Going a bit mad.........

Hi Arial88 Sending you a big virtual hug. This ‘in limbo’ time waiting for scans and meetings is very stressful but once you have a treatment plan in place then things will honestly feel a bit better. 

Bowel cancer is notoriously slow growing but very treatable. Stressing won’t change the situation and you’ll end up feeling sick with anxiety and then even more worried. It’s tough I know but all you can do is try to keep busy and post here whenever you need. The support desk is there too if you want to talk to someone in person?

Take care

Karen x

Thank you Karen. Much appreciated.  I do feel nauseous a lot and I know the last thing I need is more stress. Trying to stay off Google, just read terrible stuff on there about how right sided colon cancer can be worse, baldy stats that have no context. Thank you too for the help desk reminder xx

Yes Arial88 stay away from google. 5 year survival stats are already out of date and you are not a statistic. I was diagnosed in 2016 and I’m still ‘no evidence of disease’ as are the 2 ladies I became friends with. There’s lots of others who have passed through the board and are now getting on with their cancer free lives. 
I won’t lie - the next year will be tough - but you can do this and we will be here with you all the way x

You hang in there sweetie. My cancer was in my ascending colon too. Stay with us here and not the internet, seriously. I find it impossible to get perspective when I look at the facts and stats. They are not about you, but other people.

It’s so, so treatable. I don’t think anyone would say it’s going to be fun, but it’s a well-worn path by many people and you will always have someone offering their hand to help you along.

Yes, reframe. You’ve got a few difficult months ahead, but at the end of it you will be so glad to know that those geniuses in the NHS found something bad in you and got you back to being a healthy person again. And you will be reaching your hand to those worrying and waiting for the tests and results. 

The fear of what’s going to happen can often be much worse than the reality, so make sure you are on top of the information you have. I got myself a folder for all the bits of paper and it really helped to keep me focussed. Cancer is a terrifying word, because it makes us think of just about the most negative and terrible thing that could happen to us, but the reality isn’t necessarily as awful as we suspect.

Take Care sweetie. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself over Christmas- you need to look after yourself carefully and listen to your body xxx

All the best,

Nic

Hi Nicnak72 , thanks for your lovely reply. I will do my best. I think currently my biggest fear is spread, even though that can be managed too. The whole thing is a shock, am 53, just went to doctor as exhausted and it was anaemia.  Since I can remember had IBS type issues,  but ironically that was all feeling settled! Crazy. So glad I took that blood test. I almost cancelled as was too tired to get up for it! Anyway,  I feel so lucky to have found you all. Have a lovely Christmas xx