At last!! Breathe a sigh of relief, but till keeping fingers crossed. Spoke with surgeon on Monday at Wythenshawe, had pre op on Wednesday, surgery school today, stoma nurse on Tuesday at local hospital, in case I do need a stoma, at least I'll be prepared, though surgeon is very hopeful I won't need one, then have been summoned back to see the surgeon on Tuesday afternoon, no idea why, fingers crossed its all to do with the mdt meeting they had today at Wythenshawe as that's what the colorectal nurse at Wythenshawe said this afternoon, then the actual op next Thursday the 1st September.
It seems an age ago that I got the diagnosis of colon cancer at my 1st colonoscopy, it was 11th June, and have had scans, chats with different surgeons, I have to say that Chris Smart at my local hospital has been a tower of strength, even when l begged him to just take the lump out and be done, he listened, then pulled some fancy strings, even with the robotic surgeon on holiday, and has pushed me into at "organ preserving procedure " saying I'm still young, bless him, I'm 54, but it sounded nice to be described as young, as right now I feel 94, I'm exhausted, the cancer has spread to the nodes, so will need chemo, but the tumor is 6cms in, which is 2cm higher than they first thought, so more room for them to connect my colon to my anus after removing my rectum.
Thank you so much to everyone who picked me up, propped me up, stopped me from drowning, and gave me all the support and info I needed. This support group is so good, Dr Google scared me silly, so I didn't go to him/her again, and the info, and the tips for ops, what to take in with you, etc are invaluable. Please give yourselves a damned good, well deserved pat on the back. My little island is now getting bigger, more people have joined me, no more sharks circling, and I'm sure I will be swimming across to the "big island of getting on with life" very soon.
Thank you, and the macmillan staff at Wythenshawe have also been invaluable, and even Steve thought so when I dragged him in on Wednesday for a cuppa and a chat, though he still says I've got him terrified, as if it's something I chose to have!! Poor man, he puts up with me and rarely complains, though his worrying has me concerned that he's neglecting his own health, ie he needs 24 hour blood pressure monitor, but refused saying he's too damn stressed about me to worry about that! God love him, my sister though worried, has been a support, if I need to have a weep, its her I call. I'd have been a right tizzy if I hadn't found this site. For that, and so much more, I'm grateful.
Thank you all. Rosie xox
