Recent Diagnosis

Hi BluesClues and welcome this friendly group. I am sure you will get plenty of support here as you go forward. Good to know you have a plan of action in place. It may seem like scary times ahead but once you start on treatment you start to see positive things happening . Regarding chemo, if you are having the intravenous chemo, it can be a long day in the chair, so wear comfortable clothes. Take snacks and drinks and things to keep you occupied. I tolerated things ok and then went on to a different treatment. Many here have had bladder removal and will be along to offer help and advice. Feel free to ask anything. Lots of positive experiences here. I hope all goes well. Best wishes.

Hi BluesClues,Welcome to this friendly group.I had Squamous cancer too.Best wishes for your treatment.Jane 

Hi BluesCues and welcome to the club. If you click on my name you can see what has happened to me with a similar diagnosis nearly 4 years ago now. 

The way I got through it was to work with the medics and lean on family (and friends) for support. In fact my  husband and daughter and I became a closely knit team to get me through it with my son-in-law joining in too. 

Once you start treatment things become easier, you have the medics piling in to treat and review progress while in my case the family kept me company every step of the way making sure I got to appointments and cheering me on.

And while having chemo and immunotherapy might seem strange to begin with, the people you meet, both staff and other patients, make it much better. As my husband always says you learn a lot about yourself and life from sitting in a chair surrounded by all sorts of people while having an infusion of cancer drugs. 

Be kind to yourself. It's a lot to take in, especially at first. My tip is to make sure you have warm clothing, I had my treatment in a large room with very high ceiling  and it can feel chilly. One can and must get up and move around but mostly one is in a chair. I took a book but spent a lot of time chatting, with staff, other patients, husband: we met a lot of interesting people while I was tethered to a drip. And my husband would go off and bring in good Italian coffee and pastries to pass the time. 

You will all soon get into a routine and I hope you will find it as bearable as I did and as fruitful.

Things are much less scary once you start treatment in my experience.

Looking forward, my stoma and bags have become so familiar that I barely give them a thought. They have saved my life and help me  carry on with enjoying it. Plus, a night bag means I don't have to get up in the middle of the night to visit the lavatory so I enjoy a good night's sleep and wake ready for anything.

All the best,

Latestart

Thanks for giving support, especially the practical advice on Chemotherapy as little things about how. It happens are occupying me

Latestar, I appreciate your support and advice on the actual chemotherapy experience.

PET scan identified enlarged left and right pelvic nymphs nodes 13/05/26

Awaiting MDT review of treatment plan

Stephen