Supporter of :
Alison

Relation:
mother

Type of Cancer:
Colon and Rectal Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer:
adenocarcinoma-of-colon,-retroperitonium-mestatsis,-spine-metastasis

Diagnosis Date:
May 16, 2006

Stage of Cancer:
Stage 3

Lymph Node Involvement:
Yes

Surgery:
Colorectal Surgery

Chemotherapy:
Xeloda, Erbitux (Cituximab)

What I Hate Most About Cancer:
Seeing your loved one suffer, and being helpless to do anything about it...

What I Have Learned From Cancer:
To treasure life, to love life and live like there is no tomorrow

Things My Supporters Can Do To Help:
Stay positive, and spread love, hope and happiness to all around you...

Metastasized? Where?:
retroperitoneal lymph node, spine C7

Cancer Center:
Taipei Veterans General Hospital / Wanfang Hospital

Tips for others on how to deal with the physical side effects of chemo/cancer:
Oral hygiene is very important to ensure mouth / throat sores do not get worse. Get plenty of rest in the days following treatment. Get a glutamine supplement, which will boost your energy levels and reduce the effects (sores, fatigue) of chemo-/ radio-therapy. Even if you do not have the appetite, you must eat. Think of what you like to eat, and eat that! Spread out meals over the day, eat when you can and when you feel like it. Eat in small quantities. If you have difficulty swallowing, drink cold liquids, blended juices and soups. Ice cream is a wonderful treat, and can be blended with fresh fruits!

Tips for others on how to deal with the mental struggles of chemo/cancer:
Try to give the patient love and encouragement and physical contact (hugs, strokes, pats...). Meditation can help calm the mind. Go outdoors, get in touch with nature. Think positive, and do not always think you are a "patient" or that you are different from others. If you cannot beat it, coexist with it...

Colon and Rectal Cancer symptoms:
Colon cancer: bowel discomfort and bloatedness for some weeks, sudden sharp pain at one point. Smaller/thinner stool, darker in colour. Spinal cancer: compression of the tumour on the nerve causing great soreness and pain on arms and hand. Section C7 reflects the left hand, while section T2 reflects more or less the right hand. The soreness and pains can get so bad that you cannot move your arms. Prolonged compression on the nerves can damage the nerve permanently, and if the tumour eats away the bone, the spine may collapse and result in complete paralysis...

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects:
The most recent surgery involves the removal of section C7 of the spinal column, which had been eaten away by the tumour. An artificial titanium support was installed. For three weeks, my mother was hospitalised and could not walk for several days. With rehab, she began to walk and can do basic things on her own, but her health has been very frail. The area around the incision, at the front and back of the neck, are continuously sore, even almost two months after the surgery. She also lost her voice, and will have to wear a neck brace for 3-6 months.

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects:
My mum went through a number of drugs to treat the cancer which kept on returning almost every single year from 2008-2011: Avasatin, Xeloda, Folfox, Folfiri, Erbitux. The side-effects are almost always similar: nausea, tiredness, vomiting, loss of appetite, mouth and throat sores. The first day after chemo she never manages to sleep well.

Radiation or Proton Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects:
Radiotherapy on the spine, section C7; May-June 2010, 16 sessions over two weeks, 5minutes each session. The first few days there were not much side-effects. Towards the end of the first week, the throat began to hurt, and there was increased difficulty in swallowing. The voice soon became raspy and coarse. The soreness of the throat and lost voice persisted for around 6-8weeks. There were increased phlegm and saliva production, which mum said tasted "chemical" and would spit out quickly. On the skin, a red rash began to show, and the doctor advised to avoid sunlight, as the rash will darken. Treatment with CyberKnife also carried out on the spine. Results are yet to be assessed, and the doctor said it will take around 3months to see any visibly reduction in the tumour.

CyberKnife Description, Dates & Side Effects:
Feb 2012, at Wangfang Hospital, Taipei. First place section L5, in the lower back (one hour), then section T2, in the mid-back region, three hours (spread over three days). Side-effects include sore throat and lost voice (only one week), lethargy and fatigue, and sores around the treatment areas. Steroids taken to protect nerves and surrounding tissues caused severe vomiting. Effectiveness yet to be assessed.