Bowel cancer diagnosis

Hi . It sounds to me like you’re probably still pretty shell shocked by it all. As a mum you’re also trying to protect the rest of the family pretending that everything is fine so as not to worry them but then that just adds to the extra burden on yourself. Depending on the histology report then you may or may not need chemo but that will also be lurking at the back of your mind. How do you move on from this? Slowly and with time.

Bowel cancer is pretty slow growing but very treatable. I was diagnosed as stage 3 and had surgery in November 2016. I became close friends with a couple of ladies diagnosed at the same time - we’re all 4.5 years cancer free. Is the worry still there? If I’m honest yes but each year is a year clear and the worry moves further and further back in your mind. 

I’m going to attach a few links - you might not feel like looking at them now but you can always keep them for later on when you feel ready

https://www.workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what.pdf

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/Living_well_Bowel_Cancer_UK.pdf

There’s also a Life after Cancer page on here and the guy called The Highlander does some really good posts so you might like to have a read of some old posts or copy and paste your original one in?

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/life-after-cancer-forum

Lastly please  think about ringing the nurses on here for a chat. They’re here every day from 8-8 and really lovely 0808 808 00 00

Hope your netting with the onc goes well and you start to feel a little bit better about things

Take care

Karen x

Hello Claire,

Everything you are feeling is understandable and expected. The early days are a rollercoaster and overwhelming. It's good that you were able to have surgery so quickly without any prior treatment which is positive. I had to have prior treatment Before surgery was possible.

Hopefully once you have met with your oncologist you will feel more informed and clearer about what happens next in relation to further treatment, it's a lot to take in. Try to take some notes and if you are allowed have someone with you, will depend on COVID restrictions.  

There are many people on here including me who can offer advice and support based on our experiences, after Tuesday come here if you want to offload or ask questions.

If you need it the Macmillan counselling support is really helpful to talk about worries and concerns.

Hope that's helpful

Martin

Thank you Karen for you reply.  I will definitely look at the links which you sent me.  I am thinking of giving the nurses a call but maybe at a later date.

Hello Martin

Thank you for your kind message.  I am slightly looking forward to Tuesday if for nothing else I will get more information on all that had happened as everything is still a blur.  I may take you up on your offer of more advice once I receive more news.

Hi Karen, how are you feeling now? I had my cancer operation in February this year and have just finished my chemotherapy. How long did it take for you to feel 'normal' again? I'm sleeping twice a day at the moment and have very low energy levels.

Hi Louisa5656.  Sorry to hijack this slightly.  I had my operation in January this year, then chemotherapy from early March until end of May.  I had my last session of chemotherapy 5 weeks ago today.  During the 3 months of chemotherapy I felt very tired, weak and I could have slept for Britain, however I started feeling much better 3 weeks after chemo finished and feeling better and stronger everyday now (and also eating better which must help) - it continues.  For the initial period after my chemotherapy finished I tried to sit outside as much as possible (in the shade) and doze - I do feel this helped.

Just had my CT scan this morning, so suffering a bit of scanxiety at the moment.

Well done re finishing your chemotherapy and hope you feel more like yourself again very soon.

Take Care,

Net77

Hi . They usually say about 3 months to recover after your op but chemo can take a while to get out if your system so feeling fatigued is totally normal. I tried to do a little walk each day going a bit further each time but it’s important to listen to your body and, if you need a nap, then have one. 
Ive attached a link to a booklet that covers side effects which may help?

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/Living_well_Bowel_Cancer_UK.pdf

Hope you start to feel a bit better soon

Take care

Karen x

Hi Clairesmiff,

The waiting time between test and diagnoses is usually a very stressful time for people and then you get a plan in place and usually have a period of time to try and get your head round it all.

However, in your case it didn’t work out like this. It all appears to have happened so quickly for you; I’m not surprised you feel mentally numb and your head is spinning! It will take time for you to process it all and you’re bound to have many questions and concerns.

I can identify to a certain extent with your thoughts re being labelled. In my mind it was the change in how I saw myself, from what I thought I was - a relatively fit and healthy 64 year old with lots of energy and a love of life, to someone with cancer and an unknown future. It has certainly changed my point of view on a number of things.

I needed to get my head around what was going on and get my thoughts into some sort of order before I could even speak properly to my husband and children about it. And yes, I tried to stay positive in front of everyone and carried on as if nothing had happened when all I want to do was fall apart (I think felt that I had to get my head around everything first before sharing my thoughts with others). I also find writing down how I feel and my concerns and anxieties help me get my thoughts in some sort of order and helps put things in perspective. So, although it might be useful to speak to someone in the future don’t feel you’ve got to rush. A lot has happened and you need to give yourself time to process it all.

I found reading Dr Philippa Kaye’s book ‘Doctors Get Cancer too’ very useful. She articulated, (in some cases exactly how I felt), far better than I was capable of doing at the time and I found that very helpful in knowing other people felt exactly as I did.

I hope your appointment with the oncologist on the 29th went well and you have been able to get answers to your questions and have a plan in place going forward. Do let us know.

Thinking of you.
Take Care.
Net77

Thanks for the feedback Net. Glad to hear that the tiredness dissipates eventually. I got up at 0830 today and am now back in bed at 10am. I need to start doing a daily walk, I think that would help.

Thanks for the feedback Karen and the booklet.