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ronnieg 66, Male Brooklyn United States: Share on Facebook Share on Facebook Share Twitter

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ronnieg updated their profile May 29, 2009

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I am a: [select only one]: Patient/Survivor

I live in (City, State):: Brooklyn, NY

Age:: Over 60 years old

Race and Ethnicity:: White (non-Hispanic)

I am (a) [select all that apply]:: Single

(Patients/Survivors Only) Type of Cancer: [Select only one]: Colon Cancer

(Patients/Survivors Only) What stage were you diagnosed? [Select only one]: Stage 4

(Patients/Survivors Only) Diagnosis Date:: September 23, 2006

(Patients/Survivors Only) Current Status:: In Treatment

(Patients/Survivors Only) Chemotherapy Received:: Fluoroucil (5-FU), Avastin (Bevacizumab), Eloxatin (Oxaliplatin), Other

(Patients/Survivors Only) If you have metastates, please note where:: Lung

About Me:: After putting off my colonoscopy for 20 years, one day I had just about bled out in my bathroom from a tumor located in my colon. I was rushed to LIJ Medical Center ER where I received over 6 units of blood.

I was up all night given tests and then I got the colonoscopy after which I had hated myself for quite a while for not taking it after seeing how non-threatening it was.

It was Sept. 23, 2006 when I got the news. I had a 5cm tumor in my colon, Stage III, that was cancer and had to come out. Chemo and radiation will follow after surgery. My Surgeon Dr. Marc Sher said he got it all and also had pathology to run the test on the nodes again to verify. The surgery was not only a colon resection but I was given an ileostomy which I kept for 3 months. It took a lot of strength to cope with that. I had another surgery to reverse the ileostomy.

My Oncologist is Dr. Anna Kurzyna who is the most amazing person. The game plan was to get chemo for a full year and in between I would get 30 radiation treatments also. The chemo was not interrupted during my radiation because a nurse would come to my home on a Sat. and attach a portable chemo bottle to my port which I wore weekly for the entire time of radiation treaments. When radiation was over I went back to conventional chemo treatments at the center.

It is November/07 now and my chemo is coming to an end. My follow up treatment will consist of CEA and CT tests every three months. At the end of Dec. my CEA was high, 3.5, so I took the CT right away and more bad news. There was a mass showing, the size of a grape, on my upper right lung. I then took a PET scan to get a much better look at the mass and from the Doctors, my Oncologist and a Thoracic Surgeon, Dr. Gary Kline, another angel, the mass has to come out.

On Feb 29/08 I went in for my lung surgery. I called it my leap day surgery and kept reminding my Surgeon how it was such a special day. He removed the mass without any complications but now I am waiting for the pathology because there was a possibility that this could be a new cancer like lung cancer. If so I would need more surgery to remove the lobe so how crazy it may sound I am hoping it is my colon again and it was. It had metastasised in my lung which was strange cause they would look to the liver for it first, no matter it was there and now it is gone. Survivor number 2. I am now Stage IV "NED"

This is far from from being over because the Oncologist's game plan now is agressive chemo and believe me it is. I am starting off with 12 weeks of 5FU, Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin and Avastin, whew! My sessions are 5 1/2 hours long and when I leave the center I wear home a bottle of 5FU which stays on me for 2 more days.

To be honest these treatments are knocking the crap out of me. My blood work numbers are always being destroyed by these poisons so either I am shooting myself at home with Neulasta or getting shot at the center with a bunch of other shots just to make me able to get a treatment.

I guess I want to keep living real bad because no matter what they throw at me I know it is there to squash any forthcoming bucket lists at this house and I am going to do it. What makes it harder for me is I am all alone here. No wife, no kids, no sisters or brothers or anyone else for that matter. I drive 30 miles each way to the doctor and treatments.

But, there is one thing, one HUGE thing and that's all of you guys and gals. All of you are my extended family and you definitely keep me going. It wasn't the best of circumstances to meet all of you loving strong people but we did no matter and I thank God for it every day!!!!

March 21/09: Had a PET scan on the 18th. New mets in the right lung again New Nodule Biopsy and/or surgery to follow but with my history Onc is sure it is malignant.

March 31/09: Had biopsy today on nodule, waiting for results.

June29/09 Late update biopsy showed colon cancer again in right lung in treatment now.

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At 9:17pm on June 9, 2010, William Merrill Jenkins said…: ronnieg everyone in chat room 1 says hello were all concerned about how you are doing .
our relay for life is this saturday were all routing for you .
just to let you know i have to have heart surgery soon
you are my inspiration
take care and may god watch over you.
mrbill

At 3:15pm on May 31, 2010, William Merrill Jenkins said…: ronnie hang in there ,someone in chat said that the insurance canceled you
im trying to start a letter writing campang because of this .
keep in touch everyone in the chat room says hello
best of luck
mrbill

At 11:22am on May 20, 2010, Nancy Butterfield said…: Hi Ronnie,
Just wondering how you are doing? Hope things are o.k.
Nancy

At 10:19pm on May 1, 2010, Julie Kay said…: How are you? You haven't posted in so long. Are you OK?

At 2:00pm on November 12, 2009, Jeannie Moore said…: I keep calling and leaving you messages - I'm worried pal! If you can please let me know what is happening! thinking of you!
jeannie

At 7:39pm on July 14, 2009, Vanessa said…: Missing you!

At 10:58pm on July 7, 2009, Vanessa said…: Ronnie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I Miss You and Love You!!!! I wanna go take you for some lunch soon! Please call me!
xoxo,
Vanessa
(of Ronnie's Angels...lol)

At 12:00am on June 17, 2009, KarenB said…: Hi Ronnieg, Man, more treatments, that's tough. Wanted you to know that I'm thinking of you. Here are some healing vibes ~~~~ KarenB

At 12:08am on June 13, 2009, Jo said…: Dear Ronnie,
How are you??? What are you doing? What's with the lung thing? Gee, we didn't need that.
I have missed you a lot. How about a call one day-or night and let's catch up. 864.583.2721 or send me your number and I'll call you!
I saw Jeannie and Andrea at ASCO last week. They are as beautiful and lovely as ever. So busy,too. Tim was there. Almost the old crowd:-)
You are part of my extended family,too. The world of colorectal cancer survivors. Just too many of us. Just Get Checked! my support gorup's motto.
Stay in touch please!!! Jo

At 6:49pm on May 31, 2009, louis bottini said…: my husband was just diagnosed with stage III colon cancer and will be starting chemo in 2 weeks because he has to recover from his colon surgery. Unfortunely he also has congestive heart failure and the oncologist is scared about the chemo because he is a high risk. We were originally from NJ and now live in Indiana. I hope your feeling better.