnosed as Stage II, T3 N0 M0. My doctors want my treatment plan to start with 8 rounds of Folfox. Rest 2 weeks. Then 28 days of radiation/light chemo. Rest 10 weeks then surgery with an ileostomy. Rest 3 months then reconnective surgery. I wonder what the difference is in doing the chemo with Folfox up front instead of later?
That’s a good question, and I’m not sure of the answer. If you watched my video where I interviewed another stage 3 survivor she had a similar treatment plan to you. It could be the oncologist’s preference, or perhaps the type of tumor (like if it had certain mutations). 🤷🏻♀️ Best wishes to you as you begin treatment. 💙
Such great information on all of this. Thank you for sharing with us
wraith hunters of ohio thank you! My hope is to share as much information on all aspects of this to help make it a less mysterious disease.
I looked ahead searching for the word "ileostomy", I found it, so sorry.
Hey, thanks for your videos. I've watched 3 so far. You're a great story teller. What do you mean by bloody mucus? Like red mucus? Small spots of blood in the mucus?
Thank you! 💙. For me, it was blood mixed in with the mucus.
Stage 2
Thank you.
I’m always amazed at how people can get on camera and share such personal stories as these and post them for all the world to see. Maybe I’m just too afraid of being judged. Maybe one day I’ll have the courage to share something. lol Otherwise, thanks for sharing your story. 👍
It's kind of therapeutic, but I also don't like going back and watching my older videos 😅
I am in the testing phase.
Best wishes to you 💙
Jelena this is exactly what I was diagnosed with, stage 3 and the lymph nodes were inflamed. I was scheduled for 8 rounds chemo and after 4 cycles did MRI and lymph nodes had shrunk back to normal and tumor was not visible. completed 2 more rounds of chemo blood work showed high liver enzymes . Oncologist cancelled the last 2 rounds and I start the 5 weeks of radiation and chemo pills on Monday.
Thank you so much for sharing your well documented story. It has helped me through this process more than anything else has.
Love & health to you and your family
One step done in treatment 👏🏼🎉 Best of luck as you start chemo pills and radiation on Monday 💙
May I ask mam, if you had feeling of like hemmoroids? And did your back hurts? During before the diagnosis?
No, I didn’t have any pain before my diagnosis, it others did.
Love your story. I went from stage 0
To 4 this year with no family history.
Oh my goodness!
How are you doing now?
Im so scared 😭. I think I have gastric or colorectal cancer…. And unfortunately all my symptoms were dismissed and so I normalized them for many years. Now, at 32, they are finally taking me seriously and there is a high probability that I do have cancer because even though my age would say its rare.. I have a bunch of swollen lymph nodes now to go along with worsening GI pain. Most concerning being that my left supracavicular node is like 1.5x2.1 cm .. I have done a lot of research to try to find an inkling of hope but .. no virus or infection was found, I havent been sick only tired and constipated and unable to stomach much food .. I have read that these symptoms esp metastasis to the lymph nodes is a very bad sign and poor prognosis. I wanna be strong I do but I feel like Im gonna die .. I feel like although, I shouldve been more self aware and pushed harder to get tests done.. they let me down. They told me I just had anxiety which upset my stomach and made me out to be crazy. Now this is all hitting me hard at once and I just know in my gut that I am screwed.. I just want my life back cause I cant be ok with this
I know you’re scared, and it’s hard to not jump to conclusions, but try not to freak yourself out too much before you get a diagnosis and know for sure what you’re dealing with. Try to take this one step at a time. 💙
@@SurvivorJelena Sorry- I was very upset and in full blown panic mode when I wrote that comment. Just dumping all my fears and emotion there but I am trying to be positive and “hope for the best, prepare for the worst”. I appreciate your response. Thank you ❤️
I love your explanations
Thank you 💙