Worried and overwhelmed

Welcome, yes this is one of the most treatable, but you still worry like stink!!!

This is a friendly group, just ask what you want, or just vent. We've all been there, xx

Thank you xx

Hi Lee28 and a warm welcome from me too. Yes bowel cancer is pretty slow growing but very treatable. I was diagnosed with stage 3 in 2016 and I’m currently ‘no evidence of disease’ as are the 2 ladies who I became friends with at that time.

The treatment can be tough at times but we’ll help and support you through this

Take care

Karen x

Thank you for your kind words and reassurances , I’m scared but trying to keep smiling and taking as many positives as possible as it could of been a lot worse but sometimes I am struggling most when I allow myself to mind to wonder and panic 

my dad died of cancer and it was 6 months after his diagnosis and I’m the same age as he was and was confirmed on the anniversary of his death. Although totally coincidental it’s the paranoia and similarities

Hi Lee28 I’m sorry to hear about your dad and receiving your diagnosis on the anniversary of his passing must have made it even harder. 
The worry and anxiety is totally understandable but please try and focus on the positives in your post. There is no spread which is good. I was told at my first meeting that they were ‘treating me with a view to cure’ and my doctor commented that ‘they wouldn’t have said that 10 years ago’. Treatment is evolving and improving all the time - even in the short time since my diagnosis.

There’s lots of success stories on here so try to keep your head in the here and now and focus on keeping fit and healthy - both mentally and physically - for the treatment ahead.

Take care

Karen x

Hi Lee28  just saying hi. Sorry about your dad, that's tough, and bound to heighten anxiety.  Am also stage 3, only symptom was anaemia so like you pretty shocked. Had operation, awaiting chemo as nodes affected.  

Bowel cancer is v treatable but it's OK not to be positive all the time. I am having a post op dip where some days I struggle to come to terms with it and worry about the future.  My consultant has never mentioned the word cure and I wish he had, but I just carry on assuming that's the intention! I can't bring myself to ask too much!

I found pre op I really focused on getting in a good place physically and mentally.  I took time off work to do nice things.  Now I am trying to keep well for chemo.

This is a lovely group, we all understand xx

Hello Lee28

I am 66 years old - 67 on Sunday! - and just want to let you know that I am coming up to the 13th anniversary of my bowel cancer surgery which was followed by 8 sessions of chemo over 6 months. I had stage 3 cancer. I am fighting fit - relatively speaking! - and apart from having ongoing neuropathy in my feet, all is well. I try very hard not to let the neuropathy get me down as it is a very small price to pay for the fact that I am still here and since my surgery three beautiful grandchildren have come on the scene!

I wish you well and remember how encouraged I felt on hearing about someone who was 14 years on from bowel cancer treatment when I was going through mine. 

Hey there.  

Your post reminded me of my initial thoughts when I had my colonoscopy and they couldn’t confirm but were pretty sure that I had cancer.  My dad died 2 years before after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and he died within 6 days of being diagnosed.  I honestly thought my journey would be the same.  Then I quickly realised that he was incredibly unlucky and we will never know why he was diagnosed so late (it’s not normal) but my cancer was different and that was in November last year and I was told in Jan that all of my cancer was removed during surgery.  ️

Hi GlitzyGranny wonderful to hear this! Enjoy those grandchildren!!!!! It's really uplifting to read this so thank you. 

Hi Lee28. Our minds are sometimes our own worst enemies in these situations. Full of "what ifs" and catastrophising thoughts. The thing to remember is that these are not real. Try to remind yourself of the actual facts of your situation. The chances of a good outcome for your type of cancer are very high. You are not your dad. My brother was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer at the age of 69 and, when I was diagnosed with colon cancer at the same age, naturally my mind told me the worst. 15 months later I'm free of cancer and thriving. We are not all the same.

I can totally empathise with your feelings of panic and anxiety. I felt pole-axed when I got my diagnosis and went into massive panic mode. I found some relaxation exercises I found online on a hospital website extremely effective when my mind spun out of control. Take a look at my post and see if it helps you too. Be positive and I wish you all the best.

 https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/general/274907/controlling-anxiety-and-panic