New Member

welcome. My tumour was about 7cm and was removed laparoscopicly as a low anterior resection, so it is possible. Not quite through the bowel wall, and with vascular invasion meant I did chemo after. The year anniversary of diagnosis colonoscopy was clear. Hope that will help ease your mind. (((Hugs)))

Thank you, you absolute diamond. It becomes so frightening when you realise how out of control of your own body you feel (and are), especially when you feel well. Good luck and same result in a year

Another welcome from me .

Thankfully there are lots of options for treating bowel cancer and the nature of the colon , depending on the location of the tumour , allows for a lot of colon to be removed . 

It is good that you are not experiencing many symptoms . 
All the very best with your scans tomorrow and hopefully you will get a treatment plan in place soon . Lots of people report feeling more reassured when they know the plan .

Ask anything you like here . Someone is always around to help out .

take care ,

 Court 

Hi Elley019,

I'm 59 and have just had an anterior resection of the sigmoid colon for a 40mm tumour, doing well so far after 5 weeks but have to go for chemo in two weeks time.

I know its terrifying but try and think of the good things in your life, i don't think its about the size of the tumour but more to do with what layers it has penetrated in the bowel and spread to other parts, i think i was lucky on this although there were cancer cells picked up in the lymph nodes after surgery hence the chemo.

Fingers crossed and try and stay strong for a better future

TG

Hi It's amazing what they can do these days. If your medical team advise surgery to remove the tumour before possible chemo (rather than the other way around) they will be confident it's the right way forward. My tumour was only 3cm but moderately aggressive and I had some spread to lymph nodes, so I had 7 chemo treatments after surgery & a temporary stoma for 7 months, then a successful reversal. I am currently clear of disease. Check out my profile if you wish. Good luck, keep in touch. x

Thank you for your reply, reassuring. I have an appointment on Friday to discuss scans etc in Surgical Outpatients with a Colorectal and general surgeon so presume they think it's operable??!!? So hard not to read everything into EVERYTHING!!

Yes it would seem so. You'll probably feel so much better once you've got a treatment plan. Let me know how you get on. x

Dear Elley

I had an LAR in Jan '18.  You are, in my opinion, in the worst days now, post diagnosis pre-treatment plan.  DO NOT GOOGLE ANYTHING, there's some weird & not very wonderful stuff out there.  I looked afterwards,  my personal favourite was a woman who lived on the Arizona/Nevada border who advised giving up all food and sitting outside for at least 8hrs per day to 'drink in the nutrients of nature', she has clearly never wintered in Liverpool. 

Keep a paper & paper on hand and list any/every question you have, you don't need to ask them all.  I was diagnosed mid December,  the radio kept telling me 'it was the most wonderful time of the year,' I didn't agree.  Be prepared for the constant reminders, I was suddenly aware cancer adverts were everywhere,  papers, radio, tv & in the street.  I got irked by people saying things like 'be brave,' as if cancer was a choice.

Have someone go with you to all meetings armed with paper & pen, get them to note down any numbers/letters relating to your diagnosis.  There will also be a colorectal nurse present,  get their name, contact number & email address,  they're incredibly useful people.

I was operated on late January.   I walked in to hospital early Wednesday morning,  op was mid morning and left Saturday afternoon.   I didn't think the physical reality of the treatment nearly as bad as I imagined it to be and I am firmly at the whimp end of any pain scale.  You recover quickly,  a month th the day of surgery, I drove, walked the 1klm with my wife & children and watched Liverpool destroy West Ham.  

I wish it had never happened but it was not what I could ever imagined,  i really think it gets easier after the period you're now experiencing.   Here in Liverpool life is measured for many people in terms of football and so it is for my family.  In Dec '17 my thoughts & fears were at times overwhelming,  but it got better.  By 2019 I was boiling alive in the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid with one of my sons watching Liverpool become champions of Europe.   This year we marvelled as a family as Jurgen led the boys into the promised land.

YouTube two things:

Brian Henderson embracing his son after the Madrid win.  He survived throat cancer but that night saw his lad list the European cup, it is a picture of pure joy.

The marvellous, marvellous Barcelona night at Anfield when miracles happened and remember Mo Salah's iconic Tshirt 'Never Give Up.'

I'm sorry you find yourself on here, but the people are genuinely fantastic.   If you have any questions please don't be afraid to ask.  All my best wishes

YNWA - Mo wore it, Never Give Up

Mike