Updates - 2.5 years since diagnosis - about to jump back on the train again

Well hello there Strongsami . We remember you for sure , determined and funny in equal measures .

Gosh we had a few of those migraine inducing consultations. But from what I remember you previously had a good response to treatment so I will be willing you forward for good shrinkage . You have a broad net to cast for a second opinion over a few countries if memory serves me well and I just know you would consult widely! 
I also would hold firmly to the fact your surgeon considers it surgically operable currently so remember their opinion and keep it forefront of your thinking !! 
Take the time you need to recover from this . But I know strongsami will surface and I will be looking out to see your updates . 
I am delighted you were off out doing your own thing , that’s what we like to hear and I will also look forward to seeing you achieve that again .

You have your treatment plan now and it’s a pathway away from this point .

Take special care ,

Court 

Hi Strongsami,

  You definitely seem like a very strong person and i'm sorry to hear you are back on the forum, i'm just about recovering from a sigmoid resection and 4 months chemo tablets, just about to go for my 6 month scan following the surgery and am feeling a little nervous as i've had a bit of pain in my right side about bottom of ribs that goes down my side into the groin, went to see GP and he's sending me for a ultrasound of the renal tract, hopefully its not spread into the prostate but i guess will have to wait and see.

Not sure i would be so amiable  if they gave me that kind of waffle but i know they can all do it sometimes.

I work in the construction industry and have seen some dreadful plumbers, then my surgeon referred to himself as a plumber repairing the pipes, i nearly died after that one.

All the best for the future

TG

Dear court it's so amazing to see your name again and hear from you with your wise words!

I hope things are well with you and your family too.

Thank you so much for replying and for your kindness. You are absolutely right of course, to focus on what the surgeon said as this is a plan to cure. I need to forget the negativity of the oncologist (not easy) but I will get there, smash the chemo and hopefully show her I am a force of nature and not a statistic! 

I will of course keep you all updated.

Massive hugs,
S xxx

Hello @Technical guru thanks for replying to me, I am a strong person (or so I discovered after cancer haha!). I understand the nerves before a scan (scanxiety is real!) and it makes it worse when you feel physical symptoms too. Obviously I am not a doctor but from my experience those twinges are usually just that, the right thing to do of course is to keep everything under observation and you are doing that.

I did have a chuckle about the plumber comment!! A friend of mine made a beautiful analogy - which I will share with my surgeon when the time is right - that the surgeons are artists and we are their painting. 

Best of luck with your scans, hugs

Sxxx

Hi Strongsami . I’ve been keeping a sneaky eye on you on the other board so it’s ‘nice’ (?!) to hear from you on here too. I think oncologists seem to have a variety of bedside manners and some are better than others. Mine was lovely and used to have a bit of banter with my surgeon. When she looked at my scan she said it was ok but he’d ‘made a mess of my insides. I told him this and he said she didn’t know what she was talking about and went green at the sight of anyone’s insides and should stick to dolling out her expensive chemo! It was all said with love! 

You know you had a good response the first time around and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t again. They are obviously underestimating your rocky resolve! Keep those positive pants (shorts?) on and stick 2 fingers up at your oncologist - she won’t see with the gloves on!

Take care and keep us posted

Karen x

ps got Eye of the Tiger going round in my head now!

Hello Kareno62 it's great to see you on here too!

That did make me laugh about the comments between your onc and the surgeon!!! 

I am feeling nervous obviously, I just want this to work and do its magic on the naughtiness! Haha yes quite, I absolutely feel like sticking 2 fingers up and saying "you don't know me". I think I did this first time round with her colleague as I walked out of the consultation I said, "I am strong you know". 

Thanks so much for your message, will definitely keep you all posted!

Eye of the tiger is a great song! I think I need to watch the film again to help me get psyched up!

Rocky hugs

Sxxx

Hi, I am waiting or my operation as I have a polyp growing around my bowel in my sigmoid colon, and think I will be having the same operation as yourself, and was just wondering if you could give me the heads up what to expect, hope all goes well with your scan

Hi Dream catcher,

Apologies i missed your reply, i'm not sure what to say really as i knew nothing about the operation as such, it was keyhole though, 4 holes about as big as a pound coin apart from the one where they removed the sigmoid and tumour which was about 3 inches long by the waist band of your boxers.

I woke up in ward feeling no pain whatsoever so what they gave me pre- op i'm not sure but was good for two to three days, then just paracetamol seemed to be enough, was home on day 4 which was brilliant but, keep taking the painkillers. Also had to inject blood thinners into top of leg for a month roughly, not a problem though but i had a little bruising so just swopped to other leg.

Best to keep mobile if you can to prevent blood clots or bed sores, drink plenty of water too will help with recovery.

I used wife's nightdress so there wasn't any waistband near the incisions and after showers used a hair dryer on cool to dry the area which i think helped prevent infection or soreness 

Any more queries please get in touch, hope all goes well 

TG

Hello Dream catcher I'm so sorry I haven't been on here in a while and for some reason my alerts go straight into my spam so as I finally got to clearing out my emails today, I saw this alert.

You have already had a great reply from Technical guruso I don't have much more to add - but rest assured that LAR is a very well established operation, they've been doing it for years. I assume you will have keyhole / laparoscopy - exactly as you have been told, 4 small incisions around your abdomen, the amazing machine goes in, does it's business, cuts the naughty bits out then comes out again and you get sewn / stapled up. I woke up feeling incredible, was hungry and happy! First couple of days felt a bit sore but the pain meds were constant and definitely helped, I suggest - not overdoing but make a conscious effort to try and get on your feet and work up your steps day by day, even if on day it means just walking to the loo. The next day a little more and so on, you will see gradual improvements and t his helps. I was given good advice like take a long phone charger, gum (which stimulates digestion but can also help with the gas pains after the op), also take things to pamper you, I had hand cream, nice lip balm, also ear plugs and an eye mask. I was home after 1 week, a bit slow on my feet (I actually had an issue with my leg but this was just bad luck and very rare and is now all sorted and I am like new). By 4 weeks I was definitely feeling close to normal and by 6 weeks completely feeling myself again. 

Best of luck to you, any questions, do get in touch xxxxx