Recently diagnosed!

Dan83 1 hour ago

2 replies
128 subscribers
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Hi all, I am totally unsure where to start currently as it all has come pretty thick and fast. I’ve experienced every emotion possible from denial, to numbness to anger. After a colonoscopy last month, it was confirmed I have bowel cancer with tumours and deposits in my colon with one being very close to my duodenum and a spread to my liver following a CT scan after being rushed into hospital with clostridium Septicum. Yesterday I was informed that surgery is off the table and palliative care was my plan until oncology set me up with a plan. I’m finding the waiting and unknown incredibly difficult and having less than 2 hours sleep is taking its toll. It’s been 6 weeks since my diagnosis and still not being on a plan is hard. I’m 42 with two young daughters and just feel lost but wanted to post my story as from the few forums I’ve read since this morning, show a very supportive and positive community. Any advice and support on what is likely to happen next would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Dan

CST 1 hour ago

Morning Dan

I was not suitable for surgery after first being told it was an option it's all to do with the results of scans and if the cancer has spread. Have you had a PET scan ? They can give detailed results.

I'm sure you will get your oncologist appointment very soon, my hospitals weekly MDT meetings (Multi Disciplinary Team) take place every Wednesday. It's when they discuss us in detail ! Might be worth finding out when yours are ?

Finally they will be doing some research on your bloods and gene history to find out the best treatment options for you. I started on CAPOX as a first line but was quickly switched onto Panitumumab when my gene test results came through ( I wasn't even aware that were testing for that !)

I hope you get a plan and get started on treatment very soon and please bear in mind things may take a little time to get doses and side effects sorted out to create the best possible treatment option for you.

If you're bored you can read my profile but basically I was diagnosed with stage 4 and put on palliative care in May 2022 and if you read Court's mums story that was inspiring to me.

Caroline

Dan83 26 minutes ago in reply to CST

Hi Caroline,

thank you so much for your response. I will definitely spend some time reading your journey.

I have not had a PET scan but I know I was discussed at our hospitals MDT meeting on Friday. I think yesterdays surgical outpatients meeting was slightly deflating as my wife and I felt slightly ahead of the know how due to my unexpected hospital visit with an infection. So I found out more than I needed to know then such as it had spread to my liver. my bloods were taken again as I’m incredibly anaemic so fatigue levels are low. Thank you for sharing the information on what you were given after your bloods as this is probably why mine have been sent away to look at what will work best. The poor nurse struggled to find a vein bless her). I was told I could hear within 2 weeks from oncology which again is tough as you just don’t know what’s going to happen in those weeks but I remain hopeful and positive. Hearing from people like yourself already adds a boost to the day. So thank you again for your response and I wish you all the best in your continued recovery.

Dan