Rectal cancer

Hi,

keeping positive is key.  It’s easier once you have your plan in place.  It’s the waiting that is worst.  I was diagnosed in Feb, had it removed in April and am now on 6 months of mop up chemo and currently I have no evidence of disease…. But I’m in a five year monitoring program so if it does come back, we’ll be on it! 

good luck tomorrow.

Cerysm

Hi Beaumont44,

I know how hard it must be for you right now, my hubby has been through the same recently. Diagnosed with rectal cancer after colonoscopy in May, had his surgery in July and started his chemo last week. Once you know what your treatment plan is, you will feel that things are actually moving forward and there will be people in your cancer team to support you.

Wishing you all the best for your appointment tomorrow.

Take care,

Roses x

Hi there thankyou for your reply , how's the chemo going ? Yeah you're right I think it's the waiting that's the worst , they said to me that il be monitored for 5 years too , im so worried about stoma after and I don't even really know what it is I darent read up on it , take care x

Hi thankyou for your reply , yeah I think once I know the plan I will feel better , always the unknown isn't it , how's your husband doing with the chemo? Hope your both ok ..take care x

Hi Beaumont44 Lots of support and advice on this board and the stoma nurses will make sure you’re confident with dealing with it before you’re discharged 

community.macmillan.org.uk/.../ileostomy-and-colostomy-discussions-forum

Hi, I am new to this group too. I was diagnosed in a similar way back in May, I completed radiochemo around 3 weeks ago and my symptoms and sideffects have now all but gone. The staff at the hospital were fantastic, I am about to start capox chemo at my local hospital next week (local 1 can't offer radiotherapy) they have told me I will require 4 or 5 cycles and then time to get fit for surgery. I am apprehensive about it all as you can imagine but so far the treatments I have received haven't been anywhere near as bad as I feared or expected. 

As others say I find it best to try and stay positive and I have found its great to talk to people at the hospital as we are all fighting on the same side

Hubby’s doing ok thanks, it’s now Day 7 of Cycle 1, so still very early days. He has a slight loss of appetite and is feeling more tired then usual. Having a small nap during the day is helping. 

Yes, the unknown is hard, your mind goes down rabbit holes at times! Our way of coping during these moments is to go out for a walk or into town, just to take our minds off things for a bit. Once you have more details about your treatment plan, you’ll feel better informed and more able to focus on everything. 

Good luck tomorrow, let us know how you get on.

Take care,

Roses x

Hi Templeton,

I’m glad that you’ve completed the radiochemo and are now ready for the next step in your treatment. I hope your Capox chemo goes well. My hubby is now one week into Cycle 1 of his Capecitabine chemo. He has 8 cycles to complete in total, lasting around 6 months.

Sometimes it’s hard to feel positive with everything that’s going on, but you’re right. Being as positive as you possibly can is the best outlook. That and knowing that you’re under the care of specialists who are experts in treating this type of cancer, so you’ll be in good hands.

Wishing you all the best for next week.

Take care,

Roses x

Thankyou x

Hi so I now have my plan 4 cycles over 12 weeks , first dose through line then 2 wks of chemo tabs , wk of rest , 4 times then hopefully good for surgery after , obviously now there's the worry of how I cope with chemo can only wait and see , hope you're all ok xx