Colovaginal Fistula

Hi Three and a warm welcome to the board. I’m sure your head is reeling at the minute but Bowel Cancer is very treatable nowadays and we will be here to help you through it. 

My first piece of advice would be to stay away from google - it’s out of date, misleading and downright scary in places. Stay on here and the Bowel Cancer uk Board and ask anything you want - there is no question too daft or embarrassing! 

The waiting for scans and results is pretty stressful but once you have a plan in place then things will seem a little better. CT and MRI scans are standard and it will give your consultant a clear picture of what’s going on and then you will be discussed at the MDT meeting (multi-disciplinary Team) where specialists from the different fields involved will agree on a treatment plan for you. 

Emergency stomas are often done if you’re having problems with your Bowel or having some discomfort. You will be allocated a Colorectal Support nurse who will also help you with your stoma and it will soon become second nature. The radiation sounds a lot scarier than it is! You basically lie on a table and the machine zaps your tumour in a bid to shrink it before surgery so the surgeon can remove it with a clear area around it. Radiotherapy is often given alongside chemo which is taken in tablet form. 

Hope this brief overview helps. There are a lot of people on here who have beaten Bowel Cancer - I am 4 years clear myself - and if you click on their names then it will take you to their profile page.

If you want me to pop a link to a booklet outlining possible treatment plans then please let me know - some people like to read up in advance whereas others like to wait to see the consultant.

Sending you a virtual hug - it will be a tough few months but you can do it. Please let us know how you get on?

Take care

Karen x

Hi Karen,

Thank you so very much, you have no idea how much that helps! I am just so scared but I'm trying to hold it together until after Xmas, at least! The info you've given me helps enourmously and the advice about Google, well, I have to admit I'm always going on there, but no more!

I don't think I'm ready to read up about treatments yet but thank you and, if you don't mind, I'll ask you again when I'm ready!

  Have a lovely Christmas Karen, I'm going to try to put problems away in a box for a few days and because of you, I think I'll cope for a little while!

     Love Three

Hi Three. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in February 2019. I had radiotherapy alongside chemotherapy for 25 sessions, followed by surgery in July 2019. I now have a permanent colostomy. I really don't have any problems with it. I'm 60 and still work full time at Wilko. I had 16 and a half months off work but I'm back now and doing fine. Good luck with your treatment. Sending you a massive hug. Try to enjoy Christmas and not worry too much. I know that's easy for me to say but as Karen said, the radiotherapy sounds scarier than it is. Travelling to the hospital takes longer than the treatment. Good luck. 

Love Kim xx

Thank you so much Kim, your support means so much! I'm still in a state of shock, I think! I had a phone call this morning, giving me my MRI scan date for 2nd January! I think this is the thing that terrified me most, I know it sounds crazy but my mother was exactly my age, at the exact same time, when she had an MRI scan, she got the diagnosis the next day and she died 2 days later! Ok, it was 27 years ago but you can see why I'm so worried?

You and Karen have helped enourmously, I can't thank you enough! I honestly am so warmed by you taking time to write, especially at this busy time of year! I return your hug ten times over, have a wonderful Christmas and thank you again.

Love Moira. xx

Three.

Hi, Three, sorry to see you here, but just to say you are not alone, and to ask anything you need to, someone will come along and help. Yours is different to my treatment (click on my name) but sending you a (((hug))) anyhow. 

Thank you so very much Gemmary, it's lovely to have support exactly when I need it! My husband and sons are all great, but they can't say right for saying wrong, poor things! So it's great that this wonderful place is here!

Have a lovely Xmas and again, thank you!

Love Moira

Three