First oncology appointment

Same data as the BBC documentary making sense of cancer.

makes sobering thinking for those like me whose tumour is too big foR surgery.

a year of hell for nothing

Esme, do not take Coddfish's experience as average. Chemo did wonder to me, despite the side effects : it cured 2 cancerous lymph nodes , saving me a serious operation on the aortic vein,  & reduced massively my colon tumour. The operation to remove it proved chemo worked  on me.Everyone responds differently to the treatment, keep positive and good luck!

Hi Esme. I think from what I have seen on another thread that you don’t have all the facts about your situation yet. I hope you will get them on Wednesday along with a treatment plan. I also hope it’s not as bleak as you fear. The good thing about neoadjuvant chemo (if that’s what you are offered) is they can see how the tumour is responding to it and it might also increase your options when you come to surgery.

In my case I had surgery first so have no idea whether chemo works on it or not. On my stats chemo doesn’t make a huge difference, but I still chose to have it as I want to give myself the best possible chance. I try not to regard it as possibly being for nothing as it’s giving me the peace of mind in knowing I have done everything I can. It’s also not proving to be a year of hell. It’s 24 weeks in total. 2-4 fairly rough days each cycle so far but the rest of the time isn’t too bad. It will pass.

all the best for Wednesday 

I was diagnosed on 18 th May. I am having surgery on 7th July. I can't thank the NHS enough for such exceptional treatment,