posted
So Wednesday morning I told my husband he had to take me to the emergency room. Now, I hate the ER, so you know I had to be in some pain before I would say that. Yet, I had what I thought was every indication of appendicitis - belly pain on the right and a fever.
The ER staff was wonderful. They immediately took me back, no waiting. I did have a fever, definite tenderness, so the ER doc ordered a CT scan. I drank some really yucky stuff and forty five minutes later got my first experience with a CT scanner. Little did I know it would not be my last.
Doc came in after the scan and said my appendix was fine, but there was an area on my right colon that was enflamed, probably colitis or diverticulitis, and she was going to consult with a gastroenterologist. Eventually she came back and said Dr. H, the gastro, wanted me admitted.
He came by later as I was in a semi-private room (hubby was arguing with administration who had me in the system as unemployed and uninsured - eventually it got straightened out and I got a private room) and told me that he wanted to put me on IV antibiotics and a clear liquid diet for a few days to see if we could take care of the inflammation. I wasn't thrilled, but figured I better do what the docs say. So I stayed in the hospital for three days, eating chicken broth and jello and taking antibiotics that made me very ill. I was on demerol and phenergan for the pain and nausea, except for one time when a nurse gave me the demerol without the phenergan and I threw up all over the place. After that I made sure there was phenergan in the shot.
So, Saturday morning rolled around and the GI doc didn't think I was any better. I tried to say I was - but he didn't buy it. I just wanted to go home. But he ordered another CT scan, and it came back that the mass had not changed. So he told me he wanted to consult with a surgeon. Now I'm getting nervous.
Well, after consulting the docs told me there were three choices - wait and conservatively treat with antibiotics and rest, do a colonoscopy to see what's going on up there, or operate. The first option had already failed so it was out. The GI doc said the colonoscopy was not really safe to do with all that inflammation and even if he got a negative biopsy it could still mean cancer, so the best route was probably just to go ahead and do surgery anyway. That was the first mention of cancer, but they all immediately followed it with "Oh, but you're healthy and 34, it's probably not cancer."
So surgery was planned for Monday morning. The doctors believed it was either an inflammatory bowel disease, like Crohn's, endometriosis that had grown through the bowel wall, or it was cancer. Everyone seemed to be betting on endo, because I have a history of it. But we all lost the bet. It was malignant.
The doctor removed the tumor and the lymph nodes. The tumor had perforated the bowel wall, which is a very bad thing. Yet, all the nodes were cancer free, which is a very good thing. A few days after surgery I met with the oncologist.
My cancer is stage 2. Chemo is optional really, but she recommends it because in the computer models, it adds to my survivability percentages. We'll take every percentage we can get. She says according to her models I'll have an 87% chance of being alive in 10 years. They aren't the best odds, but hey, I'll take 'em. I won't have to lose my hair, but there will be other side effects. I have an appt in a couple weeks to talk about it further.
Whew. I'm tired. If you have questions, you may ask, I'll share any info I have. Still in shock a bit, I don't know that I've really grasped the whole "I have cancer" idea yet. I know I want to do whatever I can to be here to watch my kids grow up.
Several people probably have my address, I don't mind if it's shared, but please know that no one needs to send anything. I've already felt your good thoughts and prayers and I appreciate them.
All my love,
Belle
[ April 24, 2006, 06:22 PM: Message edited by: Belle ]
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
(((Belle))) Oh my gosh Belle, I'm so glad that this was diagnosed NOW so you can get it taken care of and get well!! Best wishes to you (as well as prayers) and keep us posted. We love you!
Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
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posted
Wow. You are so strong. I'm sending you all my love and hope for a speedy and full recovery. ((Belle)) You'll be in my prayers.
Posts: 1789 | Registered: Jul 2003
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I'll be thinking of you, Belle. 87% may not sound that great, but it's so much better than it could be. I'm really glad that this thing had symptoms that were severe enough to convince you to go to the hospital and get it checked out.
Do they have any idea how long the cancer had been forming?
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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I am glad you listened to your body and got to the hospital. I am glad your husband is such a strong defender of you. I am glad that your doctors were so thorough in their examination. I hope things keep progressing well. You and your family are in my thoughts.
Posts: 822 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Belle, how long will you need to do chemo, do you know? Would it be helpful to get encouraging emails a couple of days after a treatment? Would cards in the mail be better?
Just trying to think of practical ways those of us too far away to be of any real physical help could contribute to your healing and recovery.
Posts: 5948 | Registered: Jun 2001
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Hi Belle, we haven't "met" but I wish you all the best; sounds like your doctors are on top of things and will do their best to take care of you. It will be hard but here's to looking towards happy results.
Posts: 3149 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Belle, honey, I can imagine the shock. I'm glad you got yourself taken care of, despite how you feel about ERs. Continue taking care of yourself and let us know how we can help. You'll be in our thoughts and prayers.
Posts: 8355 | Registered: Apr 2003
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I can't imagine what you're going through. Stay bright. You've always struck me as such a bright personality. Don't lose the light that's in you.
Posts: 4089 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
Holy s*#$ Belle!!! ((((Belle)))) I'm totally flabbergasted. You're like way to young for this! Messed up. I'm in shock, I can't even imagine what you're going through.
Shock can be useful...it lets you be rational in the face of craziness.
I'm thinking about you.
Posts: 4953 | Registered: Jan 2004
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You are in our prayers & our hearts. I'm glad the prognosis is so positive. And with a perforated bowel, I'm amazed you feel well enough to come and post. I'm glad you have good and careful doctors.
Posts: 22497 | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
Hmm. I don't know if you've played any wargames, but let's turn things around : 100 - 87 = 13, or about one in eight. Which is to say, if you were rolling an eight-sided die, you'd need a two or better to survive ten years. In a wargame, that would be an amazingly tough critter. I'd say your chances are quite good.
Posts: 10645 | Registered: Jul 2004
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quote:Originally posted by King of Men: Hmm. I don't know if you've played any wargames, but let's turn things around : 100 - 87 = 13, or about one in eight. Which is to say, if you were rolling an eight-sided die, you'd need a two or better to survive ten years. In a wargame, that would be an amazingly tough critter. I'd say your chances are quite good.
LOL
Interesting way of putting it...
Belle, I hope you are feeling well, or as well as can be expected, and you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Belle, I have picked up the phone several times to call you, but I don't want to be a bother. *wince*
In any case, you've been in my thoughts and prayers (yup, honest-to-goodness PRAYERS!) so please get well. I miss you. *hugs*
Posts: 9293 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Belle, I'm still thinking about you. It would be hard enough on me, but with your kids, this must be an insane time. Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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I firmly believe that positive thinking, prayers and determination are worth every bit as much as your medical treatment. I'm sorry that you're facing a scary time in your life. I'm glad you have a wonderful family, friends, and good doctors to help you through it.
Don't get bogged down by numbers. 87% is a lot. If you get worried about that 13%, think about my sensai. He was diagnosed with cancer several years ago (probably almost 5 years ago now). He was given a 5% chance of survival, period. He's still alive and kicking and has had clear scans for more than a year now. Posts: 5879 | Registered: Apr 2001
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Oh, Belle! I wish I could be doing something. Cooking, helping with the kids, giving you and your family hugs. Even though we've not met in person, I think about you often.
Please send us updates as you are able. This is so frightening!
Posts: 3214 | Registered: Apr 2002
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You will be in our prayers, Belle, for many years to come. I'm very glad that they caught it this early and that you have a positive diagnosis. 87% is good. Please keep us updated.
Posts: 753 | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Hey guys - you have no idea how much that post took out of me, it's still hard staying upright in a chair for a long period!
Today I'm feeling better. My staples are itchy. I get them out on Friday. Next week I meet with the oncologist to discuss chemo and I'll have to make an appointment to have a port surgically implanted - that would be for the drugs to go through apparently they can't use regular peripheral IV's.
The doctors believe I've had this for quite a while. I'm also shockingly anemic - I was borderline needing a transfusion, and the doctors were amazed that I hadn't noticed a lot of fatigue before now. I just figured hey, I'm a busy mom of four who's in school, so I'm naturally tired all the time. I'm taking iron tablets to help build up that blood count.
I'll be doing chemo for six months. I'll go in every other week for one day and wear a pump with the drugs in it. I'll also need a colonoscopy to check and make sure there aren't any more polyps or anything to worry about, and that will be repeated every year for the rest of my life. My mother and brother are also scheduling one, as they are now in a high risk group because of being related to me.
I will not lose my hair, which surprised me, I was prepared for it. I was going to buy some funky hats and just have fun with it. But fortunately, I'll keep the hair and just deal with regular old yucky side effects like nausea and fatigue and the doctor said there will be some neuropathy that will particularly affect my hands and face.
I am not down at all, I'm rejoicing. For one thing, the cancer hadn't spread which is huge. For another, my husband had a supplemental cancer/catastrophic illness insurance policy on our family and we will be receiving money to cover all out-of-pocket expenses. Plus our health insurance is covering everything, so we won't be suffering financially. That is a blessing
My aunt Robin came up from Florida and is staying with me to help with the kids and with housework and to be here with me during the day. Our church has brought food galore, and friends and neighbors have all asked to help. We are doing fine. Thanks everybody for your love and concern. See ya tomorrow when I get enough energy up for some computer time.
posted
Is that 87% relative to the general population? Because you've gotta figure that a certain percentage would die anyway, even if completely healthy (car crashes and the like).
You are definitely in my prayers.
Posts: 289 | Registered: Jan 2002
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I'm glad you seem so positive. It must be scary, but kids are a great incentive to keep fighting. Best wishes and take care.
Posts: 169 | Registered: Aug 2005
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I agree, you should be rejoicing. Things could be soooo much worse, your prognosis is good, you've got a wonderful support system and wonderful insurance. You are very lucky that you had symptoms this early, frankly. The iron will kick in within about 10 days, you might be amazed at the difference in your energy. I was worried that you were between churches, sort of, and wouldn't have that support system in place, but it sounds like it is there. If you can tolerate the chemo regimen easily, then in six months this will mostly be behind you, other than close follow up, labs, and colonoscopies.
BTW your kids will start needing colonoscopies around age 24. By then they'll be so used to you getting one yearly it won't be any big deal. They might even look forward to it. I wouldn't tell them about that for a while, though. Posts: 1014 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Prayers and good thoughts your way! I'm so glad it was caught early. I thought I was going to cry when I read your post.
Posts: 1417 | Registered: Aug 1999
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If the tenacity of your debating skills is any indication of your life force, this cancer doesn't stand a chance. Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
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Jesus. My mom went through something similar when I was a kid, though I didn't find out until I was much older -- good luck, Belle. Your kids need you. I don't know where I'd be now if I'd lost her.
Good thing your survival chances are so high -- I'm still looking forward to meeting you and the whole Southern bunch someday. Hang in there.
Posts: 3293 | Registered: Jul 2002
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Well, that's good news, Belle! Glad to hear it Given the excellent odds the docs quoted you, that was the next thing I was worried about. I mean, when I sprained my dang ankle, some expenses piled up. Undoubtedly for something as serious and long-term as this, that is exponentially worse. But you and your family have it covered:)
Hey, you can still buy funky hats Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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Just checking in today. Nothing new to report - I really want the staples out. Still very sore but needing far fewer pain pills.
Did I mention that while in the hospital I had a central line put in? The idea really scared me, because it's a line straight into the big veins near your heart, but once it was in it was heaven. They could stop sticking me, because they could draw blood through the central line. I had five different IV sites become infiltrated while I was in the hospital and I was getting tired of them starting new ones.
We really need a new way to check if an IV is infiltrated besides "Inject some saline and see if the patient yells that it hurts."
I love nurses. They are such wonderful people. I had the best nurses, only one could I complain about and she was very new, just hired out of school. The rest were saintly women. They brought drugs that stopped pain. They brought me ice, they helped me walk they encouraged me and talked to me when I was alone. (which wasn't often, but occasionally Wes would leave to get something to eat, poor baby) My doctors were awesome too.
Yesterday I got a card from someone I don't know. Wasn't a hatracker, she said she heard about me from my mom's great-aunt and sent me a card to encourage me. People can be wonderful, ya know?
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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Well, hopefully you will soon get a card from me, as well!
Belle -- I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see you post here. Every time you add a little bit it makes me smile to think you are feeling well enough to share a little. You are such a positive person and a great example to all of us.
posted
I've been in a hospital (for somehting really minor) at the beginning of Septemer, so I can totally relate and say most nurses do a wonderful job, they are the ones who help you through the day-to-day not funny stuff, and that's great. (((Belle)))
Posts: 3526 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Wes and the kids are doing well. Emily, the 8 year old, took things the hardest but even she is doing better now. The little ones were too small to really understand, they just missed me while I was in the hospital and Mom said Abigail cried for me a good bit. Natalie just refused to accept that anything bad would happen, and when she heard the good news after the pathology report, she stopped worrying.
Wes has been wonderful, he took a lot of time off and has been right there for me through it all. He took care of everything with school, got the paperwork for me to get an emergency medical withdrawal and said he didn't want me worrying about school at all. I won't go next semester either, because I'll still be in chemotherapy. After that, we'll see.
Tomorrow I see the surgeon and get my staples out - yay! On the 16th, I will meet with the oncologist, Wes is going to go with me so we can discuss the treatment program with her.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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