Just reaching out for support from others

Hi EmF91 navigating the cancer journey can be such a stressful and challenging time but getting support from people who have walked the ‘exact same' cancer journey can help a lot. (I have a completely different cancer).

Can I recommend you join and post in our dedicated Bowel Cancer support group. This will be a safe place to talk to others with a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support.

To connect in with the group click on this link 

Bowel (colon and rectum) cancer

…… then once the group page opens click in the [Black - Click to Join - Banner] that appears at the bottom of the page and this will then confirm that you have joined the group.

When you are ready……. you can introduce yourself by putting up your very own post by clicking [+ Create new post] or [ + ] in the top right of the group page.

You can copy and paste the text from this post into your new post.

You may find it helpful to call the Macmillan Support Line open 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00. This service provides cancer information, practical information, emotional support, benefits/financial guidance or just a listening ear. We also have our Ask an Expert section but do allow 3 working days for a reply.

Talking to people face to face can be very helpful so do check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support in your area, do also check for a local Maggie's Centre as these folks are amazing and give support to all the family.

Do get back to me if you need further help navigating the community.

I was on a forum last year where we discussed PTSD and apparently lots of cancer patients have this and one of the clear symptoms is irritability and anger so you are not alone and it is a perfectly normal response to the diagnosis of cancer and all that entails. It might be helpful to write your feelings down. Use as much bad language as you want to get it out of your system. I write in pencil and then write over the top so no one can ever read it. It’s amazing how helpful that can be!

Hi EmF91 

I'm sorry to read that you have been feeling irritable and short tempered. The points that you make about other people not 'getting it' is often said in a certain group. I've linked it below.

 Living with incurable cancer forum - patients only 

The group is friendly and supportive and we 'get it' because we are all in the same situation. All different types of cancer but all incurable.

There is also  The Room if you need to get some anger out and get things off your chest. It's understandable to feel frustrated as cancer has come into your life unexpectedly and no doubt, taken certain things away.

Best regards 

A x

It sounds like you are scared. No one can be in our head or body, no one can experience the highs and lows like we do. What you are going through, to me, sounds perfectly normal. It is great you are recognising you are pushing them away, because now you can recognise how this is going to make them feel.  Yes, cancer is big, cancer is utterly, stinkingly, horrible, and it is also frightening for our loved ones. My tolerance is at an all time low, regarding everything.  I hardly see shades, it's more black and white and I dispense my own justice in a curse filled rant. I have lashed out, cried, had to go back and apologise a good few times.  It is a pretty poor hand we have been dealt, and it can be hard for others to understand.  All the terminology, the treatments, the pills, it can be mind boggling.  You are not alone in how you are feeling, and personally, I would like the others suggested, stick your head into some of the other forums and that'll just go to show I am right.