Been told i have stage 4 rectal cancer , spread to lymph nodes and with numerous small areas on both lungs. Was initially told chemo would be needed asap to try to hold it back but they think not curable.
This is my second primary as had prostate cancer in 2018 and operation to remove prostrate, followed 2 yrs later when psa started to rise again so had radiotherapy x 20 doses to protate bed in May 2020. Following that my toilet issues / slow bowel movements and regular bouts of discomfort/ constipation was said to be a common long term side effect of the radiotherapy.
I now find out after recent tests that the side effects have bèen masking the side effects of the rectal tumour over the last couple of years which has grown un noticed or detected and now spread to the current position.
My chemo is due to start in next few days so obviously i am very worried about that but also i can not help but feel somewhat let down and angry that this situation has only just come to light now.
Am i just unlucky to have two separate primary cancers in such a close position in the body or could the radiotherapy have actually given me the second primary maybe ? Surely a full scan ( which wasnt done as a regular check on my first cancer) would have picked up the second primary .... i dont know what to think and it seems that no one at hospital i am under wants to give an opinion as to what has occurred .
