Shell shocked

I'm not surprised , I'm new on here ,well a week and I'm just going through the tests , I'm sure someone will come along and give you some support on here xx

Hi  I to was recently diagnosed with bowel/rectal cancer, I'm actually at home recovering from my abdominoperineal resection surgery that took place on the 17th of this month.

I just want to reach out and say that I understand where you are right now as I was there myself, try and not over think things right now though as there will still be a lot of information needed such as the CT scans and MRI's to full understand where you are and what options you will have, its extremely difficult I know as I did the same and convinced myself it was going to be worst case scenario.

You'll have meeting with the consultant and nurses and my advice would be to put together a list of questions for that appointment, its easy to get overwhelmed and lose focus when there and you probably leave with additional questions anyway but if you have a list then you can get some answers to the things you want to know. Also try to stay off Google, its like a rabbit hole for bad things and will only increase any anxiety you have already.

Best of luck with everything and please feel free to ask any questions related to my experience if you wish.

Regards

Hi Millyfaz

My cancer was also diagnosed during my colonoscopy. My main reason for going to see my GP was a bloated stomach. Although my cancer was stage 3, thankfully it hadn't spread. I've had surgery and chemo. I've had about half my bowel removed and have a temporary ileostomy. Bowel cancer can be treatable and curable if caught early. Once you've had all the scans and there's a treatment plan in place, it will feel a bit easier. This may take a few weeks. You'll have a great team around you. Stay away from Google. Keep yourself busy.

Cheryl x

Thanks for replying Chalet

Sorry that you've gone through this, but its reassuring to hear from people who are coming through treatments. The team will be getting together on the 5th July to discuss the results of the biopsies, then I should know more. I'm suffering with bloated stomach and cramps too. Do these stop after the OP.

Thanks for replying Dah2021

The team will be meeting to discuss the results of biopsies on 5th July and then I should know more about the treatments. I think it's the not knowing anything that's most scary, i have one or two questions, but unsure what to ask. On the report of the colonoscopy it says the tumour was 30mm which sounds huge to be inside the bowel, so that's one question, and about the different stages. I'm sure more questions will pop up, but at the moment I'm just trying to get my head round the fact its cancer. I have a friend who has been through it and has successfully come out the other side which is really reassuring.

HI Millyfaz

Sorry to hear your news. I was diagnosed last Xmas eve 2020 right after THAT year too and it was an utter shock for me at 46 and rather healthy! It was a cancerous tumour in my sigmoid colon, diagnosed after rectal bleeding (blood in poo) and a colonoscopy. It was causing an obstruction and had to be removed urgently. Waiting for hospital confirmation was delayed due to covid, so at least the NHS is now in a better place. Operation to remove it went well, Jan 2021 and I am now on oral chemo since March (up to Sept). The chemo was suggested by my surgeon although there was no spread indicated.  It is a scary road yes, but overthinking things does make it worse and it most certainly added more levels of stress to the situation, for me. Waiting for scan results, is the worst part, I know as we have all been there. Hope you have a good productive meeting with your team. Ask as many questions as you can and take notes, if you feel the need. I did, as so much is said at the time. 

All the best and take care in the meantime. Keep us posted.

Regards,

Thanks for replying Rose 2020

5th July the team will be discussing the results of the biopsies, if I'm honest I'm worried at what these results say. But at least things will start moving and treatment begin, just hoping my tumour hasnt spread to other areas and that it can be treated successfully. So scared right now, but trying to be positive.

Hi  and welcome to the board. The waiting for scans and results and meetings is very stressful but once you have a plan in place then things will feel a bit better. Bowel cancer is very treatable nowadays but please stay away from google - it is out of date and downright scary in places.

Ive attached a link to a booklet which is a great ‘started’ read about staging, terminology, potential treatment etc. The size of the tumour is not a sign of severity and the scans will check for any spread.

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/Your_pathway_Bowel_Cancer_UK.pdf

Please keep posting and we’ll be happy to support you through this

Take care

Karen x

Thanks Karen, will take a look at the booklet, I'm not looking at google, way to scary, I'd rather hear from the experts who are looking after me personally, they know my details and hopefully soon know the way forward, trying to be positive and not worry, but the unknown is a scary place to be. So will take a look at the booklet, hopefully that might help explain a few things

Thank you and sorry that you too are going through this. I think the bloating and cramps will go after the operation if it's the tumour causing it. The bowelcancer.org.uk site has a list of questions that you can print off. There are lots of inspirational stories on there. Amazing people regularly posting on there, just like this site. My tumour was 38mm.  It's an awful feeling waiting to hear what the next step will be but every day's a day nearer to a treatment plan so hang in there. Don't worry if you have a meltdown, completely normal and also normal if you don't. Everyone deals with it differently. 

Cheryl x