New to Forum (Diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer July 2016)

Hello Fellow Cancer Fighters!                                                                                                                                            I have been meaning to join an online 'Cancer Forum' ever since I was first diagnosed, however, I am sure you can all appreciate that it takes quite a while to come to terms with what is happening because Cancer just turns your whole life upside down and then you have the rollercoaster of emotions to deal with too! Well I am finally here! My Colon Cancer is inoperable, so I am having palliative care in the form of chemo every 2 weeks+ a pump at home for 2 days to help me fight for more time. I have had 15 chemos so far without a break (a bit intense I know!) I had 8 sessions of Folfiri + Irinotecan but this didn't stop/reduce any of my tumours so I was switched onto Folfox + Oxaliplatin (had 7 out of 10 sessions so far!) however, this is also not stopping/reducing any of my tumours! Next plan of action is a biopsy so my oncologist can find a chemo that will have the desired effect. I am usually a very positive person but am pretty low at the moment because I have endured 6 months of chemo so far with it's fatigue and side effects and have little to show for it! (I feel a bit cheated?)

Anyway, what I really want to know is how do you stay positive when you keep getting knock backs because I am really struggling 'emotionally' at the moment - any advice or support is grestly appreciated - thanks, big hugs CarolB

  • Hi Carol I'm so sorry to hear of your situation. I'm post op stage 3 bowel cancer . It's all a terrible shock and I can empathise entirely. I have a close friend whose husband had stage 4 and is still here 10 years later, so yes you have much to be positive about. However the reality of the treatment, putting your life on hold, the tiredness, the fear, being away from work etc etc, they can grind you down. Sometimes I can barely drag myself from yet another episode of Homes Under the Hammer! I have learned that I have to stay active, moving around, eating well, drinking lots of fluid too. I try to go to the gym every other day even though I'm only walking on the treadmill (big change from being a fitness obsessive). I go there because I can't deal with anything cold and have met another woman there going through chemo and she's inspired me with her spirit to keep going. Keep yourself busy - I've been researching my family tree! Most importantly for me I have a cd on Positive Thinking (from Mark Bowden on Amazon) and Paul McKenna does good ones too. I listen on my bed every other day. Also on the Macmillan site there are 2 relaxation downloads which were helpful but the Positive Thinking cd I the one thing I do above all else that keeps me sane. We have to get through this and we have to believe, really believe, that we will. I hope this helps x