Fight the damn cancer..

It is actually easy to fight for cancer. Not hard at all. Really!
What's hard is the temptation.

We know already that there are 3 obvious risk factors for getting colorectal cancer which includes:
1. Age
2. Family Medical History
3. Your own medical history

However, there are other risk factors that we know already but often ignored. Start with the easy one..

1. Food - yes, baby.. FOOD! Alert: your chances of getting colon cancer is higher if your diet is high in calories, protein, fat (animal fat that is) and low in calcium. How about those protein powder and the rest..? Let's give it a rest, eh? Unless if you're ready to have bumps on your colon.

2. Smoke. Quit now before you regret it. I regret I didn't quit last year. I quit on February 28, 2007. Right on Ash Wednesday. Well, did not exactly quit. More like a break (fasting) from cigarettes for 40 days (until Easter) because of some religious reason. During the break I did smoke..4 times I guess, but after that I haven't smoked again. Can you call it quit? Yeah.. I quit. I quit even before I was diagnosed with Colon Cancer stage 3. But studies shows that smokers have greater chance of getting colorectal cancer.

3. Exercise. Hey, exercise is good you know.. do it now! Once you get the disease you'd need more time for your body (i.e. not too tired). Do whatever exercise you like, but start NOW. I love Body Combat and Tae Bo and I used to do it 3 to 4 times a week. Now that I need more time for my body, I need to reduce those exercise. Of course I'm still allowed to do exercise, but not as much as before.

4. Your weight. We watch our weight from time to time. Most of the time we're scared of gaining even an ounce. And true, if you're overweight you're most likely to get colorectal cancer. Before we believed that if we're overweight we would likely to get heart disease because of the fats that cover the heart. Well, not anymore. It's either you get both or one of them. But don't you just love it if you're on the right proportion? Having extra fat in the waist area is a greater risk than having extra fat in the hips or thighs.

5. Alcohol. Hey.. do I need to give comments on this one, too..??

Have a good day everybody.. I'm going on vacation!

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How you doin..?

Up to this point of my life I feel that I'm so damn lucky to stay alive.
My treatment does good thing for me. What I still can't believe is just too good to be true.
Anyway.. I was just a bit bored in the office. Not bored to be exact, but my runny nose kept me from doing things and all I've been doing since the morning was actually listening to my iPod and read through some articles about the disease that I'm having now.

Remember that at the beginning (if you really pay attention to my blog that is) my brother was saying something about hereditary disease? Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)? Yeah, it's still colon cancer but the FAP one..
Now I just found this articles from Cancer Consultants. Hope it gives you (or whoever who has the same disease like me) clearer view of what's going on..

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a rare genetic syndrome that causes hundreds of adenomatous polyps to form in the colon or rectum. Most cases of FAP are the result of mutations of the APC gene. Individuals who inherit an APC mutation are at a high risk of developing colonic adenomas and eventually colorectal cancer. Studies show that 90% of people with FAP will develop adenomas and without interventions, most people with this syndrome will develop colorectal cancer. Attenuated FAP (AFAP) is a genetic syndrome similar to FAP in which fewer than 100 polyps develop in the colon or rectum. Individuals with AFAP often have family members who have FAP. AFAP is equally as rare as FAP.

Most cases of FAP and some cases of AFAP are the result of mutations of the APC gene. Individuals who inherit an APC mutation are at a high risk for developing polyps and eventually colorectal cancer. Nearly 100% of individuals who are APC gene mutation-positive will develop colon adenomas. APC gene testing is now commercially available and the results, whether positive or negative, can assist individuals in their choices regarding future medical care.

Individuals at risk for FAP and AFAP can benefit from presymptomatic genetic testing. Both positive and negative test results can impact future medical choices and the frequency of screening procedures. A positive test result indicates that an individual has a known mutation that causes FAP or AFAP. Nearly 100% of individuals with this mutation will develop adenomas; therefore, those who test positive may use this information to increase the frequency of their screening procedures. A negative test result does not necessarily indicate freedom from risk. Individuals with negative test results may not need to undergo screening as frequently as those who test positive; however, these individuals need to be aware that they could still develop colorectal cancer, as the majority of cases are not the result of genetic conditions.

More significant than the test results is the course of action that follows. Again, the main reason for undergoing predictive genetic testing is the potential opportunity to take preventive measures against developing colorectal cancer. Many individuals who know that they are at an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer can choose to be proactive in their health maintenance and their utilization of screening procedures for early detection. While they may not always be able to prevent cancer from developing, they may be able to catch it early when it is most treatable.

Individuals with FAP and AFAP need to undergo frequent screening for polyps by sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy. Usually, screening in individuals with FAP or AFAP begins in the early teens. Historically once an individual with FAP or AFAP manifested polyposis, the only effective management strategy was colectomy (removal of the colon). In 2000, the Food and Drug Administration approved Celecoxib, previously approved for the treatment of individuals with arthritis, to be used in conjunction with the usual therapy for individuals with FAP. Celecoxib has been reported to reduce the number of colon polyps that develop in individuals with FAP, thus significantly reducing their risk for developing colorectal cancer. Patients should be seen in a medical center by an expert in FAP and AFAP to best understand their options.

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Lesser White Blood Cells

When I had my 4th chemo a month ago, the doctor told me that my White Blood Cell count was too low. Very low. That low that I had to take extra medication to make my white blood cell a bit higher. The doctor supplied me with 5 injection that I had to do it on my own after I finish with the Xeloda pills. The name of that medication is NEUPOGEN. This thing was injection in 5 different days and in 5 different place of the fatty tissue of my tummy, arm, and leg.

Of course this has side effect. No, duh! all medication have side effects. As for me, the obvious side effect is Headache. I also felt some chills, tho. I thought my headache came from the stress I've had recently. Hey, maybe that one, too. Actually, it really breaks my heart that I want to cry. But leave it. What comes around, goes around. Believe me.
What the hell am I talking about?? Back to Neupogen..

Here's a bit about White blood cells..

White blood cell is part of our immune system and fight infections. So, when the white blood cells is low, I can easily get infections. And what surprise me more is that it is normal because after each chemoteraphy, the white blood cells count begins to fall. When the white blood cells count fall, I could easily feel tired - which I hardly feel it. Some people also say they feel depressed at this time - and this happened to me, which I thought broken heart has something to do with it.

I got some hints to improve my low blood cells:
1. Keep as clean as you can
2. Eat healthy diet - lots of fruits, juice, especially cherry - it's good to improve the low blood cells
3. Make sure any cooked food is properly to kill off bacteria
4. Avoid injury
5. Rest when you feel tired
6. Avoid doing too much acitivity in the middle of each course of chemotherapy, as this is when your blood counts will be lowest and you may be feeling washed out.
7. Be happy!

Confused? Me, too.. :)

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Friday Night Fever

Here we go again..
One crazy nite spent with the people I love dearly..
I accompanied my brother to his work for doing some project with a bank.
He needed my beautiful voice to fill in for the whatever show.

Seemed we had a good time - at least I think I had a good time.
Look at us in the picture! We seemed to have fun

Enjoy the picture..

How about Saturday nite..? I'm going to spend it with my friends.. Stay tuned for more crazy pictures

By the way, I don't look like I have a stage 3 cancer, do I?

God loves me, then.. :)

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Election Day & Baking Day

It's Election Day today in Jakarta where we have to choose a new governor. We have a 1 day holiday for this election day. So, after we elect some booth provided near our house we just got nothing to do. As for me, I've planned this day as a Baking Day since Monday when I found out that today is a holiday.

My 9-year old niece helped me with mixing and messing up the kitchen. She just can't see me baked only the Fudge Brownie, so she kept telling me to bake Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies. So, I baked both. Tiring, though, but it was good. I had a good time, everybody happy. The cookies are almost gone before it goes to the cookie jar. Very yummy.

I consider myself as a lucky person. I'm lucky that I have the ability to cook. I enjoy cooking.. baking..
What to cook next? Pasta! Looooove pasta.
I'll include some yummy pasta recipe so you can enjoy it..

Any idea what kind of pasta I should try..?
Glad to hear some input..

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3 More Chemo To Go..

It's been 4 months since my first chemo, and on August I'll be getting my 5th chemo.
In Bahasa we'd say: Gak Kerasa (Can hardly feel it)
Yes, I could hardly feel it. The nausea was quickly gone as well. Except the numbness on my hand, this time it took about a week for it to be gone. Hugh!

After the 3rd chemo, I've been driving everywhere. Work.. party.. shopping.. or just killing time round around Jakarta.
I was back with my overly active life. Hahahaahhahahaa... And from that time, nobody can stop me. Including my mom, isn't that amazing..???

But really, my condition is not bad at all. No hair loss, too. I hardly feel tired. I just do whatever I normally do.

Nothing to tell much, though. Except that now I'm working at different school - BTW, I just resigned about a month ago, and in less then a week I gotta phone call from other school and they wanted me to be their librarian. So, this summer I only had a week of vacation. *sigh*
Salary wise, well.. it's much lower than my previous school. But I can cope with it. I still have my piano students and I still make my millions.. Hahahahahaaha...

Another good news is that my handsome brother is finally home. Home is now so much different with him around. Sometimes I feel happy to have a "personal driver" around. He'd drive whenever I tell him to. Hahahaha.. What's a brother for, heh??

Anyway, nothing much change during my chemo. This magic drug really works on me very well that I don't feel a thing. Well, except every first three days after the Oxaliplatin is injected.

With the cancer I have, I could only ask God for cure. But then nobody's perfect. Just like anyone else, I ask for something else. A complete family of my own - apart from the family I have now. Hey, you know what I mean. Just be real. I need to settle down, too, you know.

Ah, well.. let you know with more news from me..

BTW, here are some pictures taken after the 4th chemo. Right hand was still numb, but there's no day without style and being chic! Hey, you may have stage 3 cancer, but you still gotta look good..! First picture is my brother - handsome, heh? He just got braces on as well. Second pic is of course, me! Third pic is me and my pretty cousin - I wouldn't even call her my cousin, she's my baby sister!. The last one was with my friends from Syracuse University.

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2nd Chemo

I survived the 1st chemo!
Now I just passed the 1st week of the 2nd chemo.
Not bad at all..

As soon as the Oxaliplatin infusion was done, my hands was a bit numb. I thought my hands were paralyzed. So, I put my hands under the warm water, and it turns out that it's just the little side effect of the chemo. I was ready to go home - well, at that time to the hotel, that is.

The nausea feeling was there and it was pretty bad. I couldn't even swallow anything except water. Just like the first chemo, all fluids tasted cold on my tounge. I remembered back to the first chemo, the nausea lasted for 3 days. The whole nausea thing was over by Monday night!
Phew!!
Finally, I could swalllow that meatball soup.

Ah well.. Back to work..

-stephanie-

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