New rectal cancer diagnosis

Hi Adam,

Welcome to the group. You must all be in a bit of a state of shock with your diagnosis, especially with you being quite young. On the positive side of things you've already had your radiotherapy, and well on the road of your treatment. Your team sound as though they have everything well in hand, and they also sound upbeat about this, so that's great to have them be that way. Please don't think for a minute that your cancer will stop you carrying on loving the outdoors and your sport... it won't! Maybe you might have to tweak what you do ever so slightly, but then again... maybe not! And don't give up on your army career - check with them and see what they have to say. You've got a good positive attitude, and that's often half the battle. I was diagnosed nearly 9 years ago with Stage 3 - I returned to work within 4 months of surgery, and never looked back. 

Hope all goes well with your surgery - 2021 could be the year you surprise yourself!

Linda :-)

Hey Linda. 

Thank you ever so much for replying to me. Your message made me smile, and blub a little bit. It’s a strange world that you enter when you get diagnosed, but reading experiences like yours gives me nothing but optimism and determination to get myself through this. It’s also very odd knowing what I have now, as I’ve never felt as fit and healthy. Remaining strong and having a positive attitude is something that will be important as you have said, and I will really try to keep myself in a good place. 

Thanks Linda. 9 years cancer free! That’s absolutely fantastic

Hi Adam.

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis at such a young age. I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in February 2019 at the age of 59 and I was told I was young enough to beat it. I had Capecitabine alongside radiotherapy for 5 weeks, followed by  APR surgery which gave me a permanent stoma. Followed by 6 months of Capecitabine. I manage th stoma really well. I work full time at Wilko which involves a lot of heavy lifting of stock. You will absolutely  get back your fitness levels with your positive attitude. That's what got me through I think. I felt fine all the way through with only minor side effects. You can do this!

Love Kim x

Hi Adam, you are me ten years younger, and three years ago when I received pretty much the same diagnosis.

What also mirrors my experience is your positive approach.

If I could speak to myself back then, I don’t think I would change a thing about how I approached it. I somehow found that positivity, like you. Don’t get me wrong, I was worried and for the first two weeks didn’t see the point in doing much - the word cancer, in our heads, comes with a predetermined conclusion. But this is totally incorrect.

If I could do one thing for you, it’s to have you listen to me, my wife and my two boys (6 and 9 at the time I was diagnosed) speak about our experience. They’ll tell you it’s a million miles away from how bad we imagined. In fact, looking back now my boys are so robust from the experience. Still kids, still silly, but with a broader view on life and how a maths test is easy compared to hearing their Dad has cancer. We all draw on the experience all the time.

I hope you and your wife can read this and take a deep breath and know that you’ll get through this, happier, closure and of course more appreciative of life.

My diagnosis was a stoma from the outset, that’s the only difference. You can imagine how I felt huh. My stoma is so normal to me now, and the family, I am amazed by how we humans just adapt. We are invincible!

So Adam, take that deep breath, relax and treat your plan as your job for the next month or so. Head down, crack on. It’ll be over before you know it.

Happy to chat more, I tried to keep it as brief as possible.

Cheers

Thanks Kim. That’s really good of you to get back to me. And fantastic to know that you recovered well. Yes it’s such a shock, but I have a good plan in place and you have to trust the professionals right? I’m quite nervous about starting chemo, but at the same time, it’s good to know that something is happening. It’s positivity from people like yourself that really helps me and I’m already feeling positive just from a couple of messages tonight.

Sending love to you x 

Adam 

Thank you so much. That’s a wonderful message for me to read. From feeling quite lonely in this experience, I am starting to feel a little lighter. Me and my wife would absolutely love to hear your experiences and draw strength from a family that have been through this. I think I get part of my strength from looking at my wife and boy. I’m a husband. A father. I have no alternative other than staying strong, healthy and focussing on getting myself through this. The pick me ups from people like yourself help me believe. 

I will take that deep breath and focus on the job in hand. Thank you so much for taking some time to message me tonight. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. 

Adam x 

Hi Adam, just reading some of the replies, and wanted to tell you about the chemo side. When I was first diagnosed I was to have chemo and radiotherapy at the same time, and it was all so new to me, I just didn't know what to expect. I'd read not so good stories about the chemo and that was a worry to me. So, off I went for my first radiotherapy and to get my chemo. The nurse sat me down and started to go through all of the side effects that I might get... I got more and more worried with every additional side effect. But... for every side effect I was given a lotion/potion/pill. I went in empty-handed to that meeting and left with my hands full and wondering why on earth I didn't have a large carrier bag in my pocket! Yes, there were that many things given to me. I was on Capecitabine and thank goodness never needed any of those pills etc for side effects. I know we're all different, and I hope that you won't have the side-effects the nurses say you might have.. just remember they need to tell you about them just in case you DO have a side-effect.

Everyone here has a wealth of knowledge, so don't be afraid to ask a question - even if you think it a daft question! We've all been there, and are here for you. :-)

Linda

Thanks for that Linda - I’ve read about a few symptoms and side effects, but I suppose only time will tell. I will be having 4 cycles of capox. So two weeks on, one week off, and repeat. From what they have told me, is that research over the last 5 years has shown this method to be quite effective. I’m glad that one stage is done with the radiotherapy. 12 weeks of chemo will hopefully fly by. I’m hoping it does anyway. I feel slightly anxious in hoping that it does work, but I am also aware that chemo is pretty powerful stuff. 

Any form of message or knowledge about what I have and experiences from others is really appreciated. 

Thank you, Adam 

Hi Adam

Sorry about your diagnosis. I am 40 years old and was recently diagnosed with sidmoid cancer (stage 3 with metastasis to 7 lymph nodes and EMVI - high risk features.) To say that I was shocked was an understatement. I had my surgery 4 weeks ago (fortunately before the second wave of Covid really took off) and I will start Capox treatment (like yours) week after next. I am a bit nervous about it but trying to keep up my strength. I try to be positive but it's not always easy and I have my moments as well. I've never smoked, not overweight and have a generally healthy lifestyle with no family history of bowel cancer so I keep trying to rationalise why this has happened to me but I don't think we ever can. We can only take it one day at a time, put one foot in front of the other and carry on.

Wishing you all the best with your chemo.

Hi Adam R and a warm welcome to the board from me. You’ve had some brilliant support and advice so far. It’s a lot to take on board and the next few months are going to be tough but it sounds like you have a good treatment plan in place and once you’ve got the first couple of chemos under your belt then you’re halfway through.

Yes chemo has a lot of side effects - you’ll probably get some - but there are lots of pills and potions to combat them. It’s worth keeping a diary as to how you’re feeling and then it’s a reminder to mention any problems to the nurses. You may also find that you feel a bit rough for the first few days but pick up in week 3 so can plan nice things to do in the days that you feel better? Everyone has a different experience - I managed to work part-time through mine and it was a good distraction. I also pretended the capecitabine tablets were vitamins! 

I’ve attached a link to a previous post which talks about the chemo that you’re having - sometimes it helps to think ‘oh yes I read about this, it’s quite common.’. 

Try to keep the positive pants on and you’ll hopefully be back training for your army career before you know it

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/207876/stage-3-bowel-cancer-about-to-start-chemo---worries/1514219#1514219

Take care

Karen x