I'm aged 65.5. !8 months or so ago i had the usual postal bowel poo test in 2023 / 2024 ish.. Came back Clear.
Yet 6 months la\ter by chance i had an over 55's mobile MRI test ( Started July 2025). I belive government funding for this now discontinued?
I almost did'nt take time out from what i concidered my busy work shedule ( 04.00 - 13.00 ).
But did it anyway. Low and behold the fun began. After this MRI, i had a call 3 days later.
Not more than 2 weeks later the real fun began. Another MRI / CAT Scan & Colonoscapy within 3 months. WTF i asked myself. I am no longer as i with my dark humour would say. I'm no longer a back door virgin. Uncomfotable it was, took out 3 polyps but one about 5" in the recal canal. They could not & prognosis began.
By Dec 2025 i had a Macmillans invite, and told take whatever company leave you have. And go on sick leave, which i have done.
Then entered into the Royal Marseden system. I can't regal the hospital or team staff enough.
Well on we go as all or may not ask their consultant ( how bad, how Long) answer for me was drum roll please! 2 years without treatment. So not much of a choice, seeing as my life time wife & partner was sitting beside me. Ok Doc bring it on ( Which tthey did). 1st course of Chemo 3 days in. I ended up as an emergency day patiient @ Royal Masrseden ( no beds free to keep me in, thankfully). Contracted thrush in throat & nether regions / urinary infection & to cap it all a retro virus mainly found in children? Was issolated pumpded full of meds, but got through it. Then the real fun began Chemo reducded by 25%. But the intavenous Chemo is a bugger. Takes about 2 - 4 hours to administer. The side affects are many. But for me, pins & needles in feet & hands. Anything cold hurts as i found out early next day. Woke as usual 02.00 ok. Go downstairs to make a cup of tea. Get milk to make tea & pain in hands made me drop milk all over the floor, drat lesson learned. Wear gloves next time and since. My present regime is Intravenous Chemo then 2nd week just chemo meds then one week free. Then start again. Now on my 3rd and i hoped final session? Before more test to see if it woirked? And maybe radio therapy, easy peasy who knows. I have other issues type 1 diabetes @ present not under control. X 2 insaline injections & x 2 other meds, i'm trying. But that's just me. Am i worried? Yes of course, but not about me. I'm old. I am stoic about it all. When i have appointments to the The Royal Marsden i wear stupid funny T-shirts. Becasuse all i see is Cancer pastiets full of woe.One T-shirt brought by one of my 3 daughters ( who has the same dark humour as me! states). I'm gonna be cremated, as it's the last chance i will have to. Have a smoking hot body. lol.
By the way! What is the best all time favorite film for cancer patients? Finding Chemo.
Just remember, life is but a journey one way. from cradle to grave look forward not back. The road behind has been traveled. Look foward always. There are yet more mysteries & fun to had ahead. If you only open your eyes and look.
Hi MAN12 and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
The online community is divided into different support groups so I'm going to recommend that you join the bowel cancer group, which is a great place to ask questions, share experiences and get support. Judging by your sense of humour, you might also like to join the laughter is the best medicine group too!
To join, just click on the link I've created and, once you've joined, you can start a new post in the same way as you did here and join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.
It would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis and treatment into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
