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You are here : Cancer Blog > Colon and Rectal Cancer Blog > Donna's Cancer Blog

Vital Info

Name:
Donna (donnal)

Member Since:
August 17, 2010

Location:
St. Louis, Missouri

Birthday:
April 9, 1965

Profile:
Cancer Survivor

Cancer Info

Type of Cancer:
Colon and Rectal Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer:
Adenocarcinoma

Diagnosis Date:
June 25, 2010

Tumor Size:
05

Lymph Node Involvement:
No

Surgery:
Colorectal Surgery

Radiation:
Radiation Therapy

Chemotherapy:
Xeloda

What I Hate Most About Cancer:
That I now have a new "normal." That the word cancer will always be attached to me for the rest of my life.

What I Have Learned From Cancer:
Who your true friends are.

Things My Supporters Can Do To Help:
Just be there to listen and cheer me on.

Cancer Center:
David C. Pratt Cancer Center in St. Louis

Tips for others on how to deal with the mental struggles of chemo/cancer:
Talk, talk, talk, cry, listen and talk some more.

Colon and Rectal Cancer Symptoms:

Some bleeding, extremely cold all the time and really dark under eye circles due to internal bleeding.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects:

I had a transanal excision surgery on July 22nd.

Stats

Posts: 51

Photos: 6

Events: 1

My Supporters: 105

I Support: 171

Comments: 593

Donna's Cancer Blog

Still Dancing with NED

Finally some great news after the crappy last seven days. My oncologist showed me the CT scan results and the very bottom said Normal. He said he rarely saw a colorectal cancer patient a year out of treatment where it actually said normal. There is scar tissue where they can’t really tell what is there but he’s not worried and I have a colonoscopy on Monday so my surgeon can check it out. He said he is 99% sure I took the correct course of treatment last year. Of course they have to leave that 1% chance that it was not the right one but with those odds, I’ll take it.

Story of my life though is that everything is not perfect. My CEA went up to 5.8 but my oncologist said that I’m just one of those people that will be high no matter what is going on. Of course, just to be on the safe side, I’m going back in 6 months instead of the one year he was planning. Hopefully by then I’ll have an excellent job with great insurance.

So on to the rest of my week. My dentist didn’t see a broken tooth but he thinks the root is dying. Tomorrow I go see about getting a root canal and then in order to get the insurance billed I will have to do a crown prep on Monday. The means 8:30 am for my colonoscopy and around 2:00 pm for the crown prep. And it’s Halloween, what a scary day that is going to be even without costumes :)

Posted on October 27, 2011 at 2:11:38 PM by Donna (Still Dancing with NED, 16 comments, 1311 views)

5 people like this.

3 people sent you a hug.

yay! :)

Posted on October 27, 2011 at 3:10:04 PM by Debb

Aint perfect, but its good! ;-)

Posted on October 27, 2011 at 3:17:30 PM by No

Scary day, indeed! But Donna, your CT results are great! Congratulations! I wish just once I’d get the word “normal” on my scans—instead I get “most likely inflammation.” Your colonoscopy is going to be clean—don’t sweat it! Hugs!

Martha

Posted on October 27, 2011 at 3:27:47 PM by Private User

Congratulatios! What a busy Halloween it will be.

Posted on October 27, 2011 at 3:45:43 PM by Paul

Wow, you will be busy on Halloween, maybe you should dress up in a costume for your appointments. Heck after what you/we have been through, I think we can let loose now and then and get crazy like that…lol. Wishing you the best,

Love,
Eli

Posted on October 27, 2011 at 4:23:46 PM by Eli

Sp happy to hear the great news….sucks about the tooth but if that is the worst of it for a while…that is not too shabby!

Posted on October 27, 2011 at 4:50:22 PM by Rachel

I’ll trade you your colonoscopy and crown prep for my neck surgery on halloween if you would like! ;)

OD@aT

Posted on October 27, 2011 at 5:19:05 PM by Texas Jeff

The best: NED right there in your corner. I am so relieved for you, Donna.

Posted on October 27, 2011 at 6:58:13 PM by Andrea

Great news Donna! All the best with the colonoscopy and dentist – seem to have a couple of issues with my teeth after chemo but my strong dislike to the dentist chair is putting me off going (wrong decision I know).

Posted on October 28, 2011 at 1:11:00 AM by Private User

Neddy Ned Ned. Neddy is so good to us.

Posted on October 28, 2011 at 6:36:38 AM by Dale

OOH Donna, what a roller coaster! The most important thing is the NED….so glad he is in your life!

I had a root canal, my first, this spring. It was not all that bad, the worst part being keeping your mouth open for what seemed like eternity. Get yourself one of those sets of bloody Halloween teeth and wear them to the dentist!

Meantime, I hope you are rooting for the Cards, what an amazing year!

Posted on October 28, 2011 at 10:13:04 AM by Private User

You really, really deserved this good news, Donna. I’m so glad for you!

Posted on October 28, 2011 at 1:38:15 PM by Ann

Fantastic news but yuck for Monday! No candy on Monday I guess…

Posted on October 28, 2011 at 4:09:16 PM by Lois

NED…the love of our lives… :)

Posted on October 28, 2011 at 7:00:57 PM by Private User

Hi Donna,
That is great news about the CT Scan! I hope everything goes well with your colonoscopy and the dentist.
Take Care,
Jeff

Posted on October 29, 2011 at 8:16:51 AM by Jeff

Still catching up on posts and just saw your continued NED! Thank God! Yay!

Love and hugs and prayers,

Danean

Posted on November 13, 2011 at 8:38:03 AM by Danean

October has not been kind

I was just downsized after 13 years along with quite a few others. I can’t say anything negative about the company since people who work there might possibly read this blog. A lot of people have offered letters of recommendation. I’ve gotten phone calls and email on how devastated people are which really makes me feel good. One of the girls wrote and told me “I know that God is looking over you! You are one of his Angels!” Which of course made me cry. I’m totally going to miss a lot of my ex-coworkers but others not so much.

I’m in IT and my official title is Technical Support Specialist. Seriously, nothing is keeping me in St. Louis so if anyone knows of anything out there, send my way please. I’d love a job where I can travel.

So now I’m cramming all my tests in one week. I have a CT scan, blood work and colonoscopy all before or on 31st. I see my Oncologist next week also. Please everyone send good thoughts and prayers my way that I’m still NED.

I think I better call the dentist tomorrow since I think I have a broken tooth. Really, what else? My surgeon keeps forgetting I’m allergic to latex and she is the one doing the colonoscopy. I know it will be on the charts but the way I’m going…..

Posted on October 23, 2011 at 12:18:59 PM by Donna (October has not been kind, 11 comments, 1417 views)

8 people sent you a hug.

Sorry to hear about the layoff…perhaps that’s a sign that an amazing job is around the corner….ahhhhh…to be independently wealthy! Here’s to the only thing that matters…NED!

Posted on October 23, 2011 at 1:06:41 PM by Rachel

Sorry about your job loss. It’s up there with beingg one of the worst things to go through in life, mot even to mentioning going through cancer. Hopefully you will get an offer soon. Is your company continuing your heath coverage or do you have to apply for COBRA. I couldn’t work any longer due to the cancer, and receive social security disability since March, 2010, but I have COBRA for 38 months. Medicare doesn’t start until you receive SSDI after 29 months if you are under 65. Good luck with everything

Posted on October 23, 2011 at 2:22:21 PM by Paul

It’s COBRA and I’m afraid to find out how much it’s going to cost.

Posted on October 23, 2011 at 3:13:49 PM by Donna

Donna Jeez I am so sorry. What a mess things are in the US now. Sending you all the good karma in the universe.

Posted on October 23, 2011 at 4:24:09 PM by Private User

Hey friend, you’ll be fine, things will workout for you. Prayers for you on the way.

Love,
Eli

Posted on October 23, 2011 at 4:53:29 PM by Eli

I think the round of bad employment luck must be balanced out by absolutely positive health news. The job loss is really hard, but you will be in great health to seek out something new and better!

Posted on October 23, 2011 at 6:13:32 PM by Ann

You will def be NED, I know it.
Now, if you have a dear friend who will do anything for you…get a sharpie and have her write “NO Latex” on your butt cheek…it can’t hurt.
It will get better, babe. You kicked cancer’s ass, you can handle anything…
xoxoxoxoxo

Posted on October 23, 2011 at 6:22:29 PM by Debbie

Thanks for the laugh I so needed that. But it might not be a bad idea.

Posted on October 23, 2011 at 10:43:48 PM by Donna

Donna, Cobra is 102% percent of the premium the company would pay. The 2% is the asministratve fee. There was the cobra reduction bill that obama signed that may srill be in effect. For example mine, was like $590 a mothn, but was reduced to $201 after I asked for it. There are premium and co-pay relief programs out there to assist. Check with American Cancer Society, Lance Armsrtong, Patient advocate, cancer care ans cancer fund websites. Parmaceutical comapnays offer free and co-pay relief directly aslo.

Posted on October 23, 2011 at 6:37:21 PM by Paul

Thanks Paul for the info. I’m going to start checking into these right away. I currently have Blue Cross and I bet it costs a fortune.

Posted on October 23, 2011 at 10:51:28 PM by Donna

Sadly Paul, I was terminated during chemo and I lucked into the Obama deal. $467 cobra went down to $124. It only ran for 15 months. Mine went back up to $467 in June so obviously, I have no insurance now. :/

Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:05:29 AM by Debbie

Losing a job is awful; I am so sorry. But you are good at your profession, Donna, and surely your skills will be recognized by a company that is hiring. You are competent and organized,and you do what needs to be done. Think of these: You’ve gotten all kinds of people to say “colorectal” in public and you’ve even saved a life or two. You’ve trekked to Washington to make colorectal cancer part of the people’s business.Oh yeah … and you’ve beaten cancer yourself.

Posted on October 23, 2011 at 7:00:42 PM by Andrea

You are wonderful – thank you! This is why I love you guys, you make me feel good.

Posted on October 23, 2011 at 10:46:49 PM by Donna

Donna—
Your tests are all going to come back NED and that will relieve a lot of your anxiety—I just know it. As for the job search, you will be very successful at that, especially since you are willing to venture out and go wherever. A company would be crazy not to hire someone who smart, hard-working and very flexible. This will all work out!

Love—
Martha

Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:51:42 AM by Private User

I meant to say who IS smart. I’m not sounding very smart, am I! lol!

Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:53:23 AM by Private User

Sorry to hear Debbie. Hopefully there are some Federal, state or city assistance programs you can get. Check out disability.gov, benifits.gov, access.gov and Social security eligabilty screening tool (Best) that are on-line and check for programs you may qualify. Takes a few minutes and tells you what you may qualify for andd where and how to apply.

Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:07:31 PM by Paul