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Hi Palmtrees and a warm welcome to the board. I was diagnosed back in 2016 and had 5 weeks of chemo radiotherapy before my op. It shrank my tumour from 4cm to 1cm and they were able to remove the tumour with clear margins ie. A clear surrounding area. They removed 17 lymph nodes with the tumour and 2 were affected so I had some follow up chemo. 
Bowel cancer is notoriously slow growing but very treatable so put your trust in your team. I’ve attached a link to a post that we did about chemoradiotherapy top tips which may help but please post if you have any particular concerns.

 Radiotherapy care top tips ! 

I’m from Halifax so had radiotherapy in Leeds, surgery in Huddersfield and chemo in Halifax! It will be my 10 years ‘no evidence of disease’ anniversary in November - the next few months will be tough but focus on each stage and don’t think too far ahead for now.

Take care

Karen x

Hi Karen Oh thats great news you are alright now. Your tumour went from 4 to 1 cm excellent. I’m hoping mine shrinks the same.

You have definitely put my mind at ease. Really appreciate you took the time to reply to me. Thanks so much.

Take care xx

Hi Palmtrees, 

So sorry that you need to be here. A diagnosis is incredibly frightening. 

My husband was diagnosed with rectal back in 2013. He was fifty. Chemo, radiotherapy and open surgery were successful. Stoma and reversal.  Only recently has  this metastised after 13 years of clear low end scans . Treatments and surgery techniques have advanced since then. 

Unlike Karen, a follow up chemo was not recommended for my man. But your consultant will give the best treatment for you. 

You've made it to oncology which means you've had CT scans. These would show any hot spots. I'm pretty darn sure they would have told you if anything flagged. 

If part of your chemo is IV, try to get a PICC line fitted before your first session. It's a faff getting the line flushed between treatments but is kinder on the body. X 

Oh, and if you don't have tattoos, you may get three little blue dots. The only tats my husband has. They use them to position you for the radiotherapy. Undignified but practical. 

Sending hugs and strength for you 

Hi Sierraoscar.  Thank you so much for the reply. Sorry to hear that your husband is going through this.

So the cancer has come back? How awful. 
Thank you for the advice about the PICC line. I’m not sure what type of chemo I will be having.

I'm going back to see oncologist on Thursday so I will ask.

Sending hugs and strength back to you and your husband x