So I've had it confirmed that i have a 4.2cm tumour in my rectum. It's T3 N1 M0 with no clear margin for surgery. I'm waiting now for dates, which should be next week for chemo and radiotherapy to help shrink the tumour before any operation. I have no idea how I'm going to be when all this starts, but I'm going to stay as positive as i can be, as I'm sure a positive mindset will help with treatment and recovery. After reading all of the booklets and information, it looks like i may even get my first tattoo (for the radiotherapy) as part of this process 
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Hi P Double U and a warm welcome to the board. Your diagnosis is same as mine back in 2016 although yours is 0,2 bigger! Chemoradiotherapy can be very effective at shrinking the tumour - mine shrank by 75% - so hopefully your treatment will have a similar effect so the surgeon can get the clear margins.
Yes I got my first tattoos - 3 tiny dots. The radiotherapy consultant was showing me the size of the dots in a book and it was a picture of a 5p piece. I was a bit shocked and said they were bigger than I was expecting - she burst out laughing and pointed to the tiny pinprick size dot next to the 5p which apparently was there for comparison purposes 
They didn’t hurt and I’m not even sure I could find them now.
A lot of people hate the ‘stay positive’ phrase but my colorectal support nurse was a firm believer in it helping you cope with everything. Everyone has a different experience of the chemoradiotherapy. There can be side effects of fatigue, diarrhoea, sore skin etc. but I was pretty lucky and carried on working in my office job through mine. The radiographers will keep a close eye on you and give you creams for the area being treated.
Ive attached a link to a post that we started about chemoradiotherapy but go with an open mind and let us know how you get on!
We’re all at different stages of treatment and recovery on here and happy to help and support you through yours.
Take care
Karen x
Well Kareno62 , it's not the size that matters 
(Sorry, couldn't resist). Good news that it shrank that much. I was told the chemoradiotherapy was quite effective and that in some cases it has disappeared completely. So I'm very hopeful on that account.
Haha, I'd probably have done the same and probably still will do
I'm definitely going to keep a positive attitude and outlook throughout all of this as best as i can as i have no idea how i will be when the treatment eventually starts. Thats the only thing that i have no idea about and cant even pretend to imagine how it will be.
It's also nice to read that you were still able to carry on working throughout your journey. I'm hoping i will be able to do the same too.
Thanks for the link, some great and good to know information in there 
