Hi
I am a new member to connect and look forward to sharing with others as well as learning from other members diagnosed with colon cancer. At the age of 63 my life changed forever. Two days before Christmas of 2014. I had rapid onset stomach pains and after a number of scans and scopes a colonoscopy found the cancer in the cecum on jan 8 2015.my doctors thought it was perhaps stage 2 at the most
Surgery followed and a tumor over 3 cm, a foot and a half of my colon along with 45 lymph nodes were removed of which 16 had metastized to my liver lungs and peritoneum. The pathology showed stage IV. It was like a bad dream as I had 4 prior colonoscopies due to a family history only to found out the cancer had most likely been missed. Thank God I was in good health otherwise. After healing from the surgery I started chemotherapy of 5-fu and avastin and completed my treatment plan in June of 2015. Then a pet scan was ordered and was told the cancer was gone and I was NED. It was the best news I could have hoped for. So since July of 2015 to present I take xeloda and avastin , see my oncologist every 3 weeks and have Ct scans every 3 month. Every scan including the pet scan done in december of 2016 have been NED.
It is like a miracle and I thank God every day for helping me.
I just made the 2 year point and all things considered my life is good. I have hand and foot syndrome from the xeloda but it has become manageable. I eat primarily a plant based diet, exercise, take supplements, do acupuncture and yoga and try my best to stay positive . I have also worked hard as after the surgery my weight dropped to a very scary 106 lbs and today weigh in at 118-119 lbs which gives me reserves and strength to fight the cancer. It also helps tremendously that I have a wonderful support system of family and friends and always have something to look forward to to keep me going. It has not been an easy time for sure but the bottom line is that I am still here and enjoying every day. And I believe that they are so so close to finding a cure for this dreaded disease and we need to stay strong and positive and help each other and never give up the fight
Well done you are an inspiration. Did you also have the lymphedema? How are you finding acupuncture? I had it regularly before my diagnosis but want to go back asap to help me manage the side effects of this surgery.
No. I asked the doctors, surgeon. Primary doctor, cancer doctor. The plastic surgeon that ttied to fix it. There eyes gloss over. It is years after the surgery, and the beer belly presses on the bladder. They do not have an answer.
It has been six years since the surgery. The belly is still swollen. It swells more when I drink water, coffee, whatever. It swells after eating and after exercise. I do not fit into my clothes I wore when I had the flat stomach. I did not have any symptoms of cancer before surgery.
Hello everyone, I am new here. I had my colon resection on Monday 5 days ago after being diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer at the age of 38. They diagnosed me with Serrated Polyps Syndrome at the same time which is a rare genetic condition, and removed 26 non-cancerous polpys. Unfortunately I had one 2cm cancerous polyp near my appendix.
My belly is HUGE now. I know it is very early days for me, but I am a bit concerned that you are all saying it does not go down. I literally can't wear any of my bottoms. Even my yoga leggings are too tight now. I am not bloated, in terms of gas, I feel fine. I have minimal pain and my number 2s are back to almost normal already. I am very fit and healthy and before this had abs and an almost flat stomach.
I wonder if its some sort of lymphedema. if it is lymphedema I don't think there's a "cure". It is very common in cancer surgery survivors who have had lymph nodes removed.
I can't accept this belly I look pregnant! SEE BELOW BEFORE AND AFTER SHOTS!
I am on a mission now to confirm the cause of this (lymphedema I am sure) and a treatment. As an alternative health practitioner I am hopeful this can be resolved with massage, herbs and acupunture 🙂
Never! I’ve had Scans, ultrasound, colonoscopy, endoscopy, SIBO testing etc etc.
I’ve come to the conclusion it’s from surgical adhesions from the Colectomy.
Bloating is another story. Definitely food and gas related to IBS
It has been six years since the surgery. The belly is still swollen. It swells more when I drink water, coffee, whatever. It swells after eating and after exercise. I do not fit into my clothes I wore when I had the flat stomach. I did not have any symptoms of cancer before surgery.
I was happy to hear from you. I wonder if the big belly will ever go away.Clothes don`t fit very well around the middle. I guess that is a stupid thing to worry about. I feel good n I~m thankful for that. Did you have any symptoms before you had surgery? I didn~t I had just come out of a resataurant and got deathly sick, I thouight I had food poisining when i went to the hospital they kept me there and I had to get a colonoscopy and found the cancer. Up to that day thought I was in perfect health. You never know what life has in store for you. nannytart<br>
I also had a foot of my colon removed in January due to having stage 1 cecum cancer. I wonder if some of that is scare tissue? I noticed my right ride is tad bigger than my left side. I was always super thin. But since my surgergy I gained about 10 pounds. My stomach is no longer flat .. I think some of that has to do with my body adjusting to the new and improved plumbing systems. It has been 8 months since my surgery, for four of those months I couldn't do a thing. So I gained weight.
Then I started very slowly to exercise again. And I feel a great deal of pulling on my right side. My surgeon says that is scar tissue. Plus I been babying my stomach. Which doesn't help it at all. I noticed I seem to retain extra water too. Exercising seems to help. I started swimming and doing exercises in a pool. That seems to help a great deal. Not sure if you have access to a pool? But try exercising in a pool. It has helped a lot to getting over babying of that area.
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Well done you are an inspiration. Did you also have the lymphedema? How are you finding acupuncture? I had it regularly before my diagnosis but want to go back asap to help me manage the side effects of this surgery.
I also have it in the cecum! Can I join your club? I had my appendix up until Monday when they removed it along with the colon....
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1 ReactionMeh sorry for your experience. Let's try to solve this together.
The herbal tea that springs to mind is Slippery Elm. I am determined to solve this! I am going to ask my TCM doctor next week.
Have you tried lymph drainage massage, acupuncture or herbs for lymph drainage? I am pretty sure it is lymphedema.
Hello everyone, I am new here. I had my colon resection on Monday 5 days ago after being diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer at the age of 38. They diagnosed me with Serrated Polyps Syndrome at the same time which is a rare genetic condition, and removed 26 non-cancerous polpys. Unfortunately I had one 2cm cancerous polyp near my appendix.
My belly is HUGE now. I know it is very early days for me, but I am a bit concerned that you are all saying it does not go down. I literally can't wear any of my bottoms. Even my yoga leggings are too tight now. I am not bloated, in terms of gas, I feel fine. I have minimal pain and my number 2s are back to almost normal already. I am very fit and healthy and before this had abs and an almost flat stomach.
I wonder if its some sort of lymphedema. if it is lymphedema I don't think there's a "cure". It is very common in cancer surgery survivors who have had lymph nodes removed.
I can't accept this belly I look pregnant! SEE BELOW BEFORE AND AFTER SHOTS!
I am on a mission now to confirm the cause of this (lymphedema I am sure) and a treatment. As an alternative health practitioner I am hopeful this can be resolved with massage, herbs and acupunture 🙂
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1 ReactionNever! I’ve had Scans, ultrasound, colonoscopy, endoscopy, SIBO testing etc etc.
I’ve come to the conclusion it’s from surgical adhesions from the Colectomy.
Bloating is another story. Definitely food and gas related to IBS
It has been six years since the surgery. The belly is still swollen. It swells more when I drink water, coffee, whatever. It swells after eating and after exercise. I do not fit into my clothes I wore when I had the flat stomach. I did not have any symptoms of cancer before surgery.
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2 ReactionsNo.
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1 ReactionIndeed I can relate - you never know what life has in store but it sounds like you are taking each day in stride and with grace !
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1 ReactionTrying to find someone who is dealing with chemo