Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer - the long winding road it has become

[Cois]

Good day Cois. What was the procedure leading up to being diagnosed? Were you diagnosed purely from the colonoscopy, or did they do bloodtests as well? Any other procedures? Can this type of cancer be picked up on bloodtests alone? Did they do scans?

 

...

The house doctor I am saw did not want to do any blood tests. The problem with colon cancer and the one that I have is that there is no trace of it in my blood.

You have a few options...

CT or MRI Scan. Post diagnosis they did a CT Scan to check the spread and size of the tumors.

 

Best option would be to get a Colonoscopy. A very good doctor I can recommend is Dr Durandt at Eugene Marais hospital

 

Dr Michiel Christoffel Durand

Surgeon

Telephone +27 12 335 2840

Address Suite 16 Eugene Marais Doctors Village,

683 5th Avenue,

Les Marais, 0084

Location Pretoria, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa

 

He is one of the best doctors I have ever seen. He picked up the tumor and the mets in my liver and spleen with ‘n sonar test.

I would trust him to do the operation when the tumor has shrunk enough to be removed. He is a very friendly doctor and not a doom prophet like some of the other doctors I have seen.

 

I am not able to recommend dr M Heyns at Pretoria East hospital. He lacks tact and bedside manners. You do not drop a bomb on the patient that is already under stress.

 

And rather get to a doctor as soon as possible. It is not some disease that one has time with. I waited to long, but I did not have the finances to go see a specialist at the first sign of trouble. Rather get to the needed medical help sooner than later. It is one of the toughest things I have ever dealt with. And seeing the pain and agony it brings to my family... it is not worth waiting!

 

Best of luck and I hope and pray that you do not get the same diagnosis as the one I got.

[RobertWhitehead]

Maybe look at this: https://www.scanforlife.co.za/

 

Good day Cois. What was the procedure leading up to being diagnosed? Were you diagnosed purely from the colonoscopy, or did they do bloodtests as well? Any other procedures? Can this type of cancer be picked up on bloodtests alone? Did they do scans?

I am experiencing some of the same symptoms you mention. Not sure what to make of it. I have had an extremely stressful 2 years up to now, and have started a new job now that requires me to be away from home a lot (I have 6 flights set for June). And it the process we are also moving house. I simply can't get to a dr. I guess I want to ascertain how much time I need to set aside to get everything done at the dr...

I have been on Altosec for 3 months, and it has been better. But the RX is finished, and the symptoms are back.

I guess I am too scared for what the outcome might be...

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

Maybe look at this: https://www.scanforlife.co.za/

 

Wonder what the costs for these scans are???

[Eddy Gordo]

CT Scan is in the region of 10k

[Cois]

CT Scan is in the region of 10k

Sounds about right. The prep for CT is about an hour. They give you contrast to drink before hand. Two 750ml cups of weird tasting water.

They will put an IV with contrast fluid, iodine if I am not wrong that will give you a warm fuzzy feeling down stairs.

 

A CT is quick compared to an MRI (hope that I never need an MRI again as I freak out due to a severe case of claustrophobia) and is less stressful than an MRI. The MRI caused a lot of heat in some areas that they focused on more, and was quite uncomfortable. The images that I received from the CT on a DVD was better quality than the MRI quality. The MRI images are not clear, but it might be the lower quality they gave me.

 

I did read on Facebook that the one gentleman they did a CT and an MRI but could not detect the cancer cells, but with the colonoscopy they found tumor cells. He was stage 4.

 

Cost of MRI was in the region or R7681 without the chill meds. Or that is what Momentum paid for the MRI.

Edited May 28, 2019 by Cois

[Eddy Gordo]

That heat is from the iodine they inject.

[Cois]

That heat is from the iodine they inject.

I grabbed the little thin almost covers your privates as I thought I peed myself, it was met by laughter from the CT assistants.

Just glad it happened when the scan was complete

[Eddy Gordo]

I grabbed the little thin almost covers your privates as I thought I peed myself, it was met by laughter from the CT assistants.

Just glad it happened when the scan was complete

LOL, Didnt they explain that? When I had mine they explained everything, what they injecting, the sensations I would be feeling and how many times the machine will move up and down.

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

Sounds about right. The prep for CT is about an hour. They give you contrast to drink before hand. Two 750ml cups of weird tasting water.

They will put an IV with contrast fluid, iodine if I am not wrong that will give you a warm fuzzy feeling down stairs.

 

A CT is quick compared to an MRI (hope that I never need an MRI again as I freak out due to a severe case of claustrophobia) and is less stressful than an MRI. The MRI caused a lot of heat in some areas that they focused on more, and was quite uncomfortable. The images that I received from the CT on a DVD was better quality than the MRI quality. The MRI images are not clear, but it might be the lower quality they gave me.

 

I did read on Facebook that the one gentleman they did a CT and an MRI but could not detect the cancer cells, but with the colonoscopy they found tumor cells. He was stage 4.

 

Cost of MRI was in the region or R7681 without the chill meds. Or that is what Momentum paid for the MRI.

 

I concur on the MRI, the claustrphobia wasn't so bad for me but the sounds and noises freaked me out!!!!

 

The colon for life quoted me R7800.

I remember doing a colonoscopy a few years ago in PE, they never waited for me to be fully out, and continued even though I was protesting. It was painful too. I just think the doctor was awful!!! I do feel like I am due another with my IBS, rather safe than sorry hey......

[RobertWhitehead]

They claim on their website a few thousand Randela's which the Medical Aid do cover. What draws me to this option is that it's non-invasive and the scan only takes a few seconds. I want to do the full body one to get the OK on everything (or hope to). You also don't need a referral letter from another doctor to get a scan through them

 

I want to make contact with them and find out more, they're based in Rosebank hospital. I will give feedback if I get more answers, maybe I should phone them now quickly....

 

 

Wonder what the costs for these scans are???

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

They claim on their website a few thousand Randela's which the Medical Aid do cover. What draws me to this option is that it's non-invasive and the scan only takes a few seconds. I want to do the full body one to get the OK on everything (or hope to). You also don't need a referral letter from another doctor to get a scan through them

 

I want to make contact with them and find out more, they're based in Rosebank hospital. I will give feedback if I get more answers, maybe I should phone them now quickly....

 

Their response to me was it is covered by most med aids BUT only if referred by a specialist, so just make sure of just rocking up unreferred..

Look forward to your feedback.

[RobertWhitehead]

True, let me find out some more and get it from the horse's mouth 

 

Their response to me was it is covered by most med aids BUT only if referred by a specialist, so just make sure of just rocking up unreferred..

Look forward to your feedback.

[Cois]

LOL, Didnt they explain that? When I had mine they explained everything, what they injecting, the sensations I would be feeling and how many times the machine will move up and down.

They did, but it just a little unexpected and caught me off guard. And I was dazed by all the pretty lights and the CT scanner. Remember this was the first time in more than 15 years that I was a patient that had to go for a x-ray or worst a CT Scan. I am used to working in hospitals but never had to be a patient.

 

Funny thing, the nursing staff was wondering who will do the IV, and after about 3 minutes of them wondering who would do the IV, I asked them to call my mom that was waiting for moral support in the waiting room.

 

I was and still am severely anemic and my veins were not easy to spot and feel, but my mom knows how to get a vein. So off they scurried and called my mom. First try and the IV was in.

[Cois]

I concur on the MRI, the claustrphobia wasn't so bad for me but the sounds and noises freaked me out!!!!

 

The colon for life quoted me R7800.

I remember doing a colonoscopy a few years ago in PE, they never waited for me to be fully out, and continued even though I was protesting. It was painful too. I just think the doctor was awful!!! I do feel like I am due another with my IBS, rather safe than sorry hey......

What??? That is insane! I had to do a cleanse and if you did not do a cleanse they would not continue. And I was out for the colonoscopy. They had a Anesthesiologist in the rooms as well.

 

IBS is most of the times the go to for doctors. The MD I saw thought it was my IBS getting bad. But decided to play safe.

 

R7800 is not that bad. Mine was around that price without the anesthesiologists. She came in at around R3800 and then R1100 for Lancet to do the test on the biopsy.

[Cois]

What a very tough week...

Went for infusion on Tuesday. Spent the whole day at Wilgers. The new treatment (Erbitux 900mg) took 2 and a half hours, and then started with the Leucovorin or FOLFOX treatment. Got the usual chemo pump (5-FU) again.

 

Went back on Thursday and the nurse told me to get on the bed and gave me 4 drips (I wasn’t feeling to well) One with B12 and one with more nausea meds. So spent about an hour getting some more IV’s pumped into me. Got in the car and pushed for home.

 

The usual symptoms presided again, nausea and not being able to sleep without CBD oil or weed. And lost about 2 kg’s of weight again. Went to fill my prescription at Dischem, but the one branch forgot to add that there are 4 refills for the prescription. I am just glad I took a photo of the prescription and the pharmacist said she will phone the branch and sort it out. She was a darling and filled the prescription (maybe because I was as white as a sheet and on my way to the floor).

 

I lost most feeling in my hands and feet. My nails are giving me a hard time. Feels as though they are going to fall out of the nail bed at any moment and is rather painful to touch and has a funky red yellow color to it.

I am not to eat my nails.

 

Showering has become a problem as I am limited to 5 minutes and not with hot water but warmish water. I can’t use normal soap anymore due to the harsh chemicals. Dischem gave me a few samples to use with the new treatment. My skin is taking a huge hammering with the new treatment. The only indication that the treatment is working is that it causes skin problems (acne-like rash on my back, neck and face)

 

I still miss cycling, but can’t due to my hands as the skin can rub off due to the treatment.

[Vetseun]

What a very tough week...

Went for infusion on Tuesday. Spent the whole day at Wilgers. The new treatment (Erbitux 900mg) took 2 and a half hours, and then started with the Leucovorin or FOLFOX treatment. Got the usual chemo pump (5-FU) again.

Went back on Thursday and the nurse told me to get on the bed and gave me 4 drips (I wasn’t feeling to well) One with B12 and one with more nausea meds. So spent about an hour getting some more IV’s pumped into me. Got in the car and pushed for home.

The usual symptoms presided again, nausea and not being able to sleep without CBD oil or weed. And lost about 2 kg’s of weight again. Went to fill my prescription at Dischem, but the one branch forgot to add that there are 4 refills for the prescription. I am just glad I took a photo of the prescription and the pharmacist said she will phone the branch and sort it out. She was a darling and filled the prescription (maybe because I was as white as a sheet and on my way to the floor).

I lost most feeling in my hands and feet. My nails are giving me a hard time. Feels as though they are going to fall out of the nail bed at any moment and is rather painful to touch and has a funky red yellow color to it.

I am not to eat my nails.

Showering has become a problem as I am limited to 5 minutes and not with hot water but warmish water. I can’t use normal soap anymore due to the harsh chemicals. Dischem gave me a few samples to use with the new treatment. My skin is taking a huge hammering with the new treatment. The only indication that the treatment is working is that it causes skin problems (acne-like rash on my back, neck and face)

I still miss cycling, but can’t due to my hands as the skin can rub off due to the treatment.

Strongs Mate