I have been fighting Cancer since April 2000. On April 4, 2000, I was diagnosed with Cancer of the Appendix. Only 300 cases ever reported in Medical Records. The normal Appendix is approximately 2 1/2" long. Mine was over 12 1/2" long, was wrapped around the Small Intestines and had a Lemon size knot on the end of it. It had ruptured 6 1/2 WEEKS before my surgery. It didn't burst like some do, it had a small torn area and just seeped for over 6 weeks (based on the length of time that I had been complaining about the pain in my lower right abdomen). My surgeon thought that the knot looked bad and had Pathology called to the operating room and sectioned it. It came out clear. So they cleaned all my insides and packed everything back in where it belonged and sewed me up. 3 Days later my Surgeon visited me in my room and informed me that when they sent everything that they had removed to the Pathology Lab, they found Cancer where the Appendix attached to the Colon. The bad news was that they didn't remove enough of the surrounding area for Cancer Surgery, so I would have to have another surgery. They put me on Chemo Treatments for approx. 3 weeks and let me heal a little from the 1 st surgery, then they scheduled the 2nd surgery. This time they performed a Right Colonectomy. Which means that they remove the entire Right Half of my Color (large Intestine) and a bunch of other surrounding tissue, including Lymph Nodes. The Surgery all went well and I was then back on the Chemo Treatments. My Treatments were Once a day for 5 days in a row, then off for 3 weeks and then repeat the 5 day treament. This lasted for 6 months. I missed work for 5 weeks for each of the surgery recoverys, but I didn't miss any work due to the Chemo Treatments. After completing the Chemo, I quickly regained my strength and everything was fine. I continued regular visits with my Oncologist for check-ups. Then after 8 1/2 years, on one of my check up visits, my CEA (blood test) started to increase. I repeated the test 3 or 4 times and then went in for a CAT Scan. The report was that the Cancer had returned, to the same spot where they removed it. That was on Nov. 16, 2008. Further test revealed that the tumor was now 5cm (about the size of a small tennis ball) and had choked off the right Ureter Tube (the tube from the Right Kidney down to the Bladder) and the Right Kidney was dead (totally non-functioning). The tumor is not operable because it is disseminated (not in one large piece, but in lots of small pieces). It has also spread into the bladder and some of the lymph nodes. I went back on Chemo treatments, 4-5 hours of Leucovorin & 5FU, once a week. I was on this regiment for over 10 months. I am now backed off to a 30 minute treatment once every two weeks for the rest of my life. This treatment does not shrink the tumor, it only prevents new growth. As of March 2010, I am feeling fine, I am working every day. I don't have much stamina, and tire easily, but still get around and feel good. Keep praying for a cancer cure. I have a strong faith in God and with his help, I will continue keeping up the fight.

Update 8-18-2011:
The Doctors have informed me that my cancer has gotten worse; The cancer has penetrated the Mesentery Sack. This is the thin sack that surrounds all of the organs and keeps them from bumping into each other. Once this is penetrated, it permits the cancer to travel form one organ to another rather quickly. I now have a spot on my Lung and on my Liver. My oncologist says that I have months to live. I am still having horrific pain in my right hip and leg. The test show that the pain is caused from the tumor on my right hip is putting pressure on a nerve and blood vessel that travels down my leg. My Pain Management Doctor has been working on changing my pain medication. She has taken me off of the Oxycontin and put me on a Fentanyl patch. Then for break through pain, Liquid Morphine &/or Actiq (suckers). I was taking the Liquid Morphine at 1tps per hour and up to 20 times per day. This really took my energy down, & severely affected my taste buds. Now I am only taking it about 3 times per day now that the fentanyl patch has kicked in. Starting to feel better and getting some strength back. Hopefully things will keep on the up swing and I will get to feeling better.
That is about all for now. I am just trying to get my strength back and to where I feel normal again. Please keep me in your prayers.
Ralph

Final update: I am sadened to post this, but we have lost a great man, Ralph Scott. He lost his battle to cancer on November 2nd 2011. He will live on through his cars, knowledge, and his sites.