My journey so far

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149 subscribers
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Hi all, thought I'd share my story so far after getting diagnosed last month.

I occasionally had low level sporadic pain when going for a poo since September '25 but this escalated in December when I started to significantly increase the frequency of needing the toilet, and found drinking just 1 beer caused me to be very gassy and have stomach cramps. Struggled to even get a GP appointment, was given a FIT test and a blood test. Bloods came back fine, pain got even worse and I generally felt I was dismissed as not cancer due to be 34, seemingly fit and healthy. FIT test came back with a score of 600, and a colonoscopy confirmed a tumour.

The first week was easily the hardest of my life, the unknown, worrying of knowing I had cancer but not much else. Had CT scan and an MRI, before urgent further MRIs of the liver had me fearing that it had spread. Thankfully it was a benign cyst on the liver.

Now due to start chemo radiotherapy on Monday for 5 weeks, and then potentially watch and wait due to the position of my tumour surgery would likely mean a permanent stoma. Followed by a further round of chemotherapy after regardless.

I feel in a much better place than those first few weeks, and I've been a long time lurker of this forum which has really helped - so thought I'd share my journey so far.

Nervous for what's coming up, how I'll feel, how I'll manage work during treatment. I've also found it hard feeling like I was very fit and healthy, and now suddenly over a few months feel very far from it. But do feel much better as each week progresses that we have a plan that I'm working towards.

Kareno62 18 days ago

Hi KeenRunner and good to read that you have a plan in place. Very frustrating to hear that some doctors in this day and age still think that bowel cancer only affects the older generation and goes to show that sometimes you have to push when you know somethings not right with your own body.

Yes I too felt fit and healthy apart from having cancer! I was initially given a list of radiotherapy appointments that were at all times of the day but I asked to change and they were happy to give me early morning appointments. That meant less chance of a backlog and I was able to go to my office job straight after. The chemo tablets are quite a low dosage so I didn’t really have any major side effects but you could see how you go on the work front?

Ive attached a link to a post that we did a while ago about chemoradiotherapy which might give you a heads up.
Radiotherapy care top tips !

Hope it goes well

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

Nevermind 18 days ago

Hello KeenRunner and well done for registering and saying hi.This is a club and forum which we would all like NOT to be members of! But when fate deals the cards, we must play with what we have.

Your anxieties are completely normal and understandable; being diagnosed at 34 must seem a bitter blow. But know this- they are extremely good now at surgery, the chemo is bearable and effective, and if you do have a permanent stoma please don't be too despondent-I had one for a year and it soon becomes something easy to live with.

Best of luck and keep us updated!

maksius 14 days ago

Hi KeenRunner,

Thank you for sharing your story so far. It is very encouraging to know the anxieties get somewhat better once the treatment plan is in place. I am very hopeful will get to discuss and start mine soon, as find it very hard to accept reality of a cancer diagnosis and life changing effects. Please continue to share any updates as it does make a difference for those few steps behind in the process.
Hope your treatment goes well

KeenRunner 14 days ago in reply to Kareno62

Thank you so much Karen. I actually requested later afternoon appointments, the thinking being that I can finish work slightly early and be done for the day and go for treatment.

I hadn't thought about the risk of delays, but thankfully all my treatment so far has been on time, or they usually call me in a few minutes early!

So far I've got some skin pain but all my general pains have actually significantly improved and I'm no longer needing to take buscopan or paracetamol. Conscious there's a long way to go though!

KeenRunner 14 days ago in reply to Nevermind

Thanks - and very much agree!

Yeah I've seen a lot of really informative people on social media talk though stoma life - and it's put my mind that ease that although it's not something I'd pick, it's something that feels very much possible to get on board with. I know I'd much rather be cancer free even if it means a life change.

KeenRunner 14 days ago in reply to maksius

Thank you, I will! It's a cliché but generally I find it gets better with time.

The first week and the unknown was the worst, I then felt positive when confirming it was treatable and hadn't spread - but that followed a bit of a low where despite it not being the worst news the gravity of the situation dawned on me.

Now I'm feeling as positive I can be, and it's currently made my symptoms much better - but I know that might change. I think it might be harder after this first lot of treatment, it's then a five week wait before getting scans to see how successful it's gone.