Hi All,
I have not posted here in a long time but thought it appropriate as today officially marks the end of my surveillance which has included CT scans and colonoscopies over 5 years.
My story began aged 39/40 with abdominal/stomach aches which my doctor put down to gastric acid, trapped wind, and piles when I started to mention blood in stools. This went on for a year before I was finally referred for a colonoscopy which found I had an 8cm metastatic mass in my rectum. I was confused, lost, and could just not fathom what was happening in this moment. I found out about this forum and was the one stop shop for all the information and excellent contributors offering advice and support - this forum was heaven sent. It was my source of information/strength from the time I was diagnosed (stage 2), surgery, stoma (over a year) to stoma reversal and beyond.
I just want to say a huge thank you to all who those of you who use their precious time resources (...the Kareno62s, Courts et al) to empathetically respond to and continually offer words of encouragement/support to those who like me back then, are confused and overwhelmed.
To all who have recently been diagnosed, undergoing treatments or indeed worrying about a loved one going through this journey, there are advances and continuous improvements in treatments, care and support with this illness and therefore every reason to remain positive and be hopeful.
Thank you!
