Colon cancer

Hi Momof4

My cancer was rectal so my treatment would be different the emotional journey is similar  

Others will join that have had the same type of cancer as you, I’ve jotted down some ideas to get through these early days

 its really frightening, I was in flight or fight and could do neither.
Just breathe, slow down everything and try to put your fears to the back of your mind.   The way I got through it was to completely trust my team, my first contact was my colorectal nurse from the colonoscopy Anneka my angel.

She was there and reassured my worries and explained what was happening, I did phone her a few times.

Then after further tests I was in the colorectal team. Once the MDT had their meeting I had the consultation with my surgeon my husband was invited and Lisa my colorectal nurse was there. Once diagnosed and I knew everything that was going to happen I was calm. I fought it by eating and drinking healthily, doing the exercises the physio gave me and looked forward to getting the cancer out of my body. I detested it 

My mind was in overdrive like you are probably feeling. I found listening to meditation type apps gave me some head space,I banned anything depressing on the Tv and tried to listen to music. I could not concentrate on much.

I also treated myself to some really nice smells and bits and bobs for my hospital stay. 

Talk here if it helps.
There’s so many wonderful people,  I have found by talking to people that have experienced the same it really helped me 

Im sending you a hug 

Thank you for responding so quickly to me, I love your kind woeds and your advice. I am trying to stay positive but finding it’s really hard I think the first few weeks must be the worst. I’m am so incredibly scared I can’t think straight at the moment. Hoping and praying each day gets a little bit better for me. I would love to stay in touch thank you again! 

I know how you feel I was the same.  

It’s like I say it’s that flight or fight mode that is built in to us all. Normally we would flight or fight wouldn’t we?

But in this situation you’re stuck in freeze mode.

You can’t punch the Cancer or run away from it…….it’s the adrenaline that’s realised with the shock.

You will process it, try and think that your team are fighting it for you and put it to the back of your mind. 
Be kind to yourself   

Trying to so hard, hoping forums like this and support from home will get me through this I just feel so alone at the moment and that is a scary thought. 

You are not alone, you have us. There’s lots that will be along

later.  
I have a creative mind I’m not sure if your the same way. But here goes……..

Keep the Cancer thoughts in the shadows and stay away from those thoughts  

AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT DR GOOGLE. stay away from that. No internet looking up anything.

Your team are the ones to contact if you have concerns. I researched the internet and I had nightmares none of which had anything to do with my outcome. 
If you click on names here you can read their bios, or you can search questions here and read past posts.

Do you have support at home?

Yes the biggest mistake by doing that . Scared me to death. But when I got the news I was still kind of sedated and when dr said tumor I heard nothing beyond that. I have a great support system which I am grateful for but I almost think its better to talk to people who are going or have gone through it already as they usnderstand it all so much better. I just want to get out of the shock phase so I can be more coherent. I still feel like I am walking around in a daze. 

Hi there, 

You are doing really well, I didn’t join here until much later after researching and ,scaring myself to pieces.

Put it out of you mind. Others will deal with it. 

Thank you you have been siuch a huge help and blessing to me! 

Welcome 

A frightening time for sure but hope we can support to you as you find more solid ground .

If you click on my user name you can read my mum’s treatment with a spread to her liver . She went straight to chemotherapy first which shrank the liver mets and allowed better margins for the surgeons . Bowel cancer is quite fortunate to have a few different treatment options for a spread to the liver so your team will decide the best treatment plan for you .

The liver being such a big organ and regenerating allowed my mum’s team to remove 73% of it back in 2010 . It functions well and remains clear .

I will link in tomorrow some information on the benefits of moderate exercise during treatment. Also Macmillan has teamed up with Bupa to offer six free counselling sessions . If you feel this would be helpful our helpline staff are there to point you in the right direction . 0808 808 0000. They also have a variety of support systems from buddy systems with telephone calls and I think zoom ones planned in the future .

Then there is us here on the forum . Always around and happy to listen !

take care ,

Court 

Court you are a star 

I knew you’d pop up.