Good morning all, I’ve only just decided to join the online community after having being diagnosed with Colon cancer metastasis to the Liver at the start of lockdown last year. I hadn’t really had any symptoms until about 6 weeks prior to going into hospital and finding a lump in my colon and after further investigations finding that it had already spread to my liver. I’ve been told that I can’t be cured and that my treatment will be ongoing, which is fine by me as I’m certainly not going down without a fight. This isn’t me trying to come across as brave or anything, it’s just that I have three amazing children who have been through so much in the past six years. When I was told in A&E that they’d found a lump and that it probably was cancer my first thought was “oh my god, how on earth am I going to tell my children?” Well l managed to do that in the best way I could. We openly talk about Cancer as it’s not an unknown to our family.
My husband died suddenly six years ago of a heart attack whilst at work, about four months later my dad was diagnosed with cancer, the year after my stepdad found out he had it, my dad died about four years ago, then I find out I have and to top it right off my mum found out last year she had breast cancer! I say to people if you read my story in a weekly ladies magazine you’d think I was making it all up. But cancer isn’t bothered, it goes where it wants!
My mum is a strong advocate for positive thinking, oh, and drinking lots of water
I must admit I do have down days but not as many as I thought I would have. I try to keep my mind occupied so as I don’t think about ‘stuff’. Crochet and knitting are my big go to things as while I’m concentrating on a pattern my mind is busy.
I have told my children what I want to happen when I get to end of life. They didn’t want to talk about it at first but I said it was important so that they knew what to do, I’ve talked to my local undertaker to arrange things and written my will. When my husband died we weren’t properly prepared and I said when it was my time I would make sure things were organised, now they are we can carry on as normal as possible.
i did have a ‘wobble’ the other day over Christmas plans. I’m going to stay with my younger sister for Christmas and New Year partly because I haven’t spent the whole holidays with her since she was a little girl and my children can have a break but then I thought what if this is my last Christmas and I haven’t spent it with my children? Needless to say my children put my mind at ease.
I hope you don’t mind my waffling on with my story, that you have the best of times with your loved ones xxx
Hi and welcome to the Online Community although so sorry to hear about your diagnosis, this is such a hard time for all the family but I do hope you will find lots of comfort and support here on the Online Community.
The New to Community area is like our reception where we can signpost our many dedicated support groups and services and I do see you have joined our Bowel (colon and rectum) cancer group. This is a safe place to talk to other people who may have a similar diagnosis or treatment experience.
If you'd like to connect in with a group click on the Green link I have created above. Then introduce yourself by putting up a ‘new post’ by clicking in the box near the top right with + New (Computers) or + (Mobile Devices). You will then see a dropdown menu so hit ‘Start a Discussion in New here, say hello’ and you are ready to go.
You could copy and paste the text from this your first post. You can also search through existing ‘Discussions’ and click [reply] if you want to put up a comment.
The Macmillan Support Line is open 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00 or via web chat. This service provides cancer information, emotional support, benefits and financial guidance or just a listening ear.
To find information covering diagnosis, treatments and pages covering most types of cancers check our Online Information and Support Section.
Talking to people face to face can indeed help a lot but during these strange times it’s not that available but do check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support in your area has opened up. Do also check out for a local Maggie's Centre in your area.
Always around if you need further help in navigating the community.
All the very best ((hugs))
