Newly Diagnosed

Hello and welcome.

Im sure that you are going through a whole host of emotions atm but you have come to the right place as everyone on here will have gone through or going through what you are and there is so much advice that can be offered.

I have just finished chemradiatiin about four weeks ago and already I feel great. I still get a a little tired but I've recovered well overall.

Had chemo tablets and radio five days a week and for me the worst park for me for nausea, hospitals parking each day and the skin damage towards the end. That said it was bearable and doable and now my skin has completely healed.

Once you start treatment all will be good

Take care for now x

Hello Beckym16798147d 

We will all do our utmost to make sure that fire keeps burning brightly Becky!  I am so sorry to hear of your diagnosis but you have come to the right place.  This is a very supportive small community and we all have experienced your diagnosis.  Unfortunately you are certainly not the only one who was initially misdiagnosed with piles and I am relieved that you kept pushing.

You just have to get through all these investigations (which seem to go on forever) but once treatment starts you will feel a lot more in control of what is happening to you.  And a quick word of advice - when you take any opioid drugs, and co-codamol is one, have a supply of Laxido (a stool softener) handy.  Constipation is not your friend right now.

Please let us know how you get on with the oncologist and when you get the treatment plan, and we are always here should you need to off-load in the meantime.

Big hug

Irene

Hi and thank you so much for the welcome and your advice! I think this is just precious to have a group of fellow warriors to bond with  

Hope everything goes well and I’m here if you ever need a chat too ️

kindest regards 

Hi Irene 

many thanks for your reply ️

Small and select eh! I like this lol!

Yes I was prescribed laxido along with the cocodamol and I’ve started taking regularly already .. I’ve decided to make friends with my bowel lol and we are spending considerable time together sitting kind of comfortably in quiet contemplation .. passing the time of day! lol 

I look forward to many more conversations with you all! 

with many thanks for your kind words xx 

Hello Beckym,

Just wanted to welcome you to the forum although of course wish that you didn’t need to be here.

It definitely sounds that what you describe as pushing and badgering was absolutely the right thing to do and your GP was also really on the ball to fast track you.

This isn’t always the case so despite the terrible shock of your diagnosis you will soon be starting treatment. I can see that you’ve had some really helpful responses  and I hope that we can all support you with the treatment journey ahead. 

Of course you are scared but please don’t hesitate to ask any questions. You also sound very strong and positive, but we all have wobbles, particularly in the difficult time after diagnosis and before starting treatment. 

I finished treatment a year ago and remember being terrified but it was successful. Hopefully you’ll get a start date soon.

Sending hugs x

Hi Peb24 :) 

Many thanks for taking the time to reply and welcome me it’s reassuring to know I have all this support, I can’t thank you all enough! 

I actually feel much calmer since I had my PET scan not sure why .. I did drift off during it lol! I do feel tired but I think that may be the knock on effect of the shock from it all.

I’m going to go to the hospital on Tuesday with an open mind .. I have done quite a bit of research .. maybe not the best thing to do but I’m a preparation is key kind of girl lol! 

I’ll be sure to update you all and reach out when I need to and I know I will so thank you once again. The listening ear is reciprocated too! 

much love ️ 

Hi Beckym16798147d , another warm welcome from me although I’m really sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis.

Aside from your path to diagnosis this could be the post that I wrote when I was diagnosed! I too was just about to turn 53 when diagnosed & I am a single parent of 2 wonderful girls the youngest of which was just going into her GCSE’s so a similar age to your daughter. I also work in retail & decided the same as you & couldn’t face dealing with the challenges that retail work brings (you’ll understand what I mean I’m sure!) so I went on sick leave from having my biopsy which 7 days later handed me my diagnosis. 

I think it would be unnatural if you weren’t scared to be honest. The fear of the unknown is awful. That fire inside you will carry you through this. The treatment is short & sharp but it has gifted many of us here a cancer free life. 

Once you have a treatment plan in place & get that first day over hopefully like lots of us here found you’ll begin to feel a little more in control & the fear of what the treatment entails will disappear a bit. 

Wishing you the best of luck with your colonoscopy & appointment this week & please if you’ve any questions you think we might be able to help with please just ask. We’ve all been in a similar position to you right now & we’re here to support you however we can. 

Nicola 

Hi Nicola!

Awe wow my long lost twin you are! lol 

Joining this forum, and Macmillan, has been the best thing I could have done to help guide me on this epic journey I know I now have to walk.

I can feel the love, the pain and the discomfort in many of the words I've read so far and I draw a strange kind of comfort and a deep appreciation from this so thank you 

I'm sure that as much as me, everyone else here has had multiple curveballs hit squarely on over the years and the only choice is to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, pull your big girl/boy pants up (gently this time lol) and put one foot in front of the other. Knowing fellow warriors are there along the way is most reassuring!

Will keep you all posted as the week goes on!

Kindest regards

Becky

So I'm back after my first appointment with the Consultant and wonderful oncology team at St James! Wow I can't tell you just how wonderful they all were!

I am officially classed as Category A and with a radical treatment plan in place to begin the week of Xmas! One iv infusion of chemo with daily chemo tablets on the radiotherapy days for 5.5 weeks.

I'm in for another colonoscopy this week then back for  another ct and mri and consultant meeting next week too! I feel seen, heard and held everything I could have hoped for and more!

I told them all how wonderful this group is and what amazing support there is on tap from you guys! 

with much love and gratitude

Becky

Hi Becky

Just wanted to add another warm welcome to the forum and I’m really sorry for your recent diagnosis but I’m glad to see you’ve already got your treatment plan in place, that’s the same one I had starting back in the middle of May this year, I was also mis-diagnosed and had to insist on a referral but had a much longer wait.

Totally understandable about your work situation, I did work but was at home and didn’t have to face the general public, only work colleagues over Teams.

 I see you’ve been given co-codamol and it’s good you have something if you need it but it may be worth asking for something to take along side it for soften your stools as constipation is the last thing you need with this condition.

I know it’s a Christmas week start but I’m sure you’ll still be glad that treatment is underway once you start your daily trips for the radiotherapy, I’m in a similar position as I have scans prior to Christmas and results in the new year so have the anxiety period over the festive period.

Hope all goes smoothly with your treatment once it starts and that you keep the fire burning.

Monty xx