Results of lung scan after yearly monitoring

Sorry to hear you have a reoccurrence. I'm in a similar boat. I found out I had colon cancer 2 years ago, had surgery and then needed chemo. Then earlier this year at my 2 year scan I found out my cancer was back, a week after my mum passed and 4 weeks before my daughters wedding.

Surgery this time has been life changing and again I needed chemo which I'm currently 2 thirds of the way through.

Like you I have never felt unwell before my diagnosis.

Keep fighting and I wish you well

Wills

Thanks for your reply 

It sounds like you’ve had a really tough time. Life can throw us all over the place. So sorry for your loss of your mother, then you had to get it together for your daughters wedding. 
When people say roller coasters then I think you can definitely say ups and downs at super speed. 

You’ve had life changing surgery to contend with and chemo it’s a lot to process  I hope that your chemo is tolerable and you have lots of good days with it. I can’t advise you on chemo as up to date I haven’t had it but never say never! I had an Ileostomy which I was lucky that it was reversed after thirteen months however I have less freedom now than I had with Whoopi  It will improve but I am more or less house bound 

Take care 

Hi Wills

My husband has had a bowel cancer recurrance. This time last year we were preparing for him to have a localised tumour removed in January this year which according to his surgeon had been dormant for 4 years before symptoms began surfacing at the end of 2020. This led to him getting a colonoscopy in 2021 getting his official cancer diagnosis in July 2021 which then led to his bowel resection operation resulting in a permanent stoma then the operation in January this year to cut out the tumour which went well- they got it all or so we thought!  Four months down the line he had a follow up appointment with his surgeon. She did blood tests and then a couple of weeks later we got a letter to say his CEA levels (cancer markers) had increased. This led to him having to go for a CT scan which confirmed the cancer was back. Since then, he has had a course of chemo CAPOX which they had to stop after his 4th cycle because it made him really ill. He has had a spread to his pelvis, and they thought he couldn't go back on chemo again in case he wasn't fit enough but he's now on 5FU. I sometimes wonder if he got chemo as a precaution after his surgery would he be where he is now. I feel a bit bitter about that because he wasn't even offerred it. 

Vicky

I also had an ileostomy too and have to wait till my chemo has finished and then a couple of months to recover before I can hopefully have a reversal. 

Because I had side affects last time I had chemo, this time it is 6 months, not the 3 months it was last time.

I can wait to get rid of Boris but I also realise that things might be very different to they were before.

Sorry that your reversal isn't great at the moment, hopefully it will improve in time, but it does give me the possible downsides of the reversal which is good to know.

Thanks

Wills

Hi. I have no regrets. Whoopi is there and she opens a can of Whoopass when I eat a ridiculous mixture then I have a Whoopsadaisy! 
I actually had a great time with my Stoma Whoopi. She saved my life and gave me freedom to do whatever I wanted. 
Ive over indulged Christmas and I am paying the price.

When I had my Stoma Whoopi I got away with more. 
My Avatar is Whoopi asleep she’s there at least the joins there and if I push it she lets me know

As for a reversal I’d do it again as I can’t have regrets but I pushed it and ended up with a blockage in hospital November 8th so I really should not have eaten what I did. I should have kept a food diary etc.  But I didn’t 

Don't be put off. Life’s an adventure and take every opportunity 

I wasn’t sure about the reversal at the beginning as I was managing really well. 
Now I’m glad I did it. I just have learned that I need to be mindful of the food intake. 
I was thirteen months with Whoopi  and I’ve been pushed back because of my hospital stay November

 I hope all goes well with you and Chemo 

take care 

Good luck for tomorrow, Ann.  I'll be thinking of you and keeping my fingers crossed.  Your positive attitude is amazing and definitely the way to go.

x

Hi there,

Im glad you found my message inspirational. I think that’s a fab idea for you to book an overnight I always feel if you have something to look forward to and enjoy it’s worthwhile. I can 100% say I genuinely do not sit and think about my situation. As long as I’m here and able I’m just leading my life but maybe with a few more breaks and treats lol. 

I also have Crohn’s disease which is being a pain in the backside if you get my meaning lol but I just pop tablets to make it behave. 

It’s lovely talking to you and thank you for your very kind message. 

Good luck for tomorrow Anne.xx

I'm finding my stoma pretty challenging. I think because it's temp I've not really bonded with Boris.

You are right, it'saved my life and my battle scars are part of my adventure.

As you said life is an adventure and I'll keep on fighting.

I totally understand your bitterness as ive had a very different experience. 

My original surgery was just before lockdown in 2020. Unfortunately the pathology showed the cancer had breached the wall of the colon. I then had chemo which was  IV and tablets for 3 months. 

My reoccurrence was found at my 2 year scan. The cancer was butted up against my pelvis ths time. During surgery they took away the pea sized tumour and a whole load of nerves around that area. This left with a stoma and difficultly passing water and a shed load of other issues.

As i had long term side affects from my initial chemo I am on tablets for 6 months which I'm finding a touch shift.

The key for me is ticking off days and keeping on fighting this disease.

Join the stoma group. They changed everything for me. They’re a great bunch honestly.

Stomas are life savers aren’t too much bother once you get a handle on them. Whoopi was attention seeking at times but I had that many tips here she was flying abroad no problems