Just diagnosed.

Hi Avaeh,

I was told a month age that I have Stage 4 Lung Cancer, yes the words "You have Cancer" do have the power to turn your world totally upside down. I would advise not to concentrate too much on them until you have had your first meeting and plan forward discussion with your Oncologist. Ps; DO NOT GOOGLE ANYTHING. Your Cancer nurse will be a life line as they are great and very helpful. Good Luck, keep positive and remember you are not alone.

GOD Bless...

The waiting is the hardest part. Anxiety causes your mind to spin out of control. You can't help imaging the worst possible scenarios, each one worse than the last. It quickly becomes overwhelming. In reality, you will only experience 1 scenario not the dozens in your head and that scenario is very likely to be much easier than you imagine. 

Most of us find the process much easier than we imagined. 

Keep in mind, rectal cancer is very treatable and very survivable. 

So cry a little then do something that distracts your mind. No judgment on what distracts you. Early on I tried walking in nature because it usually calms me but it didn't stop my thoughts. I resorted to TV which I normally disdained. Later on I was able to use nature but not during the initial panic phase. Find what works for you. 

Thank you for your kind reply.  All the best in your journey, the journey that none of us want to be on.  

Thank you for your lovely reply.  Wishing you all the best.

Hi Avaeh, I also was diagnosed with rectal cancer two years ago, and like you I was scared not knowing what the future held.  I can remember it was frightening, but once I got started on the treatment things picked up, I felt something was being done and I was on the road to recovery.  When you have the meeting you will be able to ask them questions of things you may be worried about.  I do not know what you will be offered in the way of treatment, but I had five weeks of radiotherapy/chemotherapy.   It was not too bad as I took a chemo tablet, then went to hospital for the radiotherapy and then took another chemo tablet.   Then after that I had an operation to remove the tumour.  I was left with a stoma, but to be honest I have got so used to it, I do not take a lot of notice of it now, and do all the things I did before the op.  So Avaeh, I know I cannot stop you worrying, it is only natural, but try and stay positive.  I know when I was going through the treatment I still found time to put my makeup on!!  I am sure you have the support of your family and friends, which I found fantastic, and sounds like you have a lovely husband (like me), so that is a blessing.  I wish you all the best and please keep us updated. x

Hello Avaeh. 

I can't really add to the wise words already posted, but I can say that like you, I am at the very start of my journey, having been diagnosed on 14/4 after tests and scans etc.  I'm one for planning for the worst but hoping for the best, but hearing the words 'cancer', and 'chemo' still had me staring at a big black hole, but only for a moment.  As soon as the consultant and the colorectal nurse started talking about a plan, and appointments started being arranged I did feel better, like some control had been given back to me.  I felt like that was the time to we started fighting back to beat the cancer into oblivion.  

I'm new to this site, but I have found nothing but love and support and wisdom here, so my advice, in addition to that already made, is to keep posting, or just reading, and know that there are lots of folks here who will help you through the tough bits and celebrate the positives with you.

Sending all good wishes to you and your family - stay strong 

Thank you for your lovely reply.. Wishing you all the best. x

Hia i was diagnosed yesterday and can’t imagine how im going to get through all the waiting im petrified so i know exactly how you feel in the space of a day i feel like my whole life has changed my plan is going to try and keep myself busy lots of walking and reading x

All I can say is that once the shock of my diagnosis had subsided, I decided to take back control by, like you, staying busy, but also planning for what was to come by looking after my health and getting to grips with the information provided by the medics.  

The thing I also found invaluable is joining this site.  As I have said to others, the help and support given by the people on this site is wonderful, and it has really helped me to not feel alone.  There are a raft of positive stories, helpful advice and simply shared experiences that lift me when I'm down, and I hope that I can do the same for others as my journey progresses.

I wish you all good luck for the future. 

Hi Donny1 and a warm welcome to the board. The next couple of weeks will be a flurry of scans and tests but once your team has the full picture then they will decide on a treatment plan for you and things will honestly feel a bit better. 
Keeping busy is a great plan but please stay away from google - it can be out of date and misleading - stay on here and the bowel cancer uk board.

We’re all at different stages of treatment and recovery on here and happy to help and support you through yours. It’ll be a tough few months ahead but focus on the facts, not the what ifs and take it one stage at a time.

Take care

Karen x