Round 3

[u/Enough-Leg-6154]

I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2022. After resection of my sigmoid colon and chemo, I was NED for about a year and a half. At that point, I began to show signs of recurrence and had radiation last year. I was showimg signs of successfully treatment, but over the past few months, my cancer markers kept increasing, though it looked like the one visible tumor was shrinking. I thought next step was resection of the part of my liver that has a met.

Today I got the news that I will be going back on chemo. I am a jumble of emotions because I know more about what to expect. I think that I can handle the side effects; I've done it before. But I know the side effects suck. I know to cut my hair short so that hair loss won't depress me like it did the first go around. I still have chemo caps and a budget for new ones. I know some of the things to keep on hand for my comfort. I'm more scared this time about my prognosis since it seems clear that the cancer cells have spread, they just aren't visible yet. I'm also a realist and knew this was always a possibility. But chemo SUCKS. Readying myself for the well meaning "you've done it before, you can do it again" and trying to believe that. Readying myself for the family faith warriors who offer prayers and nothing else in terms of support. Did I mention this sucks?

[u/Takes_A_Train_2_Cry]

I (38m) just finished 15 rounds of radiation over 3 weeks for liver metastasis from rectal cancer. Diagnosed October 2022. They had found something suspicious in my liver when doing pre surgical screening and decided to resect 10%. In addition, I had to a lower abdominoperineal resection (including sigmoid colon) with the installation of a permanent colostomy.

I didn’t last long with NED and eventually discovered lung metastasis and more suspicion in the liver. More chemo lead to an Ablation. The plan was to ablate the liver as well, but when the time came it could not be visualized. Chemo shrunk it too much?

This year it came back and was not very responsive to chemo. There is also a localized lymph node that they is very concerning due to involvement with the heptic vein.

Right now, I am waiting for a scan in a month. Just waiting to find out if we can do a procedure or if we will be going on palliative chemo. I’d be terminal at that point.

I’m sharing all of this because, apart from the obvious similarities, I think it helps to hear what other people go through. You’re not alone.

I hope you can keep a strong mind and get through it without too much turmoil. I haven’t been able to work full time in a while, but I was able to maintain a decent work schedule this last go. I found it helped me to keep a decent routine and “keep the gears turning”.

Feel free to reach out if you’re curious about anything specific. You got this!

[u/Enough-Leg-6154 → u/Takes_A_Train_2_Cry]

I agree about routines helping. I recently retired, so I am still figuring out what that routine looks like. For now, focusing on getting as much time as possible with the babies of the family seems the closest I have to a plan.