Just diagnosed rectal cancer

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I am a 77 year old male and have been told I have a tumor that has spread locally to the lymph nodes.

I have to have chemotherapy to reduce the size of the tumor prior to surgery

What side effects should I expect and will I be able to live any sort of normal life.

Hi Gaz791105 Do you know what chemo you’ll be having? If it’s capox/xelox then there’s a link to a great post below about people experiences

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/diagnosis/292722/capox-journey

We also have a top tips post

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/diagnosis/263084/chemo-top-tips-updated

Will you be able to live a normal life? Chemo does have a lot of side effects and can affect everyone differently - some people suffer badly with fatigue whereas I was lucky and continued to work part-time apart from on my infusion days. If it’s capox where you have an iv infusion on day 1 then 13 days of tablets then a week off then you may find in helpful to keep a diary so you’ll know which days are maybe harder than others and then you can plan something nice on your week off?

Its tough but doable so go in with an open mind and see how it goes and we’re here to help and support you through it

Take care

Karen x

ps if you click on my name then you’ll see I was diagnosed with rectal cancer with lymph nodes affected in 2016 and I’m still ‘no evidence of disease’

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

Gaz791105 1 hour ago in reply to Kareno62

Thanks for your very helpful reply.

I have not met with the chemotherapy consultant yet but your reply gives me an idea of which questions to ask.

At my age quality of life is as important as length