A month ago I was happy doing a routine poo test same every two years. Breast test as well this one came back good. Then bowel test results came back blood detected you need a endoscopy test. One week later endoscopy. I'm was told it's bad in a very nice way. I need an operation to remove part of my bowel. And they tell me i need a ct scan and xrays. Two days later there's going to be a big meeting to discuss your treatment that's today so I'm sat here thinking feeling numb. the test were not good embarrassing uncomfortable but I suspect there's worse to come. And don't know how to feel or what to do. How long before I hear anything from the hospital. How long will treatment take to start. What will it entail what were the full results of all the test. I was told to make myself the focus for at least the next six months. What does that mean it's impossible. I'm an organizer and a carer. I've cared and buried 4 family members. And still caring for two now. The only person I can rely on is my husband and he's 70 but he's not a person who copes with issues. My health issues aren't good now I have asthma copd under active thyroid heart ablation fast heart beat osteoarthritis sleep anapia with a cpack machine. This piece has taken an hour to write because my grandson needs attention. As I'm writing this I'm hearing nan I need i want you need to do get this it needs sorting now. How can I look after me there's no time in the day
Hi and a warm welcome to the board from me although I’m sorry that you’ve found yourself here. Your results will be discussed at the meeting today and the consultants will decide on a treatment plan for you. Until you know the scan results it’s hard to predict but the hospital will be in touch to arrange an appointment for you to attend and find out your treatment path. You may have a course of chemoradiotherapy then a wait before surgery or you may go straight to surgery. You must make sure they are aware of your other health issues as this could affect your treatment plan. There may be a need for chemo after surgery and that will be why they’ve told you to focus on yourself for 6 months. You should be allocated a colorectal support nurse and she will be able to give you lots of help and advice.
Bowel Cancer is very treatable and if you click on people’s names then it may show you their treatment so far. I’ve attached a link to a booklet from the Bowel Cancer UK site which will give you a bit of an insight into what to expect and some of the jargon. Please come back when you have some more detail and we’ll help you get through this.
I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but you won’t know what you are facing until after the MDT meeting today. The MDT is where a team of doctors look at your scans and tests results and make a decision about your treatment.
I was diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer and I had surgery followed by six months of chemo. Following on from trials they now mainly tend to give three months chemo, but you will probably need two or three months to get fully over the chemo. I found it made me extremely tired and the more chemo I had the more tired I felt.
I was caring for my husband when I was diagnosed, he has Parkinson’s with Lewy Body dementia and it was hard going, but my GP put in some support for me when I was having chemo. I also have other medical conditions. It is a difficult time, but you do get through it.
The first thing that you have to do is to learn to say “no” and concentrate on you and your health. I know from experience that is very hard to do but you have a lot on your plate. Looking after grandchildren is very demanding (and stressful at times) so you may need to have family discussions about that. I know my daughter was quite surprised the first time I said “no I can’t do it today” to a routine request to look after grandchildren
You will probably find that your husband will cope really well, men often do in circumstances like this.
The hospital normally like to get the results to you as soon as they can, it can be up to 10 days but sometimes they ring you to let you know.
I had surgery, and then at my post op appointment they told me I needed chemo, but that didn’t start for a few weeks as they wanted to give my body a chance to get over the surgery. It is often the case that they don’t discuss chemo until after your op - unless you are having pre-op chemo that is.
I hope you hear soon, waiting is hard and so stressful but worrying won’t change things, so try to keep busy and remember that there are a lot of us on here who were in your position quite some time ago. I had my surgery back in 2011.
Hi Vickilynne thank you for the information. It's reassuring to hear a little about your experience and the date of your surgery. That has given me some hope. I'm trying to be positive but waiting is hard. Your mind runs riot. I like to organize and get things done so waiting on others to sort my future is not good for me to take. And I'm trying to say no to my family who are not taking it well. But ill keep saying it and hopefully it will get easier.
Sanfairyann I was diagnosed in January with bowel cancer after 3 years of misdiagnosis. I was told the pain was because I needed a hip replacement then IBS then diverticulitis then back to the hip operation. I had an illiostomy in February.. I received no tests of any kind. Had it been found in the beginning I’m told everything would be fine now. They can’t operate now as it will take 4 teams of 4 doctors and the operation has gone from being big to impossible. They need to remove a kidney and my left leg is numb because of the vascular problems. It has started to spread into the bone so they are starting chemotherapy on the 4th of November. The psoas muscle is now also affected. I went into our local hospice for 2 weeks for some respite and it was the best thing I could have done. They got my meds all tweaked and sorted and now I feel safe. I have wonderful family support and help and I count my blessings every single day. I have my really bad days but just one good day gives me hope. I am determined to beat this. I wish you all the very best and I pray we will all get through this. xx
So sorry to hear the stories on this site. One person asked me how I was so brave during my chemo treatment - I replied that I was not brave, but a fighter. I never knew inner strength until I started chemo treatment for stage 3 colon cancer.
The chemo units in hospitals are humbling, and you make good friends there. Apparently we all speak the same language!!!
I always felt safe in the chemo unit. I also looked forward to seeing how my new friends were coping with everything. Good to be on this site because it helps to know you are not the only one going through it all.
Be brave, ask for help and believe you will be the one that survives.
good luck everyone
paula
ps.....when you are diagnosed with Cancer, your new journey begins. Understand this may well be a long journey. I always felt is was either at the bus stop waiting for the bus, or on the bus for a journey, then back to waiting for the bus.
Be strong, take everything you can in your stride and never give up.
It will become easier. What I was told was that bowel cancer was on of the “best” cancers to have. That’s a hard one to swallow I know, but it is often easier to treat than other cancers and since I had my treatment lots of research has been carried out and the side affects of chemo are better understood and our teams know how to make things easier for us.
I found it hard as I am one who always likes to be in control, but you are handing over your body to others to do what they think is best for us. With chemo, we are having toxic drugs put into our body in the hope of killing off the cancer cells. It took me a long time to get my head around that. It helped me when a friend said that we have to remember that we are having this treatment to hopefully make us better.
Just remember that there are lots of people living who had surgery for bowel cancer many years ago, and lots of lovely people on here who are and have been where you are now, and we are all here to support you.
I often quote what my daughter said to me when I was diagnosed, it was “Whatever it takes mum we will get through this”. And the positive support of my family and friends did help me get through. It wasn’t always easy but a big positive for me is all the lovely friends I’ve made along the way.
