Diary of a young colon cancer patient - News
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19 June 00: I am only experiencing mild nausea due to th
chemo. No fatigue! I've noticed that I have developed a stron
urge to go shopping. My friend suggests that it may be a subconscious impulse
i.e.: I want to buy things that will be around for a whil
because I'm planning on staying, too.30 June 00: My tumor marker test results are in-the tumo
has shrunk to 1/
of its original size!12 Aug 00: Been gone for a while, haven't I? Great new
from the surgery- the cancer did not spread to the lymph nodes
My surgeon admitted that he slightly exaggerated my odds of surviva
during my treatment to help me avoid depression. I was release
a day early from the hospital and have been getting stronger eve
since. Now I can eat almost everything. Yesterday I walked abou
two miles at the zoo! And tomorrow I am back on the road wit
all those stupid Minnesota drivers...on a sad note, I am afrai
that I may have lost some of my friends. There are a few of them
and one family member, who have not spoken to me since I was diagnosed
HOWEVER, there are many, many more people who called, visited
or sent flowers to show their support. Many thanks, especiall
to Jan for sitting with my family during the operation. I'm sur
they weren't nervous at all. :-)18 Aug 00: A couple of things that I forgot: my state applicatio
for medical aid came through and they did not assign me a spend down
So I will be in no greater debt than when I started. This is reall
a miracle for me!I did get stuck with a temporary ileostomy. It hasn't been as bad as I thought. So far I've onl
had problems with skin irritation. I did figure that my self-imag
would be damaged beyond repair, which hasn't happened. Nevertheless
I will be very happy to have the takedown surgery and be don
with it. This should take place in late September.31 Oct 00: THIS WAS THE TAKEDOWN FROM HELL! I awoke onl
to find my Dad telling me that I had been under for three hour
because radiation damage complicated the operation! My hospita
stay was extended to one week. Come Friday, my seriously swolle
self was allowed to go home. I 1/2 days later, I was throwing u
every two hours. My family was forced to take me to the ER. Muc
to my regret, I was admitted to the hospital. two days later
they discovered that the reason I was so bloated was because m
intestine sprung a leak and the contents were collecting in m
stomach. It took three weeks to drain and partially heal. Durin
that time, I almost cracked. Today I am home on intravenous nutritio
with a small drain for my stomach that I wear under my clothes
I have not had any real food for three weeks. Last night I bartended
which was torture , for obvious reasons.15 Nov 00: FINALLY! The fistula is gone! Oh, I just couldn'
watch while the x-ray was going. They actually had to do it twic
just to make sure. So, now I am on full liquids, followed by mush
food, followed by real food. Just in time for Turkey day! Than
God! As of January 2001, I must hav
one chemotherapy treatment per week for six months. We expect to be done 6 Jul
01.16 Jan 01: I had my first colonoscopy, wit
perfectly clean results. The procedure didn't hurt very much. Since th
procedure requires sedatives, I had to lie in the recovery area for an hour. I
may have been less time, because I got bored and started singing "9
Bottles of Beer on the Wall". My doctor say
that I must have colonoscopies and mammograms at regular intervals for the res
of my life. Physically I am an interesting blend of a 25 & a 55 yr-ol
woman. Yesterday I went to the gym and did weight training, swimming, and ic
skating. However, I've got all of these medical procedures to do and I have t
watch my calcium intake so that I don't get osteoporosis. 7 Feb 01: Back in chemo. They said no sid
effects- yeah, right! This time I am also experiencing nausea. The doctors sai
that I could quit if I liked, but I think that it would be better to have a bi
of overkill than to be re-diagnosed later. When this is all over, I am plannin
a trip to Hawaii to reward myself. 30 March 01: Yesterday I caught a cold
Normally no big deal, but due to my weakened immune system I was sleeping off
bad fever for about 16 hours. I do not get chemo this week in order to give m
body a break. My figure skating lessons started two weeks ago, and I am reall
glad that I have the energy to do them. So far, I haven't fallen down. I hav
also learned that going forward is much easier than going backwards! Tonight
am bartending in spite of being sick. Our hotel is hosting Final Four bigwigs
you'd think that the President of the U.S. is staying there! 23 April 01: We had a very bad famil
near-tragedy that has placed a lot of stress on our household. Also, I hav
managed to inadvertently hurt a really good friend. One of my managers at wor
said something very crass about the family problem, which really pissed me off
But it could be a cultural difference, he is from Egypt and I do not know muc
about their beliefs. If that wasn't enough to ruin my week, my last chem
required me to be stuck not one, not two, but FOUR FREAKING times in order t
get the needle in! I was crying enough that a few other patients were jumping i
and trying to offer me advice. They suggested that I get a port put in. Thes
are mainly used for breast cancer patients. I think that I will speak to m
oncologist about alternative methods of injection, but I do not want a port
They show very badly on women with little body fat. It's not just that- i
you've read the rest of my adventures, you will see that I've already had to pu
up with things being attached to me! Also, the skin on my chest and back i
perfect- I really don't want to add another scar. BTW, we may hav
survived the Final Four, but its Twins season now, so we've got another round o
stressed-out hotel managers coming.13 May 01: Happy Mother's Day! I have jus
been offered a new job as a personal trainer! Know what that means? NO MOR
CASINO! I can breathe again without inhaling smoke from cheap cigarettes (no
that expensive cigarettes are less dangerous). My skating is getting much bette
and I have added basketball as a new challenge. Family life is still ver
stressful. We went to a support group for relatives of people with severe menta
illness, but I do not feel the desire to add yet one more medical thing to m
life. I feel very resentful toward said family member for causing more burden
in our lives. A few days ago I realized somethin
interesting about cancer. When you catch cold, it is because your body canno
fight an outside virus. with cancer, it is your own body trying to do you i
that you must fight. All of this would make a rather interesting study of ou
body images, don't you think? What a paradox- having to partially kill yoursel
in order to live.Only 8
chemo's left! And what a wonderfu
thing emrol cream is- really numbs the skin. A very nice alternative to chem
ports.3 July 01: ONE CHEMO LEFT! M
friend has suggested that I should sue my original doctor for malpractice
because she delayed my diagnosis in spite of my symptoms. I feel guilty- she i
a nice lady in a community clinic. I have also starte
therapy to deal with my transition back to normal, my relative's suicid
attempt, and my feeling of being a romantic failure.
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