New to community

Hi  and warm welcome to the Macmillan Online Community although sorry that you had to find us and especially sorry to hear about your cancer diagnosis.

A cancer diagnosis brings many questions but talking with others who are walking the same type of cancer journey will help you navigate this challenging time.

The Community is organised into support groups abd I see you have joined and posted in our supportive Bowel (colon and rectum) cancer group, this will be a good place to connect with patients and families navigating the same type of cancer journey.

Although I have a different type of cancer I have had numerous cycles of chemo and yes some side effects will accumulate over the cycles.

These are some useful links for you to have a look at.

Nausea, remember not to suffer in silence when it comes to nausea there are lots of tools available - but your team need to know how you are getting on.

Fatigue may well build up over time so take each day as it comes but at the same time keep some activity going as this does actually help overcome some of the fatigue.

Peripheral Neuropathy can be a ‘pain’ no pun intended but again do talk to your team about it as in some types of chemo small changes can be done to help this.

It’s always good to talk and the Macmillan Support Services provides lots of information, support, financial guidance or just a listening ear.

Most services are open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week and it's free to call on 0808 808 00 00 have a look by Clicking here to see what is available and we also have our Ask an Expert section, but do allow two working days for replies from our expert team.

To find information covering diagnosis, treatments and pages covering most types of cancers can be found on our Online Information and Support Section. 

All the very best

Hi Juzz

Welcome to the forum. 

I was diagnosed with colon cancer with a spread to the liver in November. I started my chemo in  January and on cycle 6 next Tuesday. 

Everyone has different side effects. Some breeze through ( lucky ones!) and then some experience some or none of the following.

This are my side effects so far:

cycle 1. Tiredness, tingly arms and fingers. Slept a lot 5 days later then felt ok again.

cycle 2. Tiredness. Tingly fingers and nose!  Heartburn.

cycle 3. Tiredness. Acne on face and back. Sore scalp. 

cycle 4. More acne type rash. Felt weaker than before.  Napping in the pm 

cycle 5. Bout of sickness.  Not as tired.

cycle 6 who knows.??

Hope this helps. It’s all manageable especially with all the lotions and potions I’ve been given.

what chemo plan are you on?

Hi there. 
I had part of my colon removed in January but unfortunately the tumor had grown through. 
mom on the three week cycle of infusion followed by the 8 tablets a day for two weeks then a week Off

it doesn’t sound like you’ve suffered too much nausea and sickness. Mine hasn’t been great. 

it helps hearing people’s stories and side effects to know you’re not alone xx. 

hiw long after diagnosis did you hear it had spread to your liver

Hi

Maybe mention the nausea to your team. They will give you anti sickness tablets.  Hope you feel better soon. 

My story is a tricky one. I had constipation pains in March and went to the Gp who examined my stomach and asked if there was bowel cancer in my family. I told him yes. My Father had the same cancer and unfortunately passed away when he was 70.   The Gp reassured me it’s not cancer because I was only 42.  Packed me off with laxatives. I’m still angry about this. Fast forward November and my pains are back. I called the gp and because of lockdown he called me back. I told him my symptoms and he suspected appendicitis. I packed a bag and went straight to A and E.

I was operated on that afternoon and woke up to devasting news that evening. It wasn’t appendicitis. It was bowel cancer with a spread to the liver. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. 

I then had a CT scan to confirm that there are tumours on my liver. I was in hospital for 9 days then went home to rest and enjoy xmas before chemo started in January.

I didn’t tell my kids till January. I just couldn’t bear it.

Oh that’s so bad. 

my take is another tricky one. For at least four years my specialist couldn’t make out why my body couldn’t hold iron for long. I had quite a few iron infusions and colonoscopies. 

then last year in the April I started having trouble digesting food. I would be sick quite often. I was sent to hospital to check for an ulcer but no it wasn’t that. 

thusxwent on until November when they decided to do another colonoscopy and there they found a large tumor. I was being sick after good as the tumor was causing partial bowel obstruction so had to stay on liquids until my Op

in January. 

I do feel as though my brain is just catching up with my body at the moment. Lots of shocks all at one xx

I’m sorry to read that. Life is very unfair sometimes.

Hope your next cycle goes smoothly. Do let us know how you get on.

x 

I will Thankyou x