Recently (June 2020) had a colonoscopy where they removed a rectal polyp which the nurse later informed me was malignant. Awaiting dates now for MRI & CT scans. Like i'm sure all the other members of this community I am going through a real roller coaster of emotions just now.
I do agree with what I have read on the site,it is better not to google to get information.That was a mistake that I made.I will from now on stick to using the Macmillan site at all times for advice etc.
Hi and a warm welcome from me. You’ve pre-empted my usual advice of not to google! Yes please stay on here and ask anything you like - there is nothing too silly or embarrassing.
Once you have a treatment plan in place then things will feel a little bit better. Take things one step at a time and focus on each stage of treatment as you go. Once the scans are back then you will be discussed at the next MDT (multi disciplinary team) meeting and the specialists from the various fields will decide on a plan for you. You may have chemoradiotherapy to shrink the tumour first or you may go straight to surgery. Whatever your plan we will be here to support you and offer advice or just send a virtual hug.
If you click on people’s names then it will take you to their profile page which will give you an idea of their story so far. I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in July 2016 and my latest scan showed no evidence of the disease.
It will be a tough few months at times but is doable so please keep posting and let us help you through this
First of all may I welcome you to the forum. You are so right it is a real roller coaster of emotions when you receive a cancer diagnosis.
You are right to avoid google searches, the best websites to use are Macmillan, CRUK and Bowel Cancer UK, where you can get accurate and up to date information, You will also find useful links on all of these sites.
Karen has given you some useful information and she is so right as it is far easier to deal with once you have your treatment plan in place.
When you have your initial appointment with the consultant try to make sure that you are either introduced to, or given contact details for, your Cancer Specialist Nurse of Key Worker they are there to support you throughout your treatment. It is also helpful if you can take someone with you to this appointment, (but I'm not sure whether all hospitals are allowing this at the moment) - check with the hospital - as they can often remember things that are said easier than you can - but if not and you have questions you can ring your Cancer Specialist Nurse or Key Worker to go through things.
Macmillan also have an excellent support and help line, the number is 0808 808 0000 and it is available 7 days a week from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and you can get emotional support and advice on all aspects of cancer as well as information on any benefits you may be entitled too, and there is always a friendly voice at the end of the line.
I hope the dates for your scans come through soon.
Hi Paul ,welcome to this lovely group,i joined a few months back, and the advice you get from the people on here is good, i had my operation in may, and got through that fine ,due to help from here, and its better not to google ,as i found out, there will always be someone around to answers your questions, please listen to them, and post anything you want.
Thanks Vicki for pointing out the other two websites and also for the info regarding the importance of being in touch with the Specialist Nurse or Key Worker.
Concluded that there is nothing I can really do now in terms of moving forward on this until I have the scans and get the results,so am going to try hard not to dwell on things. Easier said than done at times,I know I am not alone and others are having to fight the same battle against these types of thoughts.
Waiting for scans and other tests can be so stressful, as can waiting for the results. It's not easy to put it out of your mind and it must be more difficult at the moment with all the restrictions we in the midst of with Covid.
I found trying to do things I liked helped me, again difficult at the moment as we can't get out and about in the same way, but even watching mindless daytime tv, programmes I'd never watched before and don't watch now, helped me take my mind off things. I also became quite good at Sudoku too, but couldn't concentrate on crosswords.
You will find that you will feel better once you have your treatment plan and once treatment starts things move very quickly.
Also keeping in touch on here, although cancer related, often helps you get your head around things.
You are quite right,the waiting is the difficult aspect.I got diagnosed just in June 2020 on the back of the bowel screening,and will be honest haven't dealt with it as well as I hoped I would. Sometimes up other times down. Not as mentally strong as I thought.
I am keeping busy,but the relaxation period can be a problem say for example if the TV is going through a boring period the mind can start to wander.
Will keep in touch.Goes without saying wish the rest of the group all the best in their fight against this dreadful affliction.
If you are going through a bad patch,(as we all do when we get stressed waiting) do give the support/helpline a ring on 0808 808 00 00 its a free to dial number and is available from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm seven days a week and you will be able to chat to someone about how you are feeling. Sometimes talking to a stranger can really help.
Keep posting on here too, and you will usually find someone is on line and will get back to you quite quickly
