I just wanted to say "Congrats" this form of cancer is eating people up every single day. I felt very moved when I read your story and I hope you would please read my mothers and tell me if you have and suggestions on anything.


My Moms Battle with Colon/Rectal Cancer and a permanent Colostomy
My mother is the greatest, and I am here to tell you why..........
My mom is now just turned 60 in March, and her life in just the past 6 years has been worse than a life time of anyone elses bad days.

August of 2003, she was out of state visiting one of my brothers and she had a blockage. Didn't think anything about it until she got home and when to the doctor. He sent her to an Oncology doctor to have some tests taken. The doctor that she was sent to did a colonoscopy and found 4 palaps. They told her after the procedure that they removed 3 and the fourth one was irritated and red so they couldn't get to it. However, they would keep and eye on it and in 6 mo they would do another procedure. Well in november she was taken to emergency because she was blocked again. Come to find out that 4th palap was inlarged to the size of a red potato and stage 3 colon rectal cancer. This is where the surgeries began. She was sent to an oncologist at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor to have the surgery taken care of there. The surgery was done in Feb. 2004 and it was a colon/rectal resectioning with a non reversible colostomy. So for the rest of her life, and she was only 56 years old, she would have to deal with changing and everything else that goes with a colostomy. She then went thru a 12 week course of Chemo-Therapy and then a 6 week with radiation and Chemo, and then a 12 again with just Chemo. Almost a year after the surgery she was finally thinking things would come back to normal. Wrong!!
In Jan. 2005 she had a hernia repair done behing the stoma for the colostomy, and then was told she was in remittion. We were hopeful at this time. In September of the same year she was told with a PET scan that the cancer was back and growing and spreading. So we went thru more Chemo, this time it was agressive chemo and it made her really sick. Then in Nov 2006 she had another hernia repair and my uncle passed with esophagus cancer. This caused her to finally get mad. Her spirits were awesome thru all of the above until we lost him. He had been diagnosed only 2 months prior to passing and this was her big brother and it really put her in a state.
She stopped all treatment because she just decided she wanted quantity of life not quality. In August of last year she was doing great she had started to drive but still there were side affect she had to deal with like not feeling her feet they wer numb, not being able to touch cold foods it made her freeze. It all started to get better, then she was on her porch and slipped on a wet spot and went down wrong and broke her hip. Had hip surgery and has not yet fully recovered from that when in Feb of this year she had her 3rd and final hernia repair. About 3 weeks ago she thought the colostomy had broken no big deal happens about twice a month, but when she went to take care of it, the problem was not the colostomy, but the incision from the hernia repair had opened. It was full of infection, puss, liquid and who know what else. Now for the last 3 weeks my father has had to pack her wound and help her take care of an open wound. Now she is depressed and starting to give up. She is weak, cold, and wetting the bed on a daily basis. I am scarred we only have a short amount of time left with her and I am trying to be strong for her, my dad, the family and the kids and don't know how much more I can handle.

This is my mom story, what I am worried about is the depression and the giving up any thoughts or suggestions you may have would be welcome.
Thank you

i not going to write much but i can relate with you on this topic fredenishen_r because it was almost the same thing as far as going to the docs and even with alternative treatments. i am 24 years old but was diagnosed at 23. i didnt know at first that my cancer was at stage 4 until later in my treatment. my mother told the docs not to tell me anything for fear i might fall into deep depresstion and give up my fight. but after i found out all i could was cry. but this was a life chaging experience i had to have the surgery and everything i think in total i was in the hospital for about 1 and half months. i am now finished with my chemo and and everything is looking up.

Thank you all for your stories. They have truely helped me to feel better at such a difficult time in my life. My mom was diagnosed a year and half ago with stage 4 colon cancer at 54 years old. She has had a rough time with the chemotherapy but is still not giving up. I need to hear the stories of the strong people that have actually beat this cancer! It gives me hope that I am going to pass along to her. PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH ANY OTHER TIPS TO HELP HER NOT ONLY DEAL WITH THIS CANCER AND THE TREATMENT BUT I TRUELY NEED ADVICE ON HOW TO BEAT LIKE YOU ALL DID! Feel free to email me. I would love to hear from you and thank you for the inspiration!

My sister has been in stage 4 since March of 07, she didnt even complete one round of chemo and decided not to do chemo anymore. She is fighting so hard, I just wonder how long she can go on like this, she is now bleeding vaginally, they did a complete hysterrectomy when they found the cancer in march of o7. Can you give me any info that you have. I am so sorry to hear about your mother, is she continuing to have chemo. I will keep you in my prayers.

Thanks Mary C

Thank you for sharing like this. My friend was diagnosed with colon cancer late last year. He just got the news that it has spread to his lymph nodes and believes that it is over. I'm here searching for stories on people who are fighting this disease. Your words really help... I will pass on this site to him and hope it gives him some strength also.

http://csn.cancer.org/

In response to fredenishen_r post. Congratulations! Quite inspiring. My mother was diagnosed with stage IV in January of 08. After 3 surgeries and 6 months of chemo they told her she was in remission, only to be told in July of 09 that it had come back! Now it has spread to her lungs. She is actually having an operation tomorrow to remove the two lung nodules that they found on her CT Scan.
She has the most positive attitude and best spirit of anyone I know, and it has only gotten better within the last couple of years. I know that people can beat this cancer I KNOW IT!!! One thing that does bother me and I am always afraid to say it is the hype and awareness that Breast Cancer patients receive. Please don't get me wrong I would never try to downplay anyone battle against cancer as I have been living so close to it for so long, however, I feel that ALL CANCER PATIENTS should receive the same type of recognition and national support as breast cancer patients receive! Am I Crazy for thinking this?? Either way, your story inspired me, she isn't giving up and NO ONE SHOULD! You can beat this! And when people say a positive attitude helps, please believe them, because I have seen it first hand!

I am so glad I found this sight. My husband (50) was just diagnosed. This is his second time around, orginally diagnosed with Hodgkins at age 36 and had been cancer free for the past 14 years. He has had a MRI and CT and going back for a second CT today to determine if a spot on his right kidney is also cancer. I am terrified, your stories have helped. Thank you!!

I personally know a few people who have beat it.
I was diagnosed in March 08 with stage 4 colon cancer. It had spread to my liver & lungs. My first surgery was in May 08 where they removed the cancer from my colon. This was followed by 6 months of chemo. Last December, I had surgery to remove as much of the cancer from my liver as they medically could (75%) and then 4 more months of chemo. I did great for 6 months but have just found out a new tumor is developing in the old section of my liver that they could not remove (the amazing thing about your liver is that it regenerates after surgery!) I go to see my surgeon in 2 weeks to find out what he wants to do now (either another liver resection or ablation) followed by 6 more months of chemo.
The spots on my lungs seem to be stable and the colon is still clean.
I feel very confident we are going to beat this!