An old friend was recently diagnosed...

[PasadenaTrudy]

Stage 4 rectal cancer with mets to the liver. He's 47 and lives in Japan. So hard that he's so far away! He's American, teaching English there, married to a Japanese woman. He had surgery a few days ago to remove part of his rectum and install a colostomy bag. He will start chemo soon and we go from there. He's determined to fight it. Keep your fingers crossed for him, if you can! Thank you..

[In_The_Wind]

1. My fingers will be crossed for him.

[olddots]

2. another pair of fingers crossed

and a candle lit .

[Tab]

3. Sorry to hear that!

Almost same diagnosis as mine (except my mets went to my lungs). Surgery, colostomy, the whole bit.

If he's interested in chatting to someone with similar stuff, have him PM me. If he's not on DU, but wants to chat, you can PM me privately and I'll pass along my email.

I wish him the best.

[PasadenaTrudy]

6. Thanks!

Sending positive thoughts to you as well, for good health. When were you diagnosed?

[Tab]

7. End of 2008

It has an 80% mortality rate after 5 years, and I'm past that. Of course, I don't know if that means I have 1 year or 20 left. I've been through surgery (colon resection), radiation, most chemo regimens, etc. Actually this version normally mets to the liver, so I'm a little unusual in that it went to my lungs, but that's really secondary.

Anyway, if he'd like to chat, let me know and we can connect.

Best,

- Tab

[PasadenaTrudy]

9. Just heard

he's still in the hospital. He's in a very good cancer unit in a new hospital in Japan. He will probably be there for 2 weeks. They are going to install a port for the chemo, they can't use his veins for some reason. I think in Japan they keep people in hospital longer, unlike here in the US where they kick you out as soon as possible. I get info from his mom here, I haven't talked to him yet.

[Tab]

10. Ports are better

I have a port. They *could* use my veins but a port is much more comfortable and I could see on some people how you might need one. I don't *need* one, but it would have sucked more without one.

[PasadenaTrudy]

11. That's good to know

I think I'd want to go that way too!

[PasadenaTrudy]

14. Hi again

My friend in Japan is writing a blog now, about his cancer. He's been in hospital again for almost two weeks. No appetite, so he's on IV pumping in nutrition.. He had fluid and pus drained from abdomin, and now there's a cavity left. Drs are waiting for it to disappear I believe. He hasn't been able to have chemo in a while.
This is his blog http://cancerdiaries13.blogspot.jp/
I'm sure he'd love some comments if you are up to it.
Hope you are feeling good this summer!

[charin]

4. On-line support

I have recurrent rectal cancer, two resections, radiation, chemo. Thank God no metastasis! I've got a TON of good information from this discussion board:
http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewforum.php?f=1

[PasadenaTrudy]

5. Thanks for your replies

Last I heard, he got through the surgery fine. Still not on solid food yet. I know very little about this type of cancer, how fast or slow it moves. I lost my sis to pancreatic and dad to lung cancers and that was so damn fast!

[Tab]

8. There are two issues

One is how fast it moves (how aggressive), the other is when you detect it. I detected mine late, but it is a relatively slower-moving cancer (persistant, but slow). Sorry about your sis and dad. I lost an aunt and uncle to lung cancer, an uncle to leukemia, and have various relatives with breast cancer (now treated). It's very pervasive and persistent.

[wordpix]

12. stage 4 mCRC patient is xing fingers for your friend

After my surgery and chemo, all is well about a year later. Wishing the same for your buddy

[PasadenaTrudy]

13. Thank you!

Hang in there yourself! I heard he started chemo last week, having side effects. I get news second hand from Japan so I don't know details. I know he's still hospitalized and not up for writing back.