That's the thing. I have no idea how long my tumor has existed. I wouldn't have known of its existence if my appendix hadn't ruptured while waiting for surgery last summer.
When they opened me up to clean out the mess, they discovered a portion of my ileum was necrotic.
Good thing my surgery was delayed and my appendix ruptured. Would never have known about the dead small intestine.
And that's when I figured a colonoscopy might not be a bad idea.
It's a roller coaster, for sure. Some days will be better than others. I tell myself: Just get through it.
I have only two more infusions and then I'll start chemoradiation. Trying to shrink the tumor before they can even attempt surgery.
Please keep us updated here. 
I will. I'm not a prolific poster, but I knew there would be threads on this topic here on the forum, and the QVC posters are ones that I have come to "know" and trust through the years.
@GrailSeeker wrote:I just lost my first cousin June 26 @just bee to cancer. She was also a psychiatric nurse, University of Iowa. I got my diagnosis 2 days later. She was 72.
I'm so sorry to hear that. I feel that stress is a huge factor. And hers was a stressful job.
Take care of yourself and don't let yourself fall into depression. Be angry and determined instead.
