So glad to have found this group. After a very long wait to get diagnosis ( 9 weeks wait to see colorectal surgeon and further 10 weeks to see oncologist after biopsy) I am now due to start chemo/radiotherapy on Wednesday. I’m in a lot of pain and very scared. Just glad to know there is this group to help with advice and support.
welcome to the forum. We are with you all the way too. Get a sitz bath from Amazon which you will find very useful as you progress through your treatment. Once you start your treatment on Wednesday you will be able to get into a routine with your hospital appointments. Hopefully you have read some members tips regarding creams etc but if not ask away.
A warm welcome to our group - and wow - that is a very long wait but at least treatment is due to start very soon. Please remember that not everyone gets the side effects really badly and when treatment starts, they don't all come at once. It is a very gradually thing and please don't worry about the radiotherapy - the actual treatment is about five minutes although it can be a bit of a strain holding on to a full bladder!
I don't know how much you have read, but I would advise a Sitzbath - a portable bidet that sits on the loo to soothe your nether regions, very loose cotton pants, very easy quick meals and call on any support you can for shopping and lifts should you need it. Let your treating team know if you are in pain, in fact do they know your pain levels at the moment? They are normally very responsive and can prescribe something the same day.
And a calendar - mark off those days of treatment, it is wonderful seeing the days go by and the end of treatment looming!
We will be thinking of you on Wednesday and will be with you in spirit.
Welcome. I'm sorry you are in pain. I think feeling scared is totally natural i know i am. My journey started in February and i start treatment on Monday luckily for me I'm just uncomfortable at the moment not in pain. I haven't been on the forums long but everyone is lovely and is either going through it or has gone through and full of tips for coping with treatment. Also Support for how you are feeling and how to cope, even when you know the answer yourself sometimes you just need to here it from other people. Good luck for Wednesday. Sending hugs. X
Wishing you all the best for the start of your treatment on Wednesday. This is a lovely forum, with lots of really helpful advice and support and helped me a lot. I hope it is able to do the same for you.
I had a pic line in for the first week,then another one at the end for a week,radiotherapy was fine but whatever you,make sure you moisturise every day. My groin areas were like raw meat but it didn’t last for long! Whatever happens,make sure you get advice about scar tissue forming. Unfortunately,my McMillan nurse left without warning & I never was advised about dilators or given any!! As a result my vagina has completely closed & the scar tissue has built up in my anal passage which causes a lot of problems toilet wise. This could have been avoided if I’d known about it. I feel very bitter about this and don’t want anyone else starting this journey without advice. I wish you all the best & hope you find this helpful.
I'm waiting to see the specialist/ Consultant on Wednesday the 9th....I've been pretty much told I've got it....and I know in my own body.. ..jus anxious about if it's spread or not n how serious it is....probably the first time I've ben scared in my life...dunno what to expect
Malk, a warm welcome to the forum, and I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I can totally understand your fear and I will be thinking of you on Wednesday.
May I suggest doing a post of your own which will reach a lot more forum members, some of whom may be at exactly the same place as you. And you will probably get a lot more replies.
