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how to exercise?? after surgery and during chemo

Started Oct 31

colostomy advice?

Replied Aug 18

Need your Prayers, Good Wishes, Postive Vibes & Whatever Goodness you Can throw our Way

Replied Aug 12

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Vivian left a comment for Deborah Nov 21

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About Me:: I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in late April of 08. Did first 6 weeks of chemo and radiation this summer to shrink my tumor.
I had surgery on Sept. 3rd at Sloan Kettering. Ended up in the hospital for 16 days due to a horrible Urinary tract infection. Tumor was further down in my rectum than we would of hoped but the path reports show we got it all. I had 6 lymph nodes that were involved ( marginally) so I am doing 6 months of chemo, once every 2 weeks. I started back on chemo on 10/8/08. I have a temp illiostomy that will be reversed when all the chemo is done. Due to the surgery being lower than we wanted it to be, I hope my plumbing will work once the reversal is done.

Birthday? (not required, but you might get presents!): Feb. 27th

Age? (How rude! not required...): 52

Where do you live? (city, state, country): Western,Ma. USA

Your Zip Code?: 01201

Relationship Status:: In a Relationship

Favorite Quote:: Don't Bail the best gold is at the bottom of the barrel of crap

Favorite Book:: Women who run with the wolves

What's your personal mission statement?: To not let cancer rule my life, to move forward and believe in being a survivor

Comment Wall (24 comments)

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At 10:26pm on November 20, 2008, Vivian said…: Hi Deborah,
Thanks for checking in on us. Sid is doing well. Just finished his 4th chemo too! He is managing the side effects pretty well. Glad to hear there are not too bad for you too! Soon this will all be behind us! I hope you have a grrrrrrrreat weekend. Talk to you soon. Sending positive thoughts your way! xo Viv

At 8:29pm on October 31, 2008, Nancy Nightengale said…: How funny that we are both career retail buyers/merchandisers! What are the chances of that??

At 3:03pm on October 31, 2008, Nancy Nightengale said…: Wow...you're already having the sensitivity to hot/cold after your second treatment? I start my first treatment , which is the same as yours on Monday. I am surprised to here about the fatigue with the current chemo.

I don't see how anything can be worse than the combined radiation/chemo that I did for six weeks. I was fine for the first three...and then the extreme diarrhea hit. I don't have the bag so I just had to deal with it. The crack of my butt was just burned and raw. I would never go through radiation again.

I was hoping that the hardest part was over. It's possible that you were lucky to have the bag during radiation/chemo. There were a few times when I couldn't even make it from my bed to the bathroom a few feet away.

I'm not too worried about the job hunt at this point. I'm on temporary disability which is paying the mortgage and I have enough saved up to get me through my treatment phase. I'm thinking about going back to school and changing fields. Retail is just awful right now in Las Vegas. Also, I will have to feel it out as far as how I could structure a new job (if I can get one) around chemo treatments and side effects. I could use some health insurance the beginning of the year. At that point I will have to pay Cobra. Do you work?

We are the exact same age. Thank God you had a routine colonscopy. I just got word of a male high school classmate who was just diagnosed Stage 4. His colon cancer already went to the organs.

Thanks for writing, please keep me posted. God bless you!

At 10:40pm on October 19, 2008, Vivian said…: Hi Deborah,
How are you doing? Hope that your recovery is going well. When do you start chemo again? Sid is doing really well through his chemo so I'm sure you will too. Thinking of you and sending positive vibes your way. xo Vivian

At 6:42pm on October 17, 2008, Maya said…: Hi Deborah: I ended up in the hospital with an infection too. I got back on Monday. I was there for about six days. I know the bag can be intimidating at first but it gets less and less so as time goes on, I think. I still get flustered when it gets messy while I'm changing it, but it's not nearly as scary as it used to be. I'm on pain killers now so I'm a little foggy, but I wanted to check in. Oh, and I had resumed chemo until the infection (I also had a really low white blood cell count) but then didn't have it last week... so we'll see what my schedule ends up like. :)

At 9:22pm on October 6, 2008, Stef said…: it is what it is......as shit baggers' we have to learn to live by this saying......i have a shit bag....it is what it is.....and it will save my life!!! i was a bit scared at first...i would cry everytime i had to change the damn bag!! but after a while i got used to it. it seemed to take forever to change the bag- but now that i am a 'pro' it takes about 5 mins. the only 'real' advise i can give ya is that i use baby oil to clean out the bag once i have empty and somewhat clean. but the oil really just makes everything just slide right out! just be careful when you use the oil...it can sometimes get on your clothes! yikes!! once you find a pharmacy that fills the bag script....ask them if they know anyone in the area that has a shit bag. that is what i did. my place that fills the scripts have given me tons of free samples. and a few numbers of people to talk to. they have tons of choices of bags and supplies.
well i hope that this somewhat helped. let me know. have a good one. talk to you soon.
stef

At 3:06pm on September 8, 2008, Stef said…: hey girlfriend! i hope that you are doing well! are you a 'shit bagger' yet?? i have had mine for about 2 months! it is kinda gross...but you learn to live with it. if you have any questions let me know! on a serious note...i am thinking about ya! and sending good thoughts your way! talk to you soon
stef

At 10:42am on September 8, 2008, Vivian said…: Deborah, Thinking of you and sending you some healing vibes!! Keep your chin up, we are thinking of you. Love Vivian

At 9:49pm on September 7, 2008, Maya said…: hi deborah:

i can't remember the date of your surgery but i wanted to let you know i'm thinking of you and hope you're doing well. it would be great to hear from you when you're up and running again :)

- maya

At 9:55am on August 29, 2008, Vivian said…: Deborah,
Thanks, for the note. I am so glad to hear you are getting the epidurol. You will do amazing!! Sid is doing better and better each day. I brought his own pillows to the hospital for him and his ipod to listen to music. I was glad that he was able to slip on his teva's for walks around the hospital. Those slippers they provide are something to be desired. They will have you up and walking perhaps even the evening of your surgery depending on the time you go in. Walking is so good for you in there. We even went outside to get fresh air. Take good care and enjoy the long weekend. xo Vivian

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