Hi Kat and welcome to cancer chat... a place non of us want to be I'm sure but a place where you will hopefully find support and friendship. As a newbie myself I'm already finding that just sharing my troubles is helpful and lots of people have reached out and said a few friendly words to me.
I have no experience of rectal cancer myself but I couldnt just read and run and not say hello. Hopefully somebody with a bit more knowledge will be along soon who can support you. Meanwhile just know that you aren't alone Warm wishes Inula x
Hi Kat - my wife has/had rectal and I can offer some support to you on the treatment journey. I know the wait is awful but thank goodness it was spotted and is being dealt with. The forum is a friendly place where you can let off steam. There are others here who have had rectal. During the wait - the doctors will be planning treatment - it's not time wasted and is worth the wait. Is not worth going round the Internet as it's a very technical illness and you have to be very up on it to understand it all. Survival is good thanks to good treatments. It is a serious illness though. We had to go to the cancer centre regularly and got to know them all very well - so it's a time when you may make new friends. It can be in the family - it was in my wife's - so any close relatives may think it's worth getting checked for. So keep your pecker up and prepare for all the business. We will be thinking of you and your family and rooting for you. We return to the cancer centre in august for a check.
Thanks Steve, my mum had bowel cancer in her early 40s,&, had part of her bowel removed, they say mine is too low in the rectum , radiation mite help to shrink it, but ther talking of taking the whole lot out &,hhaving a permanent bag. I won't know til the colonscopy & mri results are more clear. Did ur wife have surgery?;
Hi again. Yes she had radical surgery and had a bag. Is no big deal and she decided to keep it. You can learn about them by going on you tube and looking up stoma care. There you will see several young boys and girls showing you about them. They did the stoma for Anne cos the tumour was low down and they wanted it all out. She had radio first to shrink it and she asked the surgeon later what it was like and he replied that it was small. She has been well ever since. They gave her chemo as well. She decided against the reversal as it can lead to chronic incontinence which she felt would harm her confidence. The bag is easy to use and invisible to wear. I hope this helps. They will only do radical if they need to. Trust them. Anne's mum had it, her aunt, grandad and uncle. I will be praying for you at this anxious time. The radio is nothing, they combine it with chemo and that can be tiring. Let's hope you don't need it. If it's low down you can ask for a papilion radio which is more gentle I understand. You might be okay with it - it all depends on the results of the tests.so this really is jumping ahead.
Right now - know that this is a well understood illness. You are in good hands. So be at peace so you are ready for the results.
I'm glad to hear ur wife is doing well. It's good to hear Some1 being so positive, so much negativity comes with cancer,. I try to keep every thing as norm as possible, just can't wait til wednesday now to find out more,& get things started, , every days a day closer to getting it removed .. How old is ur wife if u don't mind?? .
Hi there - she was 58 when it started. She has changed and her diet now and eliminated milk and gluten. It may have been accelerated by intolerance to these things. Yes do stay positive - I do know it's a biggie but looking beyond that - it's still a lovely day and treatments are improving all the time. One good thing Anne says about the stoma is that it's easier to diet with.
So you will be okay. Just this waiting is a thing. When you go to the meetings- take notes with you to ask and make notes of what they say.
Thank goodness it was found and can be dealt with.
Xx
Anne and I are thinking of you and yours at this time. I will get Anne to answer questions for you.
Hi ther, had my colonscopy today , wasn't to bad after all, aall clear up ther . A little more at rest now, CT scan on monday now & that's when my sergeon will put it all together & make a decision, Defo a op being done &,a bag, l il no more on Monday :) another step 4ward :)) .
Well done Kat - that's another hurdle jumped. Ya Anne found the colonoscopy not too bad and she got used to undressing for them all. The meeting next week is when thru join all their findings together. Before then they all meet and discuss the findings . Basically you have to get this thing out of you and it never to come back - that's their aim. We decided on as few operations as possible. Anne and I will be thinking of you for next week. Now try and put it out of your mind until then. Ask if there is any less invasive operations that are suitable and will you need chemo afterwards. After the operation stoma nurses will sort out that department - so that isn't a worry for you. Anne asked for key hole and it was suitable and her scars have healed well. There is about five around the tummy and tummy button - but not noticeable. She went shopping few days after the op. Just a quick shop I got permission for - but she was grateful to get out of the hospital for an hour.
They said it's easier to do the op on a girl due to the bigger hips. Anyway we will be thinking of you and Anne might also write - so fire ah with any questions
Yes Anne wants it all to continue as normal and we try to. After it was all over - then the emotions set in - the shock of it all and everything. It will improve - but it is a thing xxx
Did they give anne a stage?? & had it spread anywhere else? . I've got my formal meeting with my sergeon next Friday, hopefully it will be all go from then, :). Brave lady :) x
