Sue's Cancer Blog

Sue,
Gaile posted a comment to Kellye on November 7, 2008. Why don’t you try leaving a comment to Gaile on the last post she did.
Hugs,
Joyce In NC

Posted on November 8, 2008 at 10:37 PM PST by Joyce In NC

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Sue—
I just checked out your blog for the first time. You haven’t posted in awhile and I hope that you are doing okay. I joined this forum in November after undergoing treatment for anal cancer. I have had several friends who have had colon cancer, so I am interested in the blogs from your group too.

I wanted to tell you that that is one great looking ‘63 Vette! I know it’s a ‘63 because I am very much into the C2’s and have done my homework! My husband and I own a ‘67 convertible and it’s our baby.

From one “Vette girl” to another, here’s hoping that you are feeling well. Take care.

Martha

Posted on January 29, 2009 at 12:48 PM PST by Private User

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I put 2 post’s up…top one is more current. Sue

Posted on November 8, 2008 at 10:47 AM PST by Sue

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Sue,
I am sorry the chemo is making you feel so bad. I remember how hard it was. It is tough stuff. My 10 years old grandson, Shawn, tells me often that he is going to find a cure for cancer when he grows up. I tell him that is wonderful and I hope and pray that he can.
My late husband had diabetes. He was on pills and insulin. He said often that he felt the diabetes was worst than his heart problems. He got so frustrated with the diet he had to stay on. Exercise helped him keep his sugar low but because of damage to his heart muscle he could only do so much. If you are following your diet, I really don’t know much to tell you.
CONGRATULATIONS on your coming granddaughter. Grandchildren are so wonderful.
I am on Facebook and MySpace. My daughter that lives in SC and I play Facebook Wordscraper all the time. I have made some wonderful friends on MySpace from all over the country and even some overseas.
Have a wonderful Sunday breakfast with your family.
My love, thoughts and prayers are with you.
Hugs,
Joyce In NC

Posted on November 8, 2008 at 10:33 PM PST by Joyce In NC

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Sue, type 2 is a hard one especially with the steroid I am in the same boat. It helps eating high protein diet the day of and after. I also believe my acupuncture treatments help stress and lack of sleep all play into it, and the acupuncture really helps with that. My sugar is only high the day after my treatments I have been a dietetic for years now even before I had the cancer. Keep some raw almonds around and have a handful through out your day. The fat in the almonds helps even out the sugars.. Let me know how that works for you.
Cheryl

Posted on November 9, 2008 at 8:58 AM PST by Cheryl58

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thx Cheryl and Joyce for your help. I do munch on nuts during the day too, and it does curve my carb cravings! I havent had even a piece of bread in 2 months, and no sugars or other carbs. Levels are still running 150-165 after 2 hour fastings. I guess I am going to have to go on 2 pills a day instead of one to help me more. I am taking Metformin. Thx again!

Posted on November 9, 2008 at 10:58 AM PST by Sue

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Sue I haven’t been on that drug but I will check around to see if there is anyone who has…
Hang in there
Your in my prayers
Cheryl

Posted on October 1, 2008 at 2:23 PM PDT by Cheryl58

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Hi Sue; No I haven’t heard of it either but I always find going to GOOGLE will take you to sites where people blog their thoughts on varying drugs.
Weezie

Posted on October 1, 2008 at 3:22 PM PDT by Louise

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Sue: here is a site to go to regarding the drug you were talking about

http://erbitux.com/erbitux/erb/home/index.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&channelId=-88553

I hope this helps ..If I find any other information I will post it. Good luck Sue, I am always thinking of you in your battle. You are one brave and wonderful gal.
Weezie

Posted on October 1, 2008 at 3:31 PM PDT by Louise

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Sue; Here is another website.

http://health.nytimes.com/gst/health/healthsearch.html?term=erbitux&x=12&y=14#

Weezie

Posted on October 1, 2008 at 3:34 PM PDT by Louise

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Hi Sue,

I am new to this blog. However, I have read many of the blogs over the past year and I appreciate everyones posts. It really helped me in hard times. My husband has stage 4 colon cancer with mets to the liver diagnosed Oct. 2007. His first chemo treatment was Erbitux, Oxalyplatin and Xeloda for 8 weeks. The plan was for 3-4 months but this regiment worked great on getting rid of the cancer. My husband got a rash (like pimples) all over his face and chest. We got cream from the doctor to control the rash. Some say if you get the rash that it’s a good sign. The Erbitux really shrunk his tumor so that he could do surgery sooner. My husband was to take Erbitux again after surgery but was tested for the K ras gene to see if Erbitux would still work but tumor mutated. So the erbitux won’t work for us any longer. My husband felt like Erbitux did the most to rid cancer compare to the others. Read about all the side effects but it can really work well. Good Luck!

Posted on October 1, 2008 at 11:02 PM PDT by Tammy

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I have heard of that stuff it comes imclone and costs 30000 thousand dollars a month It is the company that got Martha Stewart in trouble.
I understand they have to make a profit but gee wiz if it costs that much most people will never get it, so whats the good?

Posted on October 2, 2008 at 8:52 AM PDT by Munro2

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testing again

Posted on October 2, 2008 at 3:18 PM PDT by Melanie

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I’ve learned my lesson to sign in. The last time I wrote a novel, I lost the whole thing. Anyway, I took Erbitux w/ the Oxciliplatin and 5FU from Dec to June ‘08 (6 mos of hell) for my stage 3 c colon cancer diagnosis. I have my 1 yr colonoscopy recheck in a few weeks. Trying not to think about it. I had qualified for a drug study which one ‘arm’ included the erbitux. Usually it’s only covered for metastatic cancers. I was included in the trial because my sigmoid colon tumor fit the bill by 1 cm. Way to go tumor! yay! (ha ha) And so if your Dr says let’s start this, I would not say no. Onc. felt it would give me an extra 10-15% boost on my survival rate. WHOO HOO! (but it least it’s SOMETHING) Now I’d get the basic steroid and antinausea drug first, then the Erbitux by itself for the 30-40 min (in the beginning, I’d have to wait 1 hr in between…agony to have “more time” to sit at the “cancer center”) but then they realized that no one was having an allergic reaction after their 1st dose. I rememeber back (and I did make notes, but one couldn’t pay me to revisit that book right now…if not ever) to the evening or 2 after my 1st and 2nd dose and I called my Dr crying because I felt like I had a bad sunburn on my face and lips. The hotness feeling continued, but waxed and waned. The white pimple like spots started to crop up like wildfire on my nose and there was no stopping it. Then my chin, then my cheeks, and all over my face. I tried Clindomycin (sp? which was too drying), Triminacolone cream (beware, steriod cream takes redness away but is like fertilizer to acne), Elidel (studies have shown can cause cancer! ha! and cream seemed to only feel soothing), and then the Derm. gave me something for Rosacia.

The rash was localized to my face. I am 35 and never had acne. So that was fun. Now I have blotchy scaring and it’s just going away, 4 mos. post chemo.

The weirdest part about Erbitux was the curling of the eyelashes, eyebrows looked thicker, and not sure if it was from the chemo knocking out my fertity at the time or from the steroid face cream, but I developed fine hairs on my cheeks. It’s gone now. (not really noticable though)

My eyelashes are still funky when applying mascara. Most of them would grow super long but straight. My eye dr had to pull some out as they’d start to grow towards my eyes. On one occassion towards the end of chemo, I must have pulled (w/ tweezers) about 15 defunct eyelashes per eye. Strange.

I’ll check in more often, especially after my colonoscopy. I am rarely on this board (busy w/ 3 little ones) and I must run now!

PS—major symptom w/ chemo was and is the neuropathy (fingers, hands, feet, ankles)

i wrote in on this a few weeks ago
feel free to email me directly if anyone has any questions

i also want a t-shirt (especially a SURVIVOR one) any idea on where to find this?

thanks
melanie

Posted on October 2, 2008 at 3:33 PM PDT by Melanie

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Sue I will ask my Dr. about Eritux right now I am on Taxatere 3 weeks on 1 week off. Good luck with your treatment. Your in my prayers
Cheryl

Posted on October 5, 2008 at 4:31 PM PDT by Cheryl58

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Hi Sue,
I have read your blog about your bout with cancer.I haven’t heard of the drug Eritux.I hope it is helping you.I will put you on our prayer list.Also I wanted to give you a word to research,”mangosteen”. Research this word. There were some studies done on the mangosteen fruit puree at Harvard university with some mice. They were injected with cancer and the one that was given the mangosteen lived. Research it for your self and see what you find.Also you can go to pubmed.com and find info there also. Tke care and God bless.
Betsy

Posted on October 21, 2008 at 9:13 PM PDT by

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I’m the founder of the Farmington Compassion Club and Southfield Compassion Club. Our club meets monthly to discuss issues that affect the medical marijuana community in Michigan. Topics include the law, qualifying conditions, how to become a qualifying patient, how to find a caregiver and much more.

Some anticancer drugs cause nausea and vomiting because they affect parts of the brain that control vomiting and/or irritate the stomach lining. Anorexia is the most common symptom in cancer patients. It may occur early in the disease process or later, in cases where the cancer progresses. THC is a proven appetite stimulant.

Our first Farmington Compassion meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, 2010 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Farmington Community Library.

Southfield Compassion’s first meeting is scheduled for February 1, 2010 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Southfield Community Library.

Meetings are open to the public and you must be over 18 or have a parent/guardian present. Our meetings are designed to provide a safe and comfortable environment for patients/caregivers and the community to learn, network and gain emotional support. We will have an attorney present that specializes in the MMMA for question/answers.

Posted on January 11, 2010 at 1:07 PM PST by

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