"Ran into my chemo nurse at the zoo. She was surprised I was out with both kids. Nice to hear my exhaustion is still normal."
An online community for those affected by colorectal cancer.
-
Vanessa Brannan
- Female
- Seattle, WA
- United States
- Blog Posts (5)
- Discussions (88)
- Groups
- Photos (111)
- Photo Albums
- Videos
Vanessa Brannan's Discussions
stinky feet
Started this discussion. Last reply by Danny May 18, 2012. 3 Replies 0 Likes
I have NEVER had smelly feet, and all the sudden in the last month or so, they smell awful! I've heard that a lot of toxins come out of your feet-- is it possible that the chemo is escaping through…Continue
Tags: side-effects, chemo, odor, foot
Undy 5000
Started this discussion. Last reply by Jeannie Moore Apr 20, 2012. 2 Replies 0 Likes
What's the difference between signing up as an individual or a team? Are there benefits to being a team? Is it a lot of work to be a team leader? We've got 4 adults and 2 pre-schoolers (assuming…Continue
Does your output ever smell *good*?
Started this discussion. Last reply by Debe Hodges Apr 10, 2012. 2 Replies 0 Likes
I just emptied my bag and was confused by a sweet smell. I confirmed that it was my bag. It smelled good-- like rice pudding. A little weird, but I wonder what I did-- I'd much rather smell rice…Continue
Hair is STILL falling out. When will it stop?
Started this discussion. Last reply by Debe Hodges Apr 4, 2012. 1 Reply 0 Likes
So, I've been off of chemo for almost 4 weeks now. My hair is still falling out as bad as it was before. Just 4 rounds of FOLFOX and I've lost more than half of my hair (measuring thickness when…Continue
Vanessa Brannan's Page
Latest Activity
Vanessa Brannan posted a status"Can't seem to jump start myself lately. Been overdoing it for too long. Have never gotten normal energy levels back since second surgery."
Vanessa Brannan posted a status"It's been ages. bought a new house, moved, and use my phone more than comp most days. Need to make the effort to get on here more"
aprilart left a comment for Vanessa Brannan"Hi Vanessa, I hope you are doing well. I was just thinking of you.
Love, April"
Vanessa Brannan posted a status"It's my 1 year DX anniversary!! Also, a new post on a new blog: http://ning.it/Pc5GVk"
Vanessa Brannan posted a status"I haven't been around here in AGES! Just thought I'd pop in and say hi. 10 weeks out from surgery and feeling better than I have in years!"
Vanessa Brannan replied to stkitt's discussion I feel so alone............."Has your doctor discussed the possibility of Lynch Syndrome with you or your family? My family has a very similar cancer history, and when I was diagnosed at 30 years old last year, my GI immediately sent me for genetic testing. We carry…"
Vanessa Brannan replied to stkitt's discussion PowerPort Placement Questions ?"unfortunately, port dressings need to be sterile technique, so I doubt they would allow this sort of skin prep-- maybe a single application of a skin prep wipe if the product is sterile to start with.
I have very sensitive skin and they had a few…"
Sue Drost commented on Vanessa Brannan's status"So glad for the recovery. Feeling "normal" even for a short time is great! Hope these times come often and get longer.
Sue"
Vanessa Brannan posted a status"completely recovered from surgery and waiting for my energy to come back. Some days I almost feel "normal""
Vanessa Brannan posted a status"Is there anything I'm not allergic to? On top of the glue, something they put all over my chest/shoulder is now all rashy! Allergies STOP!"
Profile Information
- First Name
- Vanessa
- Last Name
- Brannan
- City
- Seattle, WA
- Race and Ethnicity [select only one]
- White (non-Hispanic)
- What is your connection to colorectal cancer [select only one]
- Patient/Survivor
- Type of Cancer [select only one]
- Colon Cancer
- What stage at diagnosed [select only one]
- Stage 3
- Chemotherapy Received
- Fluoroucil (5-FU), Eloxatin (Oxaliplatin)
- About Me
- I have had ulcerative colitis for 9 years. It was only on the left side. I've had a flare for several months that would not resolve and my recent colonoscopy showed that not only had it spread over the entire colon, but I have cancer as well. My Lynch syndrome testing came back positive for the MSH2 mutation, so now I get to have my reproductive system removed and be screened annually for a bunch of other cancers. Blarg. At least I don't have to worry about a reccurance of CRC since I'll be losing my entire colon on Nov 10th.
Update: nov '11--total colectomy and ileostomy, Jan-Mar '12--FOLFOX-- stopped due to excessive side effects and severe allergic reaction. Jul '12-- Total hysterectomy (incl. ovaries) and rectum removal. At least I won't get uterine or ovarian cancer-- Skin is most likely to pop up next according to family history. I hate Lynch syndrome, but at least we know what to watch for.
- Have you read the Community Guidelines under the Community Tab? (required for membership)
- Yes
Vanessa Brannan's Photos
Vanessa Brannan's Blog
Undy 5000 speech.
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 2:20am 5 Comments 5 Likes
I was asked to give the survivor speech for the Tacoma/Seattle Undy tomorrow. Here's what I plan to say.
Some kids are afraid of the dark. Me? I was afraid of cancer. My dad was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer when I was three. And again when I was 6. I never met my grandma. Colon cancer claimed her life more than a decade before I was even born. In my mind, it wasn't a question of if I would get cancer, it was when.
My dad died when I was…
Continue Moving up my surgery
Posted on June 18, 2012 at 2:24pm 3 Comments 0 Likes
My colitis is flaring badly and now I need to move up my surgery to remove my rectum. I had my colon removed and an ileostomy in Nov of last year, but they left in my rectum because the surgeon was really hopeful that I would be a good candidate for a take-down. I am not. There is NO way I could hold onto anything as liquidy as my output. I've known I needed an ostomy since long before I found out about the cancer. I know I will be happier without the rectum-- I wish they had taken it…
Continue Lynch Lady-- new blog.
Posted on January 26, 2012 at 6:34am 1 Comment 0 Likes
I finally got around to starting a blog about my cancer journey. It'll be equal parts of my own story mixed with information about colon cancer and lynch syndrome. I think it's really important because there are just no personal stories out there about people dealing with lynch-- I know because I LOOKED! And most of you know that when I look, I look hard-- lots of in-depth research.
Anyway, check it out: …
Continue Getting sick of the ER
Posted on January 25, 2012 at 9:12am 4 Comments 0 Likes
So, it turns out that I had no infection-- they took blood cultures from three different spots (port and both arms), urine, throat, and X-rays and NOTHING. My fever was probably caused by a minor virus, but my blood levels all look good so they're not too worried about it.
The WEIRD thing is that my blood showed that I was having a severe allergic reaction. The doctor is pretty sure that all of my cold-like symptoms are because of that. And the best guess is the cat allergy…
ContinueComment Wall (32 comments)
- At 12:26pm on February 17, 2013, aprilart said…
Hi Vanessa, I hope you are doing well. I was just thinking of you.
Love, April
- At 5:33pm on July 18, 2012,
Lindagorin said…
Hi Vanessa, I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend Jill. I pray the Lord will comfort you and Jill's family during this time of grief.
Linda
- At 7:40pm on June 19, 2012,
Vanessa said…
- I agree. I would rather have everything done all at once and getvit over with. Its so much eaaier to deal with that way. When do you have to go in to get this done?
- At 8:35pm on April 22, 2012,
Jessica Vrabel said… ok, well at least i now know it will take a while. hope all is well with you and ur enjoyong normal life again.
- At 7:02pm on April 2, 2012,
Michael Carver said…
Excellent theme Vanessa. I cant wait to see the outfits. :).
- At 4:07pm on March 22, 2012,
Jeannie Moore said… Hey Vanessa - i gave you the wrong email for Roni!
it's ronirabin@earthlink.net
My bad!
- At 11:25am on March 22, 2012, Jeannie Moore said…
Hey Vanessa,
The NY Times reporter would love to talk with you if you want to share information about why you are participating in the aspirin trial. You can email her your number and time that works for you:
ronirobin@earthlink.net
jeannie
- At 4:23pm on March 19, 2012,
Hi Vanessa, I saw your latest photos of your welts and peeling hands. My heart is heavy with sadness that all of this is happening to you and has been happening to you for a long period of time. I will say and I have said it before you have a heart of gold and the drive that is second to none. There just has to be relief around the corner for you, there has to be. I am looking for good news after you talk to your Onc on Wed. I care about you alot Vanessa and love you like a sister. Take care:). Michael
- At 9:28pm on March 13, 2012,
Jeanne A said… Hi Vanessa, Here are some ideas for when you have no appetite due to chemo. There are chemical methods, like medical marijuana, the rx equivalent Marinol, and I believe Megace is another one. Steroids are also used to increase appetite (Decadron). Practical ways are different, of course. Eat small snacks more frequently instead of big meals. Eat mild foods. Notice what things appeal to you - sweet, salty, crunchy, etc, and get that into the foods you eat. If you like sweet, go for sweet potatoes, yams, apples, sweet bell peppers, cinnamon toast, you get the idea. Chicken is a good protein to go with all those, maybe not the cinnamon toast! If you're liking salty, go for white potatoes with veggies on them, like stuffed potatoes. Go for protein like maybe pork, with a salty kind of sauce. Or Chinese food!
Whatever you can eat that doesn't make you gag. I know how you can cook something, and just the smell makes you not want to eat it. I know how you can think something will be perfect, and one bite in the mouth and all your senses go on red alert, shouting 'no no no!' Then there's no WAY you can eat that thing.
Maybe a new cookbook, like "One Bite At A Time", made for cancer patients and their caregivers/support people. There might be ideas for new things that will tickle your palate the right way!!
Let me know if this is way off base, and your problem isn't related to this at all. I might have other ideas.
Jeanne
- At 10:06am on February 16, 2012,
Katie Kennedy said…
Thank you so much for the information. I had my uterus removed last year because of endometriosis, they removed my ovaries at the same time they took part of my colon. You are so young, I wish you a speedy recovery. My daughter is 25 and they had to remove three polyps from her two of the three were precancerous. They told her to have her children soon, and as soon as she is done having children, they want to do a complete hysterectomy on her as well.
© 2013 Powered by Colon Cancer Alliance.
|
The My CCA Support Online Community is generously supported by: |
Connect with the Colon Cancer Alliance: |
|
 |
     |
|
