I wish you all the best and a quick recovery !

Surgery scheduled for 12/19

Best wishes on that, and I hope it gets the job done and you are back to normal!

Good luck with the surgery! Best wishes, and a quick recovery!

Good luck with the surgery F4UD

Best of luck from another survivor!
Danced with the devil in 2005, slash poison and burn, and I'm still alive and kicking. You'll be fine.

Welcome to the club, F4UDash4! I didn't even know there were this many survivors hanging around here.


Guys, I'm trying to remember the name of the oral chemo I took. Weird ass #%&*$# that made my fingers instant freeze when touching a metal door knob. Had to wear gloves to get anything out of the frig.

Not to scare F4UDash4, but maybe we should start a list of symptoms that the doctors don't know to tell you about. Both good and bad.

I'll start...

My hair did not fall out, but actually got darker and a little thicker. I remember that happening to my mom also.

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts F4U. I hope for a speedy and complete recovery.

Best wishes, F4U!

Falstar, was it Xeloda (Capecitabine) ? Chemo is a #%&*$#. Until you go thru it, you have no idea. No, not trying to scare you F4Dash4 either, but it sucks. I'm sure you will handle it quite well. It does weird things. Everything tastes like metal. You get hand / foot syndrome that makes your skin fall off (very painful) . Oxaliplatin made touching everything cold hurt. Couldn't drink or eat anything cold for a while. Very weird stuff.

Thanks LB, yeah Xeloda, but now Oxaliplatin sounds familiar too now. /shrugs

While on names... What's the "Date Rape" drug they give you for the colonoscopy? The doc laughed at me when I called it a Ruffy, but she agreed that it was close to the same thing.

Which brings up another thing. The women doctors I had during my cancer ordeal (being filleted open twice) where great.. Understanding, supportive, great sense of humor...compared to the male doctors, kind of butt heads.

I went for the General for my two colonoscopies. Call me a wimp, but I wanted to be knocked out for them.

I wasn't given an option for my colonoscopies, I've been given a general for both of mine. I was wishing I had a general, or even a local, last week when my surgeon performed a "rigid sigmoidoscopy" to pinpoint the exact location of my tumor, but I had to literally sweat that out fully conscious!

That's what I had done a few years ago. Fully conscious, chatting with the doctor and female nurse while watching it all on a screen. Uncomfortable in multiple ways.

Oh Lord I couldn't chat at all, just grunt and maybe get a yes / no out occasionally. But I felt like Christmas Morning when it was over!

I was lucky, I was out for the colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopy. My bone biopsies I was awake. They put me on my side (drugged up on valium and painkillers), and then inserted two large needles into the back of my pelvis. At on point the doctor seemed to be actually using a small hammer to get them in further. Each time a nurse held my hand as I writhed in pain. I just remember the doctor saying, 'just a few more minutes, one more pinch, we are almost there" over and over. I have seen and heard of people who have endured much worse. I have been in waiting rooms with little children who were much braver and stronger than me. SO, I feel bad complaining. Early detection is KEY ! Because when they think it has spread, you will get worked over.
I have also had my fill of arrogant , aloof, doctors. I am forever grateful to the kindness and compassion shown to me by many over worked nurses.

Your dignity is the first to go. A sense of humor will help you greatly.

Getting ready to start my prep for surgery on Monday, no solid food all day Sunday and other "unpleasantness". My biggest issue however is that my brother is rapidly slipping away, I don't know if he'll make it long enough that I'll be able to attend a funeral. So tomorrow I have to be prepared to see him for what may be the last time. He's 12 years older than me and the epitome of what I think of as a "big brother". I don't think we've ever had a cross word. I can't imagine what life is going to be like without him.

I agree LB...the nurses are usually much more compassionate.

Good luck with your surgery F4.