Nancy,

Hope your appt goes well Friday also. Praying for you girl! I know exactly what you mean when you talk about anxiety. All we can do is pray for the best outcome because it is in his hands!

Love ya!
Eva

Posted on March 10, 2010 at 2:51:48 PM by eva

Hi NAncy,

Thanks so much for your response. You’ve helped me so much. Since yesterday Ive tried so hard NOT to cry or think the worst. I want to stay strong for my kids. I dont want them to think this is getting to me. But truthfully, it is. Ive been feeling FANTASTIC these days. I mean literally almost back to myself….AND then SHIT like this comes up and just knocks you down. But U r Right, I heard the scans pick up ANYTHING..and Muscle movement..Oh man my throat has been on the move ALOT lately. I will Stay STRONG and know soon enough thru the MRI…ThankU for the shoulder.
Love,
xoxoxox
Elena : )

Posted on March 2, 2010 at 9:23:40 AM by elenacuomo

Dear Nancy,

Thank you for the welcome! I have never blogged before so I am kind of at a loss. I am having a difficult time sitting at the computer also, so I’m not as ‘experimentally inclined’ as I would be normally. Today I start my radiation treatment and of course it has to be snowing out so the trip may be a little hairy. We’re going into the city for this…about an hour and a half on a good day. I’m really kind of happy to be starting my treatment and will try to keep an open mind about it. I will try to ‘blog’ tomorrow. Thanks again for answering me.

Posted on February 16, 2010 at 7:21:17 AM by donnaj

Hi Nancy,

Thanks so much for the warm welcome! I appreciate it very much and am so glad to have come across this site – I really needed this connection for my sanity! I’m not 100% sure on the stage – the docs have been very vague. Stage 3 was thrown out there but the doc said he didn’t want to write it in stone. My surgeon however, did say that my tumor is “on the larger side”. Just hoping like crazy that the weeks of chemo/rad torture will pay off!

Thanks again and looking forward to chatting in the future!

Angela

Posted on February 10, 2010 at 11:14:10 AM by angelab

nancy, i saw your post to chn. I find it amazing that you did not lose your hair! Did you do the 5FU and mitomycin? or did you have some other drugs. I even lost some toe nails!

Posted on February 6, 2010 at 4:47:42 PM by novasprick

Hi Nancy,
Thanks so much. I know I want to stay positive. I dont want to worry for nothing. I dont know why she said that to me. I dont know whats right any more. Is it better the “not knowing” But I dont like that either. Lately, I feel so abandoned from these doctors. Its like OKK —now go home and heal… then I get this crap to face….Oh well Im sure Im ranting for nothing. Thanks for listening. How are you?? I hope all is well.
Love,
ELena xoxox

Posted on February 6, 2010 at 8:56:08 AM by elenacuomo

Hi Nancy,
Thanks for your sweet comments to my blog. I had to take myslef off of meds bcuz as I treated for one thing I disrupted another. Like for instance, 1/2 percoset worked wonders for my throat, but killed my stomach. SAme for Xanax…1/2 helped me sleep thru the night, but the next day I was so tired. I just couldnt win… The real healer for me was the “HARD” stuff ..Morhine…LOL I was able to manage my pain and salvage my energy. But coming off it was rough…LOL I was like an addict. So now I dont want to be on anything unless necessary.

How are you doing? I hope all is well. How is PA? I am freezing here in NJ…its ssoooo cold I’ve been home in the beautiful heat. You take care.

ttys,
Elena

Posted on January 31, 2010 at 9:33:54 AM by elenacuomo

wow, you are so beautiful Nancy! Thank you for your post. We all share so much in common. It is recognizing this that will give us strength. And you will feel that way…..if you really really want it. I hope to meet you some day.
warmly, nova

Posted on January 21, 2010 at 7:56:51 AM by novasprick

Hi Nancy,
I love the new photo!! Thanks for your comments..You know as MArtha said there is really no certain finish line but I just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Seriously one day at a time. I do feel much better than even 6 mos ago…it is a gradual increase in feeling better. You are also in my thoughts and prayers and I know you will make a full recovery too. Love, Lori

Posted on January 18, 2010 at 5:21:24 PM by whyanyone

Hi Nancy – thank you for welcoming me here. It is not a club that any one of us would want to belong to but since we do . . . I am really glad to make your acquaintance and will spend some time reading through your posts and see how you are doing. It feels so much less lonely to have a sense of connection with others doing this cancer recovery. with very best wishes, janet

Posted on January 14, 2010 at 4:39:48 AM by cats

Thanks Nancy for all your support. I appreciate you taking the time for me. Hope all is well by you. You take care…
Elena :)

I just wanted to check in and see how your doing and send you some positive, caring, healing energy. My thoughts are with you, Frank

Posted on January 12, 2010 at 8:20:33 PM by butty

Nancy,
Thank you for your comment and honesty. I know you will find you again. Keep believing …keep looking…know you are loved

Posted on January 11, 2010 at 12:59:40 PM by novasprick

Hi Nancy,
Thanks for leaving me a comment. I sure appreciate your support. Knowing people do survive not only the cancer, but the treatment as well, helps a bunch.

I’ve been blogging on my other site (which I can’t name) with information about what I’m going through. I’ll double post here. I have found something that helps my mouth sores. It’s an ayurvedic treatment where you swish organic sesame oil in your mouth, spit it out and along with it comes the toxins that have built up in the mouth. After the second day of swishing, my tongue was back to it’s normal pink color instead of the coated white mess.

I’m digressing. I am so happy to meet you and look forward to getting to know you better,
Theresa

Posted on January 6, 2010 at 12:21:57 PM by theresam

Thanks Nancy….A Happy & Healthy 2010 to U.
xoxoxo
Elena Cuomo : )

Posted on December 30, 2009 at 10:28:26 AM by elenacuomo

Thank you Nancy Merry Christmas….

Posted on December 15, 2009 at 5:58:10 AM by janet

Hi Nancy,

ThankU for the uplifting comment. Yeah, I feel so moody. One day Im fine, the next Im crying. Its all so baffling. Are you back to normal now? I hope so. How long does it take. I know we will always have those thoughts but I dont want to live in fear with this dreadful Disease. I dont mean to sound ungrateful I know there are people out there with so much worse. I pray for them. Maybe I need a good night sleep, hopefully I will feel better in the a.m..thanks for your kindness
Regards,
Elena

Posted on December 13, 2009 at 6:38:12 PM by elenacuomo

Hi Nancy,

Aww you are so kind. Thank U soo much for your prayers. I believe in the POWER of PRAYER! Yeah this is quite the journey and what pisses me off is every time i learn to manage something BAM!! something else comes along to rock my world…very frustrating but I will be fine. MY GOOD NEWS is the CANCER is GONE!! Thanks be to GOD!! Now its just the healing process and I am grateful. you take care!! BE HAPPY AND STRONG!!
Best regards,

elena Cuomo : )

Posted on December 1, 2009 at 7:42:52 AM by elenacuomo

Hello Nancy,
It’s been a while since I’ve been on line. I’m so sorry that life has so many struggles for you right now. Stay as positive as you can and know that nothing bad lasts forever. Your husband will find a job eventually. Maybe he can take this time to seriously consider what else he could do for employment. Maybe it’s time to make a change. How are you feeling these past few weeks? Have you noticed a positive change in your body? Really, every month will make a difference for you. As far as being fearful of the future, it seems a waste of energy. If you could do a thing about it, that would be one thing, but since you can’t, try to let it go. If you are beating yourself up that you haven’t quite smoking, then maybe that’s an area to concentrate your efforts. I don’t believe that your anal cancer came from smoking alone, but of course I don’t know. I assume my cancer came from HPV, but I don’t know. I had severe dyspasia of the cervix in 1987 and genital warts that year also. I have never been tested for HPV, but they assume that I had it. I use to smoke socially, but not sure it played a part or not. If worry would do one single positive thing for you, I would say do it. Until then, try to learn to train your mind to look at it differently. Maybe the cancer was a wake up call for something. Sometimes I look at my cancer that way, and explore in my mind all the things that it could be a wake up call about. Maybe your cancer was there to change and deepen your love and connection with your husband. Maybe that’s something you could dream about. In what way could this cancer ever be seen as a positive to the next step in your life? Are you at all wiser, or more sensitive, or less judgemental, or more loving because of this horrible event? I’ll bet we’ve all got something out of this experience that we will take with us forever tht makes us stronger and better than before. There is no science behind your fear of recurrence. For your stage of cancer, don’t they say that they expect a full recovery with no recurrence? If you feel that you are compromising your odds by smoking today, then set a date out there, make a ritual around, and plan on how to quit smoking. Make a plan and do whatever you have to follow it. If this fear haunts you, than you need to find peace in knowing that you can and will conquer that demon.
You are a beautiful smart woman that deserves a full happy life free of stress that is bsed on fear. there are books out there that may help you with this. I just bought “Creating your best life” by Caroline Adams Miller but can’‘t recommend it yet as I haven’t opened it.
Make something good come from this horrible time. I will keep you and your husband in my thoughts. Think positive thoughts s often as you can. IT isn’t the event that matters, but how you feel about it that matters most. Take care Nancy. Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written.

I am a Pittsburgh native and a cervical cancer survivor. I just wanted to say I hope you are well. Please keep us updated on how things are going!

Posted on November 30, 2009 at 6:53:35 AM by katharine

Nancy,

Thank you so much for the email. It was so very nice of you to reply to me. I wish I could have you kind of thoughts. I really do not know how I feel other then I feel sad when I know that I am going to die because of my illness! I know that I was given so much time but with the DNA factor it has given me even less time. Because of the DNA factor I cannot even do Chemo theraphy because my body will not take it. It is a crazy thing but if you read about it you would get it. The one 1p and 19q is the problem. Anyway because of this I am just a sit and wait kind of gal for the next surgery. So they call me an uncurable gal! I will never be treated I will just die and anyone with a brain tumor whom has tumors like mine or even like the GB will just die in the end. It all sucks. I feel sad because even if I make it 10 years I will only make till Ashley is going into high school. I will never see her move on. I will never see her go to college, get married, have a child and be so happy. I will never be able to help her with all her secrets well I might be able to do that… All of it is so sad. As a grade 2 you make it 4 to 10 years. That is a low grade like me not including me dna problem.. All too much! Just so much!

Posted on October 17, 2009 at 8:16:05 PM by janet

Nancy,

I am very happy that you were found at a level 2 which I know sounds so bad but I am just so happy you were found! I am glad you are doing better and I wish for you to keep up the good work! I know all of this must seem so hard for you. You will make it through all of this and just keep doing what you need to and please stay strong always! Keep a beautiful smile on your face and be happy!
I am not always so happy! I do not know if it is the two surgeries I have had but I feel like I have a lot of emptyness inside my head. I feel sick a lot and I do not sleep! I am trying to be a better person but I really do not know what to do with myself! I sometimes just feel like running away and hiding! Be strong!

Janet

Posted on October 17, 2009 at 7:53:55 PM by janet

Hi Nancy—
Happy weekend! I really looked forward to this weekend, as Greg has 3 days off. However, it’s pouring rain here—AGAIN! So, we will be homebound today. BUT, I hope you are having a good weekend and are feeling well. Also hope your father-in-law is doing better. Please let me know!

Hugs—
Martha

Posted on September 26, 2009 at 5:56:23 AM by mp327

Hey there. I’m doing great. How are things progressing with you? If you’d like to visit sometime soon, that would be great. I’ve thought of you often, hoping all is going some better for you. Any difference in the last few weeks? Can you see to the other side yet? I have started a new business “Chapter One…After the Diagnosis”, it’s a life coaching business that has coaching services for the patients and/or families of those diagnosed with cancer, also services that consult with healthcare prefessionals on how to coach patients new diagnosed with cancer(looking into more programs of how to train the trainer), and will also have products that I’ll have available on the website(once it’s up and running), that will be used as dilator tools. A form of vibrating dildo. I have a few appointments iwth doctors this month to review a variety of products that have been testing for this. Will have more details after the 28th. For now, I’m just excited that I settled on the name and am now working on logo, one pager, etc detailing out the services.
Let me know how you’re progressing and if you’d like to visit live again. If you get on this afternoon, I’m free as a bird.

Posted on September 13, 2009 at 10:13:59 AM by erin

Norco is the same as vicodin but with less tylenol in it mine is 10mg of hydrocodone with 325mg of tylenol per pill.

Eva

Posted on August 28, 2009 at 12:39:26 PM by eva

Hey Nancy,

No I don’t know how many radiation treatments yet. I guess they will go over all that tomorrow when I go in. I know the chemo nurse already has an appointment book ready for me to take home supposedly has times for hook up cartridge change when I need to come back and be flushed and who knows what else. Hope the radiation nurse has things together as well as the chemo nurse. I am allergic to morphine had it once when I had my C-section it made me itch and feel like I had bugs crawling on me don’t want that stuff again. But I feel I should be able to just take the norco if it works for me right now and not be pushed into taking something stronger if I don’t need it don’t you think? Anyway we’ll see come Monday. Know you also remain in my prayers!!

God Bless,
Eva

Posted on August 28, 2009 at 12:12:07 PM by eva

Hello nancy,
How are you? I enjoyed visiting with you the other night also. It’s comforting to know someone else knowing exactly what you went through. You are definitely at the beginning of a long healing process, but it only gets better daily. Eventually all the bathroom breaks dwindle down to regular bathroom breaks with no diahrrea. And soon you will need no pain medicine to use the bathroom or for any other reason. You will get your old life back, and eventually you’ll have an intimate relationship with your wonderful new husband. It may not be quite as wild and spontaneous, but it will just sensual and possibly more special. Stay positive! AS I recall, I think life gets better very soon. Take care of yourself.

Posted on August 26, 2009 at 6:14:12 PM by erin

~~~~~Hi Cheryl,
I think that you made all of our day! It is so great that you are back with us. I think our prayers are working don’t you? By the way set a 3rd plate I want some of that delicious meal too…Looking forward to more of you good news blogs….
Take care
Love and hugs
Nancy~~~~~

~~~~~reply~~~
Nancy your a sweetheart. Thank you so much for your supporting me. It has meant the world to me and lifted me up so many times. I continue to keep you in my prayers too. If I could actually have everyone for dinner, wow, what a time that would be!!
Love and hugs, Cheryl~~~~

Posted on August 25, 2009 at 3:47:57 AM by cherylofoz2008

Hi Nancy—
I’m so sorry to hear about little Jaden. How sad it is to know that a 6-year old child is going to have to fight this damn disease. My heart goes out to her and her family, and of course, I will absolutely put her on my prayer list.

Martha

Posted on August 22, 2009 at 2:46:32 PM by mp327

Good morning Nancy,
I’d love to have an actual live conversation with you. Let me know if you have any rime today. Otherwise maybe we can arrange something over the weekend.
Talk soon!

Posted on August 21, 2009 at 6:00:20 AM by erin

Nancy—
I understand all too well the brain malfunctions! That darned chemo—yes, let’s blame it on the chemo! :) I’ll look for your other pics.

Hugs—Martha

Posted on August 20, 2009 at 12:13:06 PM by mp327

Dear Nancy,
you are correct. My maiden name is Sullivan. My family is from South Dakota. I’ve visited our roots in Ireland a couple of times. Have you ever been? If not, I hope you get to sometime…it’s beautiful and so are the people.
It really is too bad that you had to have this horrible disease only a few months into a new marriage. I’m sure that must be difficult for you. What I have noticed though, is give yourself time and you will be almost as good as new. Have you had a follow up appointment yet? They believe that your cancere is gone, not to return correct? The issues with the scar tissue in the vagina hopefully will not plaque you as it has me. You are much younger so that will undoubtedly help you. Were you given a set of dilation tools? Are yours just glass tubes with screw on lids? I am looking into what options there are for dilation tools. After I was done with treatment I decided that it was time to live life the way we all should, doing the things I love to do and spending time with only people that make my days brighter. I started a live coaching business and absolutely love it. I am still in the midst of naming it, and plan to work in the healthcare industry helping those going through cancer treatments.
Your wedding phote is absolutely gorgeous. Where were you married? I sincerely hope that this twist in the road of life will only make your relationship with your husband better.
Take care of yourself.
Erin

Posted on August 17, 2009 at 11:35:47 AM by erin

Thanks Nancy. I did not realize it would take so long. I’ve never been good at the waiting game I guess nows a good time to start practicing huh?
My prayers are with you also.

God Bless,
Eva

Posted on August 14, 2009 at 2:12:25 PM by eva

Nancy,

Thanks for your support. Trust me after I start treatment i’m sure I will drive you all nuts with questions. At least it will be questions to you who have already or are going through this right along with me. Praying for you and everyone else!

God Bless
Eva

Posted on August 12, 2009 at 7:45:43 AM by eva

Hi Nancy,
thanks for the support. I really needed it today. Im trying real hard to stay strong. Your news is an inspiration to me. And you will be out of the woods….Sooooonnn! Bank on it!
Elena : )

Posted on July 31, 2009 at 3:19:10 PM by elenacuomo

Nancy—
Thank you for your kind words. Your friendship means so very much to me. I appreciate the fact that we can discuss anything related to our disease, treatment, etc. I can’t believe it’s already been a year since I started chemo/rad. Someday you will be celebrating that milestone too! Thanks for your support and encouragement! Take care.

Love—Martha

Posted on July 28, 2009 at 5:52:26 PM by mp327

Dear Nancy,

Thank your for stopping by and reading. You are so right life is short and everyday is a blessing. My prayer is that people will hear God’s voice through a very human message I have committed to share. I will be praying for you and wish you the best in your journey through this life. Stop by often and be encouraged!

Hi Nancy,
Thanks for your support. I tried the Zofran and that was as bad as the Compazine. So I finally realized the nausea wasnt coming from treatment but coming from (Ethoyl) its a med used to salvage the salivary glands for my type of cancer. Worst case in not using it is DRY MOUTH…I’ll take my chances with the DRY MOUTH. LOL….I thank you for your prayers as I pray for you too. I believe our faith in GOD will get us thru this—-along with the fabulous people on this site. Good luck I hope all goes well for you ALWAYS….ELena : )

Posted on July 15, 2009 at 3:51:39 PM by elenacuomo

Dear Nancy,
Just noticed your profile and I am 9 mohts post treatment with Stage 1 SCC anal cancer too. Hang in there- You will get back to your old self !!It takes a little time. I still have some fatigue…taking B-12 lozengers..this was the worst thing for me after the chem oand radiation was over…whic of course was not fun either. I did have itching and used the Lidocaine gel—great stuff and I would have been really out of luck without this. This will go away though it diminishes little by little. It is very common. Three months after chemo and radiation I still was very tired. I began to notice that week by week my endurance got a little better….Now it si about 80% sometimes less. I went back to work part time about 4 months after I stopped treatment and full time about 2 months after that. I was in very good shape prior to my diagnosis. I am getting back into shape but focus on just feeling better not working out so much!! Please know that though this changes you in some sense it probably brings to the surface all the things we really knew all along. Take care and my best wishes and prayers go with you. Lori

Posted on June 10, 2009 at 5:37:43 PM by whyanyone