Newly diagnosed

Hi

I saw your message and just wanted to say that you are not alone. It’s easy for people to say you should stay positive, but not so easy to do. I don’t have any words of wisdom to offer I’m afraid. Try not to be too hard on yourself though. It’s perfectly normal to have those voices in your head. I thought I sailed through my cancer treatment and was accepting of the whole thing. It’s only now that I’m suffering with those horrible little voices. Now I have an overactive thyroid to sort out. Take very good care of yourself. As a good friend told me , be kind to yourself. Sending you a big hug.

Hi ,

I am with Jools I think anyone going through treatment , appointments surgery just now has it extra hard . It’s unprecedented and normally I could chat through each consultation with my mum and reduce her concerns . It’s surprising how differently you actually hear things in a meeting . The fact you have endured all of that is quite remarkable. So please do off load here . It’s what we are here for and we are happy to listen at any time . Whilst we can’t change it for you we can provide a safe place to let it out ! We also have a helpline 0808 808 0000 if you would prefer to speak in confidence to someone . They would be happy to listen and chat through both the physical and emotional aspects . You are no longer alone with this . We are here to shoulder some of this until you are feeling stronger .

Please feel free to join any thread , ask any questions . Everyone matters and we will do our best to support you . 

take special care ,

Court 

Thank you, 

the waiting game is driving me nuts , do you know how big your tumour was when it was removed? How long you had the symptoms for ? I see they staged you at stage 3 was that after it was removed and tested, and had it spread to other organs ?? Sorry so many questions I know , I’m trying to gage what they will say to me 

Hi ,

I will just give Jools63 a wee tag in for you . I am sure she will be along shortly .

Court 

Hi Noo 15

My tumour was around 12cms. I had to wait for 3 weeks after removal to have the consultation to confirm that there was no further treatment required. The scans prior to surgery showed no spread. The stage they advised me was based on the size  and position of the tumour. It hadn’t spread, but was close to some nodes. The radiotherapy shrank the tumour to give the surgeon clear margins. I had frequent bowel movements for about 5/6 weeks, and occasional lower back pain when I hoovered! My blood test came back clear, so the colonoscopy was required to confirm cancer. 
I think I’ve covered most of your questions, but feel free any time to ask anything else.

Take really good care of yourself.

Hi

id love to give advice about the negative voices but I’m in the boat with you

I haven’t been told my stage and I’m 6 weeks post op! Based on information on here and my discharge letter I believe i am Stage 2. My doctor got clean margins and advised they removed it all but then followed up with an oncology referral because of my age ( 40) which has left me feeling completely confused and bewildered. I feel that I can’t unload as I feel like people will think I have nothing to complain about!

Cancer is a strange old thing but I found that keeping it all in was really detrimental to me. I definitely haven’t processed everything as it all happened so quickly. 

have you spoken to your doctors about counselling?

x

Hi 

Just want to welcome you to the forum . Great to hear they got good margins but please don’t feel that it undermines your concerns compared to others . A cancer diagnosis can knock people sideways no matter what stage and still requires treatment that can require support and understanding . Your concerns are our concerns and we want to support you too.

They sometimes do a belts and braces approach to chemo . 

take care ,

Court 

Hi jools63

wow that was a big one , really glad to hear it hadn’t spread , I have just been told mine was a stage 2 , lymph nodes clear and now spread , a tiny nodule found in lung from initial scan so having another scan tomorrow just to confirm , thinking it can’t be related as not in lymph nodes , all scary stuff, but good it’s been caught early , my tomour was 5 cm .

thank you for your responses it helps a lot 

take care x

Hello there , welcome aboard the choppy seas.... mine has just been staged , stage 2 with no spread and lymph nodes clear , 

I have spoken with doctors before about councling and it seems to be a long winded process , it’s good to talk to people in the same boat , this all happened quickly to me too and I think it all got to me in hospital a day after the op , the good news is it’s a slow growing disease and quite cureable , my mum had it 10 years ago so I should have been screened then but that doesn’t happen in U.K. it seems .

i wish you well and hope you receive good news very soon x