Hi

Hi Horsee38dfa and a warm welcome to the board. Yes the waiting for scan results and meetings is very stressful but once you have a plan in place then things will honestly feel a bit better.

I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in 2016 and although the treatment has changed and improved a bit it is generally chemo radiotherapy to shrink the tumour (this is a low dose of chemo in tablet form) you may then have ‘full’ chemo depending on whether they think any lymph nodes are involved then surgery. Depending on how low in the rectum the tumour is, you may have a temporary stoma which can be reversed at a later date or, if it is very low and they are unable to reconnect the bowel, then a permanent stoma.

https://bcuk.adidocdn.dev/Publications/Bowel_Cancer_UK_Your_Pathway_V10.1.pdf

I’ve attached a link to a booklet that I was given at my first meeting which may help? Try not to get too far of yourself - break the treatment into stages and focus on each stage at a time as things can change as you go along?

I won’t lie - the treatment can be tough but it’s doable. We’re all at different stages of treatment and recovery on here so happy to support you and share experience and advice. We can all remember what it feels like and I didn’t know anyone else who’d had it when I was diagnosed but I became good friends with a couple of ladies on the bowel cancer uk board and we got each other through it - we’re all still ‘no evidence of disease’. 

Please keep reading and posting and if you want to talk to someone in person then there may be a Maggies centre at your local hospital and the MacMillan support desk is open 7 days a week on the number below

Take care

Karen x

Good morning

I'm slightly ahead of where you are now. Got my LAR surgery 2 weeks today. I will have an ileostomy to let the reattachment heal (taking out the sigmoid colon). Starting to feel really nervous and have everything crossed that they don't find anything else during the op. I will have mop up chemo afterwards. So far though, apart from all the waiting around beforehand, which was excruciating, everything feels a bit surreal. I actually felt a bit harassed after diagnosis  as, all of a sudden, I was getting phone calls, texts, letters and appointments coming out of my arse (excuse the pun). I do a lot of research on every aspect, especially living with a stoma, so I'm prepared and fills the time. Knowledge is power, so they say

Hi Horsee38dfa I am a few weeks ahead of you. I had my resection 5 weeks ago and although it was discussed it was a shock to wake up with an Ileostomy (Temporary stoma) which will hopefully be reversed. I won't deny it there are some tough moments but I have found all the team who have been involved in my care to be understanding, caring, and have your best interest at heart.

The thought process does curious things and humans at this stage tend to think the worst there are a lot of positives, keep looking for the bright side it is there and yes you will want to shout why me! I know before my meetings with the colorectal team I thought like you but as you progress you will start to feel more positive, 

In conclusion stay positive "living with cancer" is some thing many of us do. Remember you are not alone as this group shows. Gook luck I hope all goes well for you

Thankyou for the words of encouragement and I am trying to remain positive so days are harder than others .Am trying to take one day at a time to not over whelm myself . Good luck on your journey