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Handle:	brigid
Status:	Cancer Survivor
Cancer Type:	Colorectal Cancer
Gender:	Female
Age:	44
Country:	AUSTRALIA
Last On:	Jul 6, 2008

Officially Diagnosed with Cancer by a Doctor: December 2005

Stage of Cancer at Diagnosis: III

Date I Began/Begin Treatment: February 2006

My Cancer Story:

I am a 43 year old female, happily married with 2 teenage daughters and I live in Australia. I had been experiencing many of the symptoms related to colon cancer. I just didnt feel well for a very long time. My doctor kept a close eye on me, but didnt think there was anything seriously wrong with me. I started to get concerned and looked into my family history, which indicated that colon cancer was present in my fathers family. My half sister (same mother) had already passed from breast cancer at 38 years and I had been very diligent with pap smears and mammograms for the past 15 years. So I had a colonoscopy in June/July of 2004. The result of which showed no signs of cancer and no bowel disease of any kind! Keep in mind I had constant fatigue, bloating, constant abdo pain, blood in my stools and diarrhoea. So I figured I was healthy and got on with life.
Little did I know that I did have cancer, not a visible polyp, but invisible cells multiplying in the lining of my colon. Without taking a biopsy at the time, it could not be diagnosed.
The following year in September 2005 my father in law died from lung cancer related illness. I was so run down and tired I had blood tests to see what was wrong. I was suffering from anaemia, so I was put on iron tablets. My best friend then pasted away only 4 weeks later from liver cancer and I was shattered. Finally in the last week of Nov I went to the toilet at work and hemorrhaged from my bowel. The blood loss was substantial and feeling shocked and scared and knowing instinctively this was definitely not normal I went straight to the doctor. I had a referral to a surgeon and a week later a colonoscopy showed I had colon cancer. The iron tablets had been my saviour in that they caused the tumour to rupture. Two days later I was operated on to remove the tumor, part of my sigmoid colon and 15 lymph nodes. The following week I found out that the cancer was present in 1 of the 15 nodes and I would need a course of chemo. (Because of the position of the cancer, I did not need radiotherapy). In Feb 2006 I began my chemo treatment of 5FU and oxilaplatin. My treatment plan involved 12 cycles to be given every second week. I continued with my job and worked Mondays and Tuesdays of the chemo week, having chemo at hospital on Wednesdays, the portable pump at home Thursdays and Fridays and back Friday afternoon to be disconnected. I had a pic line permanently implanted in my left upper arm for the entire 7 months which delivered the chemo. I usually spent the weekend in bed resting so I could work the following week. Wednesday of that week I would go to the hospital to have my pic line cleaned and re-dressed. The chemo treatment definitely was not a walk in the park, but I got through it eventually. The oxilaplatin was stopped after 9 treatments but the 5FU continued for the entire 12 rounds. It was stopped due to peripheral neuropathy in my hands and feet. The pain in my feet at times was almost unbearable and gave me problems walking. I finished chemo treatment around the beginning of Sept 2006 and went straight back to full time work the following week. That didnt last and a dropped Wednesdays so I could recover. It is now a year since I finished treatment, Ive had a recent CAT scan and blood tests which show I am cancer free. I am having trouble getting on with life now because I never gave myself a chance to recover physically or mentally. The treatment and operation werent too bad because I had something to focus on. Now I feel like Im a bit lost. So I have taken 2 months off work (no sick leave left) and I am trying to get my fitness back. Working out gently at the gym, doing some pilates and swimming. I think I am getting my life back. I would be happy to hear from anyone who would like to talk about their cancer experience.