Newly diagnosed.

Hi,

Welcome, you'll find loads of support here - I found it really helpful when I was in that state of shock after being diagnosed and had spent too much time looking at Dr Google! However, here I am three years on and doing great. 

This is generally a treatable cancer and once you know a bit more about what they are going to do, you can come back and ask all the questions you want - someone will have been there. 

Wishing you all the best. Stay in touch.

Thank you Mrs Vanilla, I really appreciate that.

Hi

I was diagnosed 2 months ago. I had an appointment with my consultant then I had a pet scan. I then had an appointment with my oncologist who referred me for my radiotherapy planning scan. Once this is done, it’s usually a few weeks until you start treatment. You’ll also meet with the chemotherapy nurse and have lots of blood tests etc. usually this cancer is treated with chemoradiation. Mine is over 6 weeks, 28 working days. Usually from diagnosis it’s several weeks until you start treatment. So you may get to enjoy Christmas. Everyone’s treatment plan will be different but this is just to give you an idea on what to expect. You’ll feel like your whole world is just cancer and it’s scary at first. Trust the process, it has a high success rate of 90%. I fought for two years to get answers. I was in agony and they kept saying it was an anal fissure. So I understand how you are feeling. In the mean time scream, shout, have a glass of wine. What ever you need to do then you’ll find the strength to fight this.

Contact Macmillan for financial support they will tell you what you are entitled to and can help you with all the forms.

Wishing you all the best. Xx

Thank you so much Miss Bear, reading your story, especially your route to finally getting a diagnosis reassures me that I am not the only one who took so long to get answers.

I am so keen to get going with everything just so that I know where I stand.

I worry about my partner but we will get through this one way or another.

Good luck with your future treatment.

Enjoy your Christmas.

Morning I too took a long time to get a diagnosis I saw 3 different doctors who all examined me but were treating me for piles they gave me cream .I was having 2 tubes q week then they said I couldn't have anymore and would have to pay I kept pleading for a colonoscopy and they said I didn't need one I finally went private 

Now 2 years later I've had chemoradiotherapy .chemotherapy and am now waiting to see if I can have surgery .I'll say to anyone if you can afford it if you've seen a doctor 3 to.es go private .When he said straight away it was cancer he immediately put me on the NHS xx

Hello LCraig

I see you have already had some responses from our lovely forum members, and I just wanted to add another welcome although I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis.  

So many of the early days following a diagnosis are given over to gathering information; you will probably go on to have various scans and once all the information is gathered a treatment plan formulated specifically for you at an MDT (multi-disciplinary team) meeting.  The treatment is tough but doable and once it actually starts things start to look a lot brighter.

When you know more please come back and tell us; we have lots of tips we can share and of course are here to help support should you need it.

Sending a big hug

Irene xx