Morning CheeKKat, and a warm welcome to the forum, though not one any of us wanted to join, sorry I cant help with your diagnosis, as you can imagine many of us have different cancers, though "hopefully", someone will be along who can help, but we can help with the emotional side of having/living with a terminal diagnosis. You will find the ladies and a few guys helpful and supporting and quite a few inspiring, having passed their best before date's by many years,, we like to laugh, moan, chat and rant but mostly just to offer advice and support and to help each other, an support each other through the dark days.
I'm so sorry to read your post, and the details in your profile.
I have a different cancer, but the emotional impact of an incurable diagnosis is one that all of us here in this forum have faced. We all try to support each other and help each other through.
'Prognosis' is a difficult one. No-one can predict this with any accuracy, and there are many people in this forum who have gone way past their 'sell by dates'. It is an educated guess, at best.
Have you been offered any treatment or surgery? What has your oncologist suggested will happen next? Have you been given a named support nurse (CNS)?
I am in a similar domestic situation to yours. There is support available to you, going forward. If you have a Macmillan Centre, or a Maggie's Centre near you, they are fantastic. You may also be able to get support from your local hospice....they are not just there for end of life care.
You are not alone with this diagnosis! The people in this forum are really supportive, and you can post and chat as often as you want. There is usually someone around who will respond, and we all understand how you are feeling.
Hi Cheekkat I have met people here who are years past the time they were told. Dont forget it's just an opinion and can be wrong sometimes. I asked if I was brown bread and told yes which isn't good . I have since been told that I am not toast yet which is great . I only found out in Febuary that my cancer is incurable and I was offered palliative care if any . I think accepting the situation is the first thing I struggled with but I went and made a will and left my body to medical science which saves all the aggro of a funeral. It's bad enough being devastated but ill on top is horrible. Things do change and I like to think positive if nothing else. Any hope is better than no hope XXX All the Best minmax
There is some help available for some of the difficulties you are coping with at the moment.
You could ask your GP or practice nurse to prescribe nutritional drinks, which you can use if you can't face solid food. I use these on days when I can't eat much. At least they will maintain your body weight and give you some energy.
Macmillan are offering counselling sessions, in conjunction with BUPA. You could access this by phoning the helpline. This might help with your feelings and current low mood. You could ask for this via your GP, but it could take longer to organise.
Once you have seen the oncologist and your colo-rectal consultant, it should give you a treatment or care plan, which may help you to settle things in your mind and see a way forward. At this consultation, you may also meet nurse specialists who are there to support you.
This beginning phase of waiting for news, appointments, scans etc. is the worst time, most people find. The anxiety can be overwhelming. I know this is very hard, but try not to think the worst, or dwell on what has happened to others. Use the helpline and talk with others who understand your situation. Try to occupy yourself with things you enjoy doing, or that will distract you.
