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Happy Holidays (OT)

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/21/2022 5:40 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Everyone!
I am still here. I am still on chemo; 7 months of it at this point. The chemo seems to have deactivated the cancer, but it has not made it shrink. The docs are a bit puzzled as to what to do for me. I had a laparoscopy so the surgical oncologist could take a look at the various lesions on my abdominal wall. They took a "score" - counting the lesions - and decided I have too many of them (my score was too high!) to make surgery a good option. So I am on chemo for life. Cancer as chronic condition. My colorectal surgeon said I could go 10 years or whoever long, and whereas others might site their chronic conditions as diabetes, etc., I would have "something else."
I am likely going to a lower-dose, maintenance chemo. They'll remove certain meds of the chemo mix so that I won't become resistant to them, and they can reuse them later if needed. This maintenance chemo will be pill-based rather than infusion-based. (So I won't need to spend half a day every two weeks at the infusion center, followed by taking a pump home with a 46 hour infusion at home.) Of course, I'll have a CT scan first to make sure nothing has changed in there.
Other than that, I actually feel fine. The chemo gives diarrhea, which I experience as more BMS, more frequently. But I've been knitting a lot of gifts, preparing for Christmas, decorating the new house, and baking. I am hoping Santa will bring us snowshoes, even if we just snowshoe around the neighborhood!
Happy holidays to everyone, and be well!
Posted 12/22/2022 12:12 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Song. Good to hear from you. Have a customer I just talked with today who's on chemo for life or at least a long time. Tough guy 70 yo who enjoyed us being there working. He has colon cancer. We just didnt work there every other Thursday/Friday bc of him going for chemo . Finished his job few weeks back. I'm happy u feel fine and you can take your chemo in pill form and don't need the infusion. Stay tough. Happy you have your new place and it's keeping you busy. You are a power of example to me and I'm sure others on here. I'm having 2nd hernia surgery Jan 19th. Dr is repairing it robotically. Last one they cut me open. I'm not lifting a thing at work(that's an order from my Dominicana novia(GF)) ever again. Then another Kidney Stone procedure on the 27th. Damn I drink Poland spring day and night but for some reason my kidneys produce stone after stone. Going to see a nutritionist to change my diet(less salt is priority). Storm hitting northeast sounds like a nasty one. Just rain/wind here on Long Island. Hope your safe where you are. Have a great holiday season. God bless-Steve
Posted 12/22/2022 9:43 AM (GMT -5)
Happy Holidays!
Posted 12/22/2022 3:16 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks for the updates! Song so sorry for your “chronic cancer”. Hope the new regimen is easier on you — and effective.

3TC — damn the fun never stops!

You both are inspirations for your positive attitudes. I’m sure that’s easier said than done.

Merry Christmas and happy new year to you all!
Posted 12/22/2022 3:53 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Songlady! Thanks for sharing your updates. I do know of one person whi is doing chemo long term. Basically because he refuses surgery. I understand the reason why your specialists have decided that route.
It's good you can switch to an oral regimen.
I truly envy yand admire your strength and mindset.

Best to you and family this Christmas season.
Hugs,
q
Posted 12/22/2022 4:22 PM (GMT -5)
Songlady, you really are an "007" fighting the evil of Big C!!!! More power to you!!!!! Glad to read that you can switch to a pill regimen from infusions. (Just an aside: a longtime friend of mine has been fighting off bc since 2005, 3 lumpectomies + radiation as of 2020, and since then got Rx Tamoxifen or similar drug-- all this likely the result of later-discredited Rx Prempro in 1990s! But she stays positive and helps an older sib with Alzheimer's, among other altruistic activities.) Thanks so much for updating us now, and please come back whenever it fits in with your necessities. We miss you!!!!! Wishing you many holiday blessings and improved health in 2023-- / Old Hat (40+ yrs with left-sided UC; in remission taking Colazal)
Posted 12/22/2022 6:31 PM (GMT -5)
It's so good to hear from each of you! Champ, gosh, you do know how to have fun, don't you?? And Q, thank you for your words; I respect your viewpoint a lot. Flowers and Michelejc, thank you. And OH - Thank you for the story of your friend! Every time I hear of another long-timer with chemo, it boosts my spirit.

I'll try to pop in more often. I've missed you all! Happy holidays to all, no matter what you celebrate!
Posted 12/22/2022 8:54 PM (GMT -5)
Song and 3Time....Song, I do wish you a very good new year. I'm sorry you are having to deal with health issues, but I'm glad you seem to be doing ok. Keep up the fight!! You're an inspiration to us all. 3Time..has anyone mentioned drinking lemonade on a daily basis? I have no idea if it helps with stones or not, but a friend did it and had way fewer problems. May be worth checking out. Best of luck to everyone. Thank you guys for the posts....you never know who you may be helping. Happy New Year everyone.
Posted 12/23/2022 11:16 AM (GMT -5)
Geezer any citrus drink is good. Water is best to flush kidneys. You lose your colon you need to drink more water-lots more. Colon absorbs most liquid we drink. Kidneys are bodies filters. Seeing a nutritionist and that should help. Too much salt isn't good so have to create a diet that will help prevent stones. All good. Have a great holiday to all. God bless
Posted 12/27/2022 2:49 PM (GMT -5)
Cancer a a chronic condition? That's a new way of looking at it and opens up more avenues for treatment I would think. Best wishes to you, Song. May you live peacefully with the chronic cancer for many years to come!

Champ -- I have heard how excruciating kidney stones are -- drink your water smile

Happy holidays everyone!!
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