Newly diagnosed

Hi Susie64 and a warm welcome to the board. Yes the first few days and weeks after diagnosis are a whirlwind of tests and meetings but once you have a treatment plan in place then things will honestly feel a bit better.

Bowel cancer is notoriously slow growing but very treatable. Stay away from google - it can be out of date and scary - you can ask anything you like on here - there is nothing too daft or embarrassing.

It’s good that all the scans are being done promptly but not an indication of anything suspicious - they’ll just be wanting to get all the information in place before the MDT.

It’s natural to let your mind go into overdrive but please remember that thoughts are not facts and stressing about what ifs will only cause headaches and a dicky tummy so try and distract yourself over the next week until you hear from your team.

Ive attached a copy of the booklet that I was given at my first meeting which you might like to have a quick look at? 

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

Sorry that I can’t help with the tumour question but you could maybe ring the support desk on the number below for guidance?

Take care

Karen x

Hi Kareno62. Thank you so much for the warm welcome and for the sound advice about sticking to the facts and keeping away from Google. Thank you for the booklet.  I'll have a read now.

Hi the Susie 

I was exactly the same as you. I was convinced it was all over me. 
Karens given brilliant advice especially No Doctor Google I terrified self and it wasn’t relevant to me anyway 

Sending you a hug 

The waiting is really hard I was the same as u in my mind it was everywhere in my body .no one cld understand unless uve been though it bt def once u get the  staging and what the nxt step   is it def helps   it's the fear of the unknown. 

I got councilling with macmillian and bupa u get 6 free sessions it def helped . R even just ring macmillian then will listen to ur concerns  

I phoned my colorectal to talk at times she was amazing so caring.

For my mental well-being I listened to free mindfulness or relaxation on my phone. It just gave me some head space.

I ate what I could manage and occupied myself as best as I could. The worst is bed time. I used to dread that.

Once I knew what they were going to do it gave me a focus. I wasn’t told what stage just that it was big and close to blocking. I couldn’t wait to get it in the bin 
Take care 

Thanks, Frances s.  I am desperate to know the extent of my problem, but fearful of what the outcome might be.  At least before I know for sure, there's hope. MRI due tomorrow. MDT meeting on Tuesday.

Hello Artsie.  Thanks for responding. My head is all over the place. This is such an awful time.  It's been a comfort to know my feelings are like everyone else's.

Hi Susie64

Bless you.
Just do what you can do. We are all here for you 

best wishes 

Hi Susie64

I want to assure you that you are not being irrational, just scared like all of us here at one time or another. It’s good that the practitioners are moving quickly as you don’t have to have the worry of waiting. The quicker you have your treatment plan the quicker treatment will be started. 

I can only say that when I came on here not long ago and like you scared witless, I was given such a warm and caring welcome.

Thinking of you 

Mags x

Thanks for the advice, Karen.  I contacted the Macmillan nurses by email - the nurse was absolutely brilliant. She was able to explain some of the things mentioned on my colonoscopy report that I didn't understand. She offered for me to telephone the nurses for further explanation. It was really helpful. The booklet was really useful too. Thank you. Just a few more anxious days now, before I get the results of all of my tests.