Stage III Colon Cancer and Lyme Disease-Treatment for both?

Posted by kjm246 @kjm246, Mar 1, 2023

Does anyone have experience with having neurological Lyme disease first then getting CRC? I had many neuro symptoms from undiagnosed Lyme and Epstein Barr for 5 years that finally improved as my immune system got stronger after several months of antibiotics in my 30’s. Now with Stage III colon cancer in my early 50’s, I tried Capox but have severe sensory and motor neurological side effects and brain fog after the first cycle. I’m not sure if it’s Lyme-related or chemo-induced.

After Lyme treatment and a recent partial colectomy and until chemo began last month, I felt I was in good health- still able to run, ski, play tennis, etc and on no meds post surgery except a daily vitamin and a calcium supplement.

Oncologists, neurologists and my PCP don’t seem to know what to do with me other than to say that I’m an outlier with a lot of neurological issues from different diseases and they’ve never worked with someone like me before.

If you have any advice on providers/treatment centers that could address a complex set of neurological symptoms probably stemming from multiple diagnoses I would be grateful. Thank you.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Colorectal Cancer Support Group.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 11, 2023

Hi @kjm246, I'm tagging fellow member @sundance6 who has experience with both Lyme disease and colorectal cancer.

May I ask what chemo protocol you are on? How much longer will you be on chemo?

kjm246 | @kjm246 | Mar 12, 2023

Thank you Colleen, for the connection to another Lyme and CRC patient. I was started on Capox but had to take a break recently due to toxicity.

abepps | @abepps | Sep 23 11:29am

This is me. Wondering if u r still on here and what u have done.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 1 3:09pm

In reply to @abepps "This is me. Wondering if u r still on here and what u have done." + (show)

Hi @abepps, I'm tagging @kjm246 to make sure they see your message and question.

@abepps, you said "this is me" which I assume to mean that you too have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer and you also have Lyme disease. Do I have that right?