Newly diagnosed

• I was diagnosed with prostate cancer a couple of months ago, and it took me several weeks to stop the spin and I simply avoided having family chat. It's a massive shock but give yourself time and space if needed. I reached out to a support group who helped me have the chat and accept my diagnosis. I hope this helps in some way.

Hi RosieL25 and a warm welcome to the board. Yes it’s a horrible shock isn’t it but bowel cancer is notoriously slow growing and very treatable. Once all the scan results are back and you have a treatment plan in place then things will honestly feel a bit better. I was diagnosed in 2016 with rectal cancer and they told me they were treating me with ‘a view to cure’ which was reassuring to tell my family.

I’ve attached a link to a booklet which I was given at my first appointment which may help with jargon, questions to ask etc. Rectal cancer is often treated with chemo radiotherapy first to shrink the tumour then chemo if they suspect lymph nodes are affected then finally surgery.

https://bcuk.adidocdn.dev/Publications/Bowel_Cancer_UK_Your_Pathway_V10.1.pdf

Hope this helps and feel free to ask anything on here - we’re all at different stages of treatment and recovery and happy to help you through yours

Take care

Karen x

Hi RosieL25  Yes, being diagnosed is bloody awful isn't it and no wonder your head is spinning  It's very early days for you and mentally looking for something to cling onto is still a challenge. You've come to a good place here because many of us have had to take this ghastly walk, and are full of good advice.

In many ways this is THE hardest part of all this ,the waiting... because you don't know what's going to happen . Once you have the MRI, CT if needed etc with the MDT meeting ,then are told what the plan is I promise you, you will feel more positive because you will on that 'conveyor belt' of treatment and for many of us that ends in success though of course nobody can yet say what will happen with you.

In the meantime , sending lots of support and good wishes and welcome to one forum that none of us actually wanted to join!!!!! 

Had the MRI a couple of days ago. MDT meeting is today. So, I'm hoping I'll be called in soon to find out exactly what's going on inside me and what the treatment plan looks like. 

Thanks so much for your replies. Honestly, you are the only people who are really in the know and offering your thoughts, advice and knowledge makes me panic less. 

I had a colonoscopy on Tuesday and they found a 2cm very suspicious looking thing, he referred to as a polyp but he was honest and thinks we’re looking at cancer. I had CEA bloods done while I was there and went for an urgent CT scan today. I’m devastated. I’m still in shock and I just can’t believe it. I feel like I’m having an out of body experience and I’m watching it happen. I have been having pain and stomach issues for a year. I had a colonoscopy in January and nothing was found, biopsy’s taken came back clear and I’m just wondering how on earth this was missed! I’m so angry, and sad. The sadness is overwhelming me. I’m feeling helpless and hopeless and imagining the worst case scenario. I’m just praying it’s only in the bowel and not anywhere else. I’m just searching for any positive stories and outcomes as I did fall into a google rabbit hole and it all seems such bad news and stats.

Rawdoodles  We've all endured that awful, awful realisation that it's cancer. Cancer happens to other people-right? Well...no.

I would say-be careful to deal in facts only. It's very easy, as you've discovered , to go hunting on Google and find lots of horror stories there. I would say, take the facts as you know them so far -and it 'might' only be cancer at this time-and allow the CEA and Ct scan to produce more facts and only then can a plan be formulated to go forward with.. There are loads of real-life GOOD and happy stories on here, so why not read some of the threads, which is what i did. My way of coping with the diagnosis was to learn everything I could about cancer, and my bowel. A year later from diagnosis I'e been through an 8 hour operation and 2 weeks in hospital , 3 months of chemotherapy and I am here, I am feeling good, and I am hopeful.

Please don't panic and remember-you're among friends here x

Thank you so much for your reply. I am looking for real life stories and hope on here because google has been no help. I’m so glad to hear you are doing well. Has your treatment finished now? X

Hi Rawdoodles and a warm welcome to the board. You’ve had a great reply from Nevermind with some excellent advice. It is a horrible shock but once you have a treatment plan in place then things will honestly feel a bit better. 
If you click on peoples names then their profile page may show their journey to date. I was diagnosed in 2016 and I’m still ‘no evidence of disease’ as are the 2 ladies that I became good friends with who were diagnosed at the same time. I’ve been on here ever since and seen lots of success stories from people who then often leave the board to get on with their lives.

The next few months will be tough but we’re all at different stages of treatment and recovery and happy to help and support you through yours

Take care

Karen x

Thank you so much Karen, I feel like I will need lots of support. I read your profile, you are doing great I’m so pleased you are now cancer free, stories like yours and others on here are giving me hope. How are you doing now, do you have any lasting effects of treatment and are you under any surveillance? X

I was exactly like you and searched both on here and the bowel cancer uk board for success stories of people with the same staging as me. 
Im doing fine now and my surveillance stopped at 5 years. 
Lasting side effects? The position of your tumour will contribute to the treatment recommended. My tumour was rectal so I had chemo radiotherapy then surgery with a temporary stoma then follow up chemo. The chemo has left me with peripheral neuropathy in my feet which means that they have reduced sensitivity and feel a bit numb but that was probably partly my own fault for trying to finish the course and not bringing it to the attention of the nurses. However since then recent trials have shown that shorter courses of chemo are just as effective.

My main lasting side effect is probably the erratic bowels since my reversal but I have learnt to live with that.

The treatment can be tough but it’s doable. Whatever your treatment plan is then take it one stage at a time and try not to worry about things too far ahead. 
Feel free to ask anything you like - there’s nothing too daft or embarrassing on here and the support desk is also available if you want to talk to someone in person x