Just been diagnosed with Right Side Colon Cancer

Hi MJ04,

Sorry to hear your news but you’ve come to the right place. 

it’s always a shock at diagnosis.  I had a left hemicolectomy in April 2024.  I was in hospital for 8 days but had no pain at all.  

I followed up with six months of chemo which was not as bad as I imagined it would be.  

By January I was back to exercise and normal life. 

I know it’s really scary but this is what your team do every single day.  Trust in what they tell you and focus on one step at a time. 

Wishing you all the best for 4th July. 

CerysM

Thank you for the reply.  It’s good to know you didn’t have pain after surgery.  I’m struggling to take everything in only 6 weeks ago I didn’t know anything was wrong then after a rectal bleed and lots of tests I get the diagnosis of cancer.  I’m worried how life will be after having the right side of my bowel removed.  How long was your recovery time after the operation?

It’s natural to be scared, but you’re in the best of hands…surgeons and anaesthetists who are doing these operations all the time, nurses and others who have nursed countless patients through recovery, and of course this community of living breathing experts because we’ve all been/ are going through it, and happy to share our experiences and support.

Colon cancer is amongst the most successfully “operable” because the surgeon can easily see what they are cutting away. You’ll be walking round the ward the next day ( it’s the law!) and typically home 4 or 5 days later.

As for chemo, most of us are or have been through chemo ( I’m just about to start round 3 of 8 rounds of CAPOX, which is the usual ( but not only) regime. You may not need chemo, but if any of the lymph nodes adjacent to the tumour are affected the usual strategy is to use chemo to “mop up” any cancer cells that may have found their way into the lymphatic system and settled in distant sites….but this is belt and braces stuff, the removal of the tumour will be the major step in being cancer free. If chemo is recommended, again, the oncologist is the expert who’ll work with you and decide the best regime for you. There are a number of possible strange “ side effects” and we all experience different ones to different degrees, but the oncology team will be constantly reviewing how chemo affects you, if it does, adjusting doses if neccessary, and we’ll be able to share with you exactly how each of us has dealt/coped with side effects if you get them. ( I’ve been fortunate with the first 2 rounds of CAPOX to have only minor effects…the tingly hands when getting stuff out of the fridge, and a wee bit of fatigue, but I live in Spain and it’s mid 30s most days at the moment, so an afternoon nap is de riguer. 

It’s difficult not to worry, but deep breaths, and keeping in touch with us and asking questions will help. Welcome to the club! ( I’m 73, and had the op mid March)

Hi, I’m 46 and had an extended RHC in March. Like you I had very few symptoms a couple of weeks before diagnosis. I was scared about the operation also but as CerysM says- they do this day in and day out. I tried not to use too much pain relief but the nurses encouraged me to do so, so that you could get moving. My BP kept dropping when I tried to get up so it set me back a few days as they like you to be up and sitting in the chair the next day! But it was honestly ok - I took peppermint tea to help get the wind/ bowel moving. I know it’s really scary on top of the diagnosis but there are plenty of people on here who have been through it. I also need 8 cycles of CAPOx due to lymph node involvement and about to start round 3 at the end of the next week. Wishing you all the best and feel free to ask any questions re the op. Xx

Thank you for your reply.  It’s just so much to take in but as you say they do this kind of operation all the time.  

Thank you for your reply.  I think it’s just how quick everything is happening I can’t take it all in.  I’m also worried after the operation how will I be after having part of my bowel removed.  I don’t know yet if I will need chemo but that also fills me with dread as the thought of the side effects and losing my hair xx

Hi- I already knew that I would prob need chemo as they had seen enlarged lymph nodes; so try and stay positive if there hasn’t been any indication from your consultant. I know you won’t know until histology is back but try and concentrate on the op first. Also the chemo a lot of people are on doesn’t make you lose your hair - I’m on CAPOX and it might thin a bit but so far it’s ok. To be honest my bowels have not been the best since starting chemo but it’s nothing severe - and after the op it took a while to settle but again it was ok. I didn’t need a stoma but they had said there might be a chance of a temp one but it was all ok in the end and physically I don’t feel any different now. Hope this puts your mind at ease a bit. I know it’s such an anxious time x

It took 6 weeks before I was allowed to bend.  After that I could do whatever I needed to do.  I think I still felt a bit zippy in the tum region for about 12 weeks.  Chemo affects recovery time but you might not need it.  I had my op via open surgery, if you are having keyhole I believe the recovery time is faster.  I didn’t need a colostomy/ileostomy and i don’t notice any difference in the lack of part of my bowel.  My granny did have one and lived very happily with it for many years. I didn’t have any symptoms at all, it was picked up through a fit test so I completely understand the shock. 

I’ve just found out today I have my operation on 1 July also on right side so similar path to you. A month ago I didn’t know anything was wrong. I haven’t been diagnosed as cancerous as yet but they have put me on that path anyway. Mine is around appendix and I think they don’t fully know what they are dealing with. Not sure if I have been fastracked or a cancellation  but wasn’t expecting op until end of July early August.  Good luck with your op and catch up with you on other side! X