Tumour found

Hi, I'm very sorry that you decided to join us but pleased that you felt you could reach out to us and tell us why you've come on here.

It is always a worry getting an appointment to see a surgeon who wants to discuss your results and possible surgery, the waiting is the worst part and you start to think the worst but I implore you please resist the temptation to look up your symptoms on Dr Google at the very worst you'll get the wrong information and start to imagine all manner of things, best to see what our members say and as you've joined the Bowel (colon and rectal) cancer forum group I would suggest you repost this over there (copy the above post, head over to the bowel group, press start a discussion and paste this into the box and press send,) we have a lot of knowledgeable people in the group that will be able to answer some if not all of your questions in a friendly helpful way you will find that we are all very supportive towards each other and do everything we can to help one another.

The symptoms of tiredness and going to the loo a lot can mean a lot of different things, the suspicious tumour maybe just that and the biopsy and the CT scan will tell the story, my advice is to try and put it to the back of your mind and carry on as normal and the 28th will arrive soon enough and you will hear what the surgeon has to say, no point in double guessing just now.

When the 28th arrives and you go to the appointment take someone with you for support but mainly to take notes on everything the surgeon tells you, if you have any questions write them down before you go and give your note taker a copy, we all have questions that we know we should ask but we suffer from white coat syndrome (going back to the days when all doctors wore white coats) and our minds go blank and the questions disappear until you're travelling home and you think I wish I had ask about this and that but with your list of questions in front of you the problem shouldn't arise, hopefully the surgeon will take his time explaining everything to you and you may find that he will answer some if not all of your questions without you asking them, two things to remember

If at anytime you don't understand what's being said, ask the surgeon to repeat it using words that you can understand.

and

Your note taker is there to support you and should concentrate on taking notes, these are invaluable when you get home.

If you need to chat to us in the bowel group just come on in at anytime you will be made most welcome and can ask us anything it is our belief that no question is silly or too  small to ask, except the one never asked, if you've got one rolling around in your head come in to the bowel group and ask it and someone will answer it for you.

Can I ask that you keep in touch with us, you're part of the Mac family now and we like to know how each other is getting on.

Look forward to welcoming you over on the other side soon.

Ian

Thank you so much for replying Ian your words are very reassuring.

Hi, I was in exactly the same position as you are now back in May. I realise the kind of stress and nervousness you are feeling which comes from not knowing exactly what it is you have. All I can say that 6 months on I am feeling positive and hopeful because I am in good hands and we have a treatment strategy which appears to be working. I do hope you get positive news, but whatever the news is, be reassured that there is a way out of the situation you are in. Good luck with everything and feel free to ask anything at any time 

regards

Sean