Diary of a young colon cancer patient - Treatment
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"This is a machine similar to the one that i used on me. I'll do 28 radiation treatments altogether. I have to pull down the lower half of my clothing and lie on a movin platform. A "belly board" (platform with a hole in th middle for your stomach to sag into) protects most of m intestines from the radiation. The technicians slide the platfor into place and position me. There is a tiny tattoo on each of m hips which lines up with a light from the wall. This ensures tha I am in the same position every time. Don't let the idea of tattoo intimidate you- they are too small to see without magnifying glass.

Half the room is taken up b the machine. It looks something like a giant showerhead. In spit of its size, this machine can rotate a full 360°. My job i easy. I lie still and get a 10 minute nap. The dosage is spli between each of my sides and back. Surprisingly, it doesn't hurt Sometimes I can feel a tingling on the left side.

Before you start you treatment, a nurse will go over every possible nasty side effect Every person is different- and this is where being young actuall helps. The only side effects I have experienced with radiatio were: mild fatigue, and ovarian damage. Fortunately, I didn't wan any children. It is a given that radiation will shut down th ovaries and induce premature menopause. I was offered the optio of harvesting eggs for a surrogate mother- but that is a lega and emotional hassle. There are other ways of being a parent should I change my mind one day."

"I hate this part! Chemotherapy i administered in cycles. For me this means four days of treatment followed by four weeks of recovery. Then one more cycle. Also they may make me come back for weekly treatments after surgery This will remain tentative until I am actually cut open.

At the Maplewood Cance Center, a person can watch birds and other animals through larg windows while they are being treated. It always saddens me to se that I am the only one in the room who takes advantage of this Everyone else faces inward and watches each other. Oh- and ge used to the older patients staring at you. They all know that young person in a cancer center is an unusual sight.

There are many ways tha chemotherapy can be administered. The method chosen for me i called the "push". A nurse sits with me and slowl injects each chemical into my hand via a syringe. I have to suc on ice for 15 minutes before and after injection. This prevent mouth sores. One chemical , Leucovoran, burns as it goes in. Th other, 5FU, is painless.

Unlike radiation, chemotherap held much harsher side effects for me. They sneaked up on me too! The two weeks after my first cycle were marked by excessiv fatigue. I had to take a nap after a 10 minute walk with my dogs My bowel habits became very irregular. Some days were fine others alternated between diarrhea and constipation. All of th literature you're given says to take Imodium and eat bland food while you are having symptoms. Too bad that all the Imodium yo take causes the opposite problem. And I was afraid to eat because I knew that I would have some sort of bowel problem.

Another certain side effect i the lowering of your blood cell count. For a certain amount o time you will have to avoid crowds, sick people, and cigarett smoke. FYI- the nurses weren't used to someone who wanted to sta out and party. Remember, most of your fellow patients hav grandchildren!

My hair isn't falling out thank God. I want to stay as normal as possible. To be activ helps me to be happier and to see the light at the end of th tunnel. It won't always be like this. In some ways, I think tha I've gotten off easy. Many people tell me that they would neve guess that I'm sick. Sometimes it still surprises me.

*An update-February 2001*    Now I must get a treatment once per week till mid-Jul 2001. I am trying to remain positive, but I think that my formerly good attitud is wearing out.  The nurses have given me some support group informatio that I'll check into.  

As for side effects, I' starting to get a bit fatigued. Sometimes I will sleep till noon. There are day when my poor digestive system can't handle much food.  And for the firs time, I am starting to get nauseous the day after treatment. Nausea can b easily controlled with pills. In spite of the minor fatigue, I plan to star figure skating lessons next month. When this is all over, I am rewarding mysel with a trip to Hawaii. I don't care how much it costs! Wouldn't you agree that deserve it? (If you don't now, wait till you read about the Ostomy takedown.)"

"Preparation for surgery mean one full day of clear liquids and a gallon of Nulytely in the evening. To put i plainly, Nulytely is a bowel-cleansing agent that will have you in the bathroo every ten minutes. It tastes like Alka-seltzer and makes your stomach cramp This is the second-hardest thing about surgery.

When you arrive at the hospital a nurse will start an IV. You change into a lovely hospital gown with a back that would make Hugh Hefner proud. Then the nurses will come back with leg wraps that inflate and deflate. The purpose of these wraps is to keep your blood circulating during and after the surgery.  Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will drop in and talk to you. They really don't have anything new to say, I think that this is partially for your encouragement. Also, they want to avoid any misunderstandings.  Soon your family will be kicked out and you will be wheeled to the O.R. My anesthesia had already been started, bu I remember being plunked down on the table like a large sack of potatoes. Th last things that I saw were nurses and bright lights overhead before going int a dreamless sleep.

I don't know why I thought that would wake up pain-free. Since the resection and the hysterectomy involve reaching into the back of my body the pain was god-awful. Sorry! Have to b honest! Nurses called my name until I showed some sort of comprehension. M parents were standing next to them, trying not to look nervous. Suddenly, remembered to ask them if I had a bag on or not. A chorus of "Yes- but it' only Temporary's!" followed.  My surgeon was nowhere to be seen. (Wh do they take off after surgery I don't know.) 

Though you will be slipping in and ou of consciousness for the next 24 hours, many people will stop by and attempt t converse with you. Your family, of course, and a dozen different doctors an nurses who will check on your condition. You will most likely be connected to catheter, a wound drain, an IV, and several bandages for a few days Unquestionably, the worst part is when you must get up and walk. Sound easy After all, you walk every day! Now you will learn just how much work th abdominal muscles do. Simply rolling over hurt so badly that it took me severa minutes to do it. Your nurse will tell you to sit up while exhaling. This i supposed to make it easier. After that you must walk around the floor. To b honest, the first day I wondered if I would ever walk like a normal perso again! All of this will get much easier in about two days. 

Most people go home withi a week. When I got home, I was really happy to see the dogs and to sleep in m own bed. It was necessary to take it easy for a couple of weeks. Walking mor than a half a block was tiring. Sometimes I would get dizzy when I stood up There was a fair amount of swelling from the surgery that was embarrassing t me, largely because I was self-conscious of the Ostomy bag.  Also, I ha terrible cravings for pickles! There is some sort of nutrient in pickles tha helps replenish your blood supply.   

Life will get better! One mont later I was back in the gym looking like I'd never been cut open. Good luck!"

 
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