Great News …. But

Hi Bennysmum and congratulations on being cancer free. Yes that ileus is not very nice is it? I was lucky enough to avoid the NG tube but I’ve heard it’s not very pleasant. 

I suppose you’re not having any mop up chemo because there’s nothing to mop up and there’s no point having chemo if there’s no benefit. I always liken to chemo to digging up a dandelion then spraying the area in case any clocks have escaped. In your case it sounds like they’ve got the roots out and all the clocks are in tact so using the weed killer (chemo) risks damaging some of the lovely nearby flowers (your body)

The next stage of getting on with your life can be daunting. People won’t understand how emotionally difficult it is and you ‘should be glad that you’re cured’. We all know how tough it is - the doubts, little twinges, scanxiety - but time is a great healer and each clear scan will give you a reassuring lift. A lot of hospitals offer Moving on from Cancer sessions which you could maybe look into? The paper below is very good too

https://www.workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what.pdf

Please try not to google? It’s tempting to look at survival stats but they’re already out of date, don’t take other medical issues into account and you’re not a stat - you’re a cancer survivor!

Take care and keep posting to let us know how you’re doing

Karen x

ps my friend was initially stage 3 like me but down staged to 2 when they found no lymph nodes affected and she’s just celebrated 5 years clear too

Thank you Karen - I just seem to be overthinking at the moment and still getting a bit tearful tho don’t know why - I will have a look at the paper. Fantastic news about your friend. V xx

Bennysmum Ditto

of course I don’t mind you asking anything 

No chemo for me either. I felt exactly the same as you I think most would. Yes absolutely delighted no chemo but then …..  what if. 
I am sure this is a normal reaction to getting yourself ready for an operation and stoma then chemo. 
When you prepare yourself as much as you can for a full barrage of treatment to be told that it’s not needed is a surprise 

But I’ve come to my conclusion that I don’t need it

They probably had a good idea that all the cancer would be in the bin at the operation but if they told us that we would be really upset at thought of chemo!

I’ve just had my bloods back from six months follow up. I am ONE. Which is fantastic

i am convinced they would give me chemo if I needed it  

Try and enjoy the lovely weather and getting used to your stoma

Sny more questions ask away 

Take care

Thank you Ann - you are always so helpful and it is good to get perspective of someone who has been same. My head is telling me they must be fairly certain I don’t need chemo and I need to stop dwelling on it. Fantastic news about your bloods! V xx

Hi Bennysmum,

Just want to congratulate you on being cancer free.  I can't add anything to what Ann & Karen has said (what a great analogy).

I think we all overthink, and once we're through the treatment things catch up with us and it can be a challenge processing everything, it's not surprising you get a bit tearful at times and there's nothing wrong with that.

It's very early days yet, not even 4 weeks since your LAR.  Your doing really well.

Best wishes,

Net77 x

Thanks Net77

I think some of it may be that it has been such a fast whirlwind- which is obviously good - colonoscopy 24 Jan when finding out which was a shock - tests, results, pre-op and op on 23 February all within the month - in hospital till 9 March and then 15 March told all gone at present and on 5 year surveillance- think it has been all go and now it is actually just hitting me. 

thanks again for all your replies. V xx

Hi Bennysmum,

Yes I think that's often the case.  I'm a year ahead of you (but I needed chemo afterwards), from colonoscopy 3/12/20 to surgery on 5/1/21, was a similar timespan to yours - so no time to think.

I'm just out of hospital having had an ileostomy reversal on 9th March.  While there, I was thanking the surgeon how quickly the treatment was from my colonoscopy to surgery and how appreciative I was for that.  Interesting, he said most people thought it was too quick! (Really).  I must ask him about this again when I see hime for my follow-up. 

Take Care,

Net x 

Gosh yes I’m thankful mine was quick - was still worrrying what was happening while it was still in there even with the short time. Hope your reversal has gone well - I have had a letter from radiography to book for enema X-ray of my new rectum and if okay will go on the waiting list. Tho am awaiting a call from colorectal nurse to check this as was sure surgeon said X-ray would be a couple of months (seems a bit soon currently).

Hi Bennysmum

I’ve had my blue dye test and results on Jan 5th. I was quite impressed with the speed of it all considering Christmas and New year. Yours is super fast hopefully your nurse can advice you as to how long it takes for the join to heal. 
The blue dye test is no problem in fact I was fascinated in the screens of the dye in my nether regions 

Thanks Ann - yes just concerned they don’t book me in too soon as only just over 3 weeks from surgery - went to docs today for another issue mentioned it to her n she said it may be to just get me booked in as may have a waiting list so will call on Monday.