Debbie Margeten
I was 42 when I was diagnosed with carcinoid. I had a tumour the size of a grapefruit in between my large and small bowel. They operated on Dec 1, 2000 and removed the tumour.
I am an avid runner and kept up the running even when I went through chemo from Jan to June of 2001. I was prepared to do a half marathon in October but cancelled since I had a miscarriage in September and was advised to have my tubes tied. Cancer was in my lymph nodes so I was told I had to have chemo treatments and I was to get menopause earlier. Not me I was pregnant and didn't even know it other than my breast being sore when I started to run.
2004 I was told I have spots covering my liver and I could not have an operation for no where in my liver was it available to get a clean spot. I stopped running for a year last year for I tried acupuncture and the lady said running is too hard on the body. The last report was not any better so I have started running again and did a half marathon in Oct 07. 2hrs.6min. and I was running back to catch a person who was having a hard time!
I've been told I have spots on my lungs now. I was very disappointed at the Cancer Clinic when I was diagnosed for I was told I would learn so much about carcinoid for my family doctor said he never heard of it. The cancer clinic told me there is no one I could talk to when you phoned for a person who has had the same cancer. I was told there is a computer at the cancer clinic but I was not a computer genie! I had my brother print off some information which I could understand. I went to X for a meeting about carcinoid years back and cried when they said my partner for communication from the website was dead.
I have dealt with carcinoid with shots of Sandostatin Long Acting Release 20 mg. Now I take two shots at 30 mg every two weeks. I was told I do not have the receptors to have treatment in London. I am not in pain and I work at a bank 4 days a week. My memory is not as good due to chemo but I am doing fine.
Hope this can help anyone else.
November 2007 by Debbie (Gray) Margetan,
Ontario
Midgut-Lung Tumour