Newly diagnosed with rectal cancer

Hi Squashable

Thanks for your update on your treatment plan. It’ll be a positive move to start blasting it 

I haven’t collapsed with the knowledge of Cancer. I am at war with the Ghoul and will take any medicine offered to bin it 

Ive said before I liken it to a whack a mole game

I’m the mole and I’ll keep ducking and diving 

My first diagnosis was August 21 and it just made me plan everything I could my end to give me the quickest recovery time 

Diet a little exercise and things to look forward to. Treats are always appreciated 

Im sending you a virtual hug squashable but not to hard 

Just keep plodding on enjoying things that you like to do. Let the medics sort out the Ghoul 

Hi squashable

Keep doing what you’re doing, I was expecting the melt down to happen after diagnosis, then the treatment but still plodding on

sometimes I do think ‘I have cancer ‘ but people around you keep you strong and you become strong for them

love the whack a mole Artsie!

Sending a virtual squishy hug - this group has the answers so keep asking … I do

Nic

Keep ducking and diving NickyP

x

Hi Squashable

You may have a cancer diagnosis. But you’re still you. You’re not defined by what’s wrong but by who you are. Most of you doesn’t have cancer so it’s quite right that you think of cancer as somewhat remote. Happening almost to somebody else. The you who doesn’t have cancer can take on the dreaded disease without being dragged down by it. Even after nearly five years, most of the time passes in the present without any distraction. Staying in the moment is precious, a wonderful gift.
 

Thank you so much for these words! They've inspired me  I've been telling people that I have a growth in my rectum that is cancerous, rather than the doom laden "I have cancer" I've found it helpful to see it as, as you say, just a bit of me that is affected. Oncologist appointment on Monday so hopefully find out more about when the radiotherapy will start etc.

Hi Squashable,

My rectal tumour was detected on the 11th August, during a colonoscopy - I was called for further investigation following a positive FIT. I went from my colonoscopy straight into a room down the corridor for a CT Scan. One week later I had an MRI. Things moved VERY fast. Thankfully, although my tumour is large and locally advanced there is no spread - N0 V0 M0. My appointments with the Colorectal Surgeon and the Oncologist happened fairly quickly and I am due to begin 5 weeks of Chemoradiotherapy next week. The early days were the most difficult for me - although my appointments came thick and fast, the 'not knowing for sure'  and not knowing the plan was hard to cope with - my mind was in overdrive. Since 11th August, I almost feel as if I have been living a double life - one that has cancer, and one that is the life I have always known. I think I was in denial at times and needed to remind myself of my situation.

I am afraid for the next few weeks, when I undergo chemoradiotherapy, but know it is the first stage of being able to move on with my life.

Good luck with your Oncology appointment on Monday.

Nothing to be afraid of with CRT for rectal cancer. The tumour is in a fixed location and can be zapped accurately. Drink lots of water every day to help separate the internal organs and let the technology do its work. You will, in effect, be having an X Ray on a state of the art machine. The longest part is positioning you on the table so that the zapper is spot-on. And now you are fighting back, with some special support! Just do as they tell you and if you have a query - ask.

Dulac

Thanks Dulac. This really helped me to put things in perspective.  The first stage in fighting back .