Hi, I'm newbie...

Hi, I’m in the same position as you. I’ve had the colonoscopy, scans etc. They had a multi disciplinary meeting about me last week and see the consultant face to face next Thursday 14th. The only thing I’ve been told is that the tumour is cancerous. They will explain everything to me next week but the waiting is the worst!. I’ll let you know how I get on. Xx

I wish you well with your meeting with the Consultant on Thursday for sure Eisey.  Scary times eh! 

I will also let you know how I get on too. 

Wishing you courage and strength. xx

Hi and a warm welcome to the board from me. Yes this waiting for results and meetings is very stressful but once you have a plan in place then things will honestly feel a bit better. Stay away from google - it is scary and out of date - stay on here and the bowel cancer uk board.

The meeting on Monday will be the MDT (multi disciplinary team) which consists of experts from all the fields that will be involved in your treatment and they will decide on a plan for you. The scans will confirm if there has been any spread outside of the bowel. Depending on the size and position of the tumour you may have chemo and radiotherapy first or you may go straight to surgery. There are lots of combinations of treatments but once decided on then they should get the ball rolling quite quickly. I’ve attached a copy of the booklet that I was given in my first meeting if you want a heads up?

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

Bowel cancer is notoriously slow growing but very treatable. There will be some tough months ahead both mentally and physically but we’ll all be happy to help and support you through this and answer any questions that you might have.

Take care and let us know how Monday goes

Karen x

Same to you, it’s really hard to process at the moment, think I’m still in a daze about it. Hope all goes well for you xx

Hi Bolero and Eisey,

My husband has just gone through loads of tests and has his operation on Friday. The consultant thinks they can chop the cancer out and rejoin the bowel, and was fairly confident he won't need any more treatment. I realise that may change. He went through a dreadful time 14 years ago when he had throat cancer, (2 operations, radiotherapy, lost his larynx, couldn't speak for 4 months) so we are hoping this will be easier! xx 

Oh my goodness bless him  he has really gone through it! Fingers all crossed for him xx

Thank you so much for your reply, I truly appreciate it.

I'm gradually reading through the booklet you attached. Thank you so much for that.

I don't know if it is due to the Tumour or the shock, I'm a little concerned because I'm sleeping all night and exhausted during the day and am sleeping a great deal of them on and off.

People say you lose weight with Rectal/Colon cancer, yet I'm hungry all the time and haven't lost any weight at all. If anything I have put some on. Do you happen to know if this abnormal? 

That's fabatastic news if he won't need any chemotherapy after the operation.  That must have been an awesome relief. 

I hope all goes very well with his operation on friday. I will keep my crossed for you both that the situation will remain the same after they operate. 

I'm sure this week will feel long.. but hopefully you will both get through the wait and certainly hope the wait will be worth it. 

Take care and please keep us informed. 

Hi . No I hadn’t lost any weight either. In fact I felt fine apart from rushing to the toilet after my first cuppa of the day and then seeing blood. I buried my head firmly in the sand and decided it was due to me having taken voluntary redundancy from work and therefore my eating habits had changed/ haemorrhoids.With hindsight I probably had symptoms for a couple of years (! I know!) before going to the doctors and that was only because we were going in holiday which always gave me loose bowels. I probably did feel more tired than usual but again put that down to finishing work and having lazy un-stimulating days. 

A bit of weight gain isn’t necessarily a bad thing as I found I lost quite a lot post op. If you can try and stay quite fit, daily walks for example, then that would be good both mentally and physically. I was diagnosed in 2016 and I’m still cancer free as are the 2 ladies that I met online at the same time. 

Everyone has a different experience of cancer and treatment but the board is always here to help and support you  x