Hi, I am new here and to Cancer. I was diagnosed after doing the test that dropped through my door. Result came back as needing investigation so appointment made for colonoscopy. This was abandoned quickly as they couldn’t get camera past a restriction thought to be cancer. A further sigmoid colonoscopy later I was told I had a mass restricting my colon and that this needed to be removed asap. A CT scan revealed no evidence of spread. It was thought that day surgery to remove a polyp nearer the exit so to speak was best as if this to was cancerous then more bowel would be removed and the real possibility of me having to have a colostomy bag either long or short term became a possibility. This thought filled me with dread and gave me sleepless nights. The day of the full surgery was fixed and I had my cancerous restriction removed. The polyp was benign so I managed to avoid having a bag. I was out in 5 days. The operation went well I was told. I would be referred to the oncology team and the possibility of chemo was raised as they did remove lymph nodes which may show the presence of cancer cells so a course of chemo may be the best way to reduce risk. All my family and friends are relieved I am up and about. I feel as though I could return to work but I will follow advice and nit work for 4/6 weeks. The upheaval has been immense, my family had to cancel our trip to Barbados. Everyone around me has been helping out, stepping in as I am “not well”. I feel great, I also feel a bit of a fraud as others are surprised to see he up and about and out of hospital. I didn’t feel I’ll as such and didn’t have any symptoms before surgery. I was told that had it been left undetected I would have been dead within the year. Have I really dodged the bullet? Am I really out the other side yet? I realise the prospect of chemo is next and I am worried but my understanding of this is that this is to reduce risk as far as possible and that the chances of it seeding somewhere else is not calculable but it is very small. Am I missing something? Am I over confident?
Morning Robz
Thanks for sharing your whirlwind of a diagnosis andtreatment. I would imagine that you need to have time to process what has happened. You must be in shock but so relieved that you are home and the other side of your operation
Youre not missing anything or over confident
I found when I was discharged I was so delighted to have the cancer binned that I too felt as fit as a fiddle and confident.
It takes time to process your emotions. One day at a time
Others will be along I just wanted to wish you well and send you a hug
Ann
Robz . I'd say positivity is an incredibly helpful tool to have on your side as it gives you the best chances mentally and physically.
