I had my colonoscopy on Wednesday. Ouch! But I think the bowel cleanser (Moviprep) was the worst part. 2 Litres of the stuff but boy did it do the trick. I felt hollow the next morning.
The colonscopy showed up not only the main tumour around my rectum but another potentially cancerous polyp further up.
I went to see my consultant yesterday to get the full picture and it was not good news. I have advanced rectal cancer (stage 4) and it has spread to the right side of my liver. Some good news in that my lungs and other organs are cancer free.
I will be given a PET scan to check that it has not gone to the left side of my liver so fingers and toes crossed.
After that I will need a 3 month course of chemo therapy to shrink the tumours in my liver and rectum. They will then remove the right side of my liver and then deal with my rectum. I have been told that this will entail radio therapy and I will need a full colostomy.
The specialist nurse was very good and answered all my questions.
It was a lot of information to take in at once but I now feel that I have a path to follow with defined steps and actions.
Next step PET scan.
I made the point of asking my consultant how long I would have to live if I didn't have any treatment. He said 6 to 12 months.
So from my initial diagnosis on April 9th I am going to have a party on October 9th this year and on April 10th next year.
It's a glorious sunny morning so I'm off to enjoy it on my allotment. Those potatoes won't plant themselves.
Thanks for listening
