Newly diagnosed, 6 weeks post surgery & await chemo

LeeM2084 over 2 years ago

8 replies
117 subscribers
780 views

Hi everyone.

this is my first post since diagnosis & only just feel like reaching out. I was diagnosed at my colonoscopy back on 15th June. For 4 years before that I had been back & forward to my GP who kept diagnosing me with IBS. Many symptoms, aches, excruciating pains & bloating later I was having blood tests & a bowel screening. That obviously lead to the colonoscopy, where the consultant sat me down to tell me it was bowel cancer & needed surgery asap due to being partially blocked. I wouldn’t get proper confirmation till I’ve had a CAT scan & surgery. Fast forward to the day of surgery, Wednesday 13th July. I was terrified at the time, but really shouldn’t have been. Surgery was robotic keyhole & afterwards my surgeon came to tell me that he had got it all. I would need mop up chemo as a precaution though. I was then discharged on the Saturday. On the Sunday I was walking around the local supermarket & by the Monday I was up doing housework, much to the annoyance of my nurse & surgeon. By the Thursday I was on a train to enjoy a few days in Blackpool.
I then got confirmation that it was cancer, T3N2bM0. I hadn’t really gave much though to how serious it was till that staging, as I knew from the CAT scan that it hadn’t spread to any other organs. Now I am waiting to begin 6 months of capox on the 30th August. I think I’m more worried about the side effects than the chemo itself.
I can’t thank my endoscopist, surgeon, specialist nurse & the ward nurses enough. If it hadn’t been for them, it wouldn’t have been caught in time & I dread to think of the outcome. Macmillan have also been amazing, from the helpline, to a benefits check & much more. Even my oncologist has been great, talking me though the chemo & side effects. Everyone is only at the end of a phone when needed & there has been many times when I’ve had to pick up a phone just to ease my worries or ask certain questions.

as for my chemo, I’m looking at it as, this is the last stage to mop up any microscopic cancer cells & beating this thing. Sorry for the long story, but it helps to get it all out. Good luck to everyone & fingers crossed for you all.

Kareno62 over 2 years ago

Hi LeeM2084 and welcome to the board. Wow - you sound to have recovered really well (and quickly) from the surgery - Blackpools tiring at the best of times!

So onto the final stage - the belt and braces. I like to compare it to a dandelion! You’ve dug it out (surgery) and the surgeons confirmed that he got the root out too (clear margins) but there were a couple of dandelion clocks in the soil around the plant (infected lymph nodes) so they’re going to give all the surrounding area a good blast of weed killer (chemo) in case any have escaped.

I don’t know if you’ve seen the link to the post that we’ve done about chemo side effects but here it is if not

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/general/221768/chemo-care-top-tips--

Thanks for your post- Samcon and MissTee are about to have robotic surgery so will be glad to read this.

Take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

LeeM2084 over 2 years ago in reply to Kareno62

Hi Karen,

thank you. It has been a whirlwind, but I’m 38 years old, I’m fit & healthy (minus the cancer). I’ve found the surgery & recovery from that relatively easy so I’m hoping that chemo goes just as smoothly. I have had a good read through the side effects of capox & I am all prepared with my gloves, socks, skin care & most importantly my thermometer lol just need to put a sticky note somewhere in the bathroom to remind me to brush my teeth with warm water. Oh and a note for first bite syndrome too.

Lee x

court over 2 years ago in reply to LeeM2084

Welcome LeeM2084 glad you have joined in the forum .

Hope chemo goes smoothly for you .

Court

Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

LeeM2084 over 2 years ago in reply to court

Thank you court

Faloola over 2 years ago in reply to court

Hey Court question. I have a biopsy on my hip on the 9th September and meant to be taking my granddaughter away for two days for her 9th birthday from the 10th the following day. Have you any idea if I will be fit enough to do that the next day?

Cath

court over 2 years ago in reply to Faloola

Hi Faloola

I have had a look at a few hospital sites that suggest a bit of pain for around a week and some pain relief ( routine meds ) might be needed .

Not sure if it would be debilitating that you might not be able to go though . I would email the surgeons secretary and ask .
Best to be sure you can go and enjoy it . A lovely idea for a birthday celebration.

Court

Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

VJS1985 over 2 years ago

Wow this is exactly like my story apart from I'm still waiting to start my chemo, 6 months of CAPOX. My surgery was July 14th and done robotically also x

Faloola over 2 years ago in reply to court

Thanks Court I will do that. I was going to cancel the hotel but will give them a call before I do. We took our other granddaughter away for her 10th birthday to a hotel, so what one gets the other one gets. I’ve had to cancel our holiday abroad the end of October but still going down to Berwick for a week come hell or high water.

Cath