Hi everyone,
Thought I'd post my latest update in this topic area as oppose to tagging it on to my thread in the 'Introduce Yourself' area.
I saw the Colorectal surgeon today for the results of my scans and the next step with regard to surgery.
He told me that the radiotherapy and chemotherapy hadn't shrunk the tumour as much as he'd have liked, but sufficiently to still operate.
An added complication was the fact that the scan also showed that I have a tennis ball sized fibroid in my uterus, which will hinder the surgery, so I will have to have a hysterectomy too ; gynaecologist in first, colorectal surgeon next - like a tag team! ( I may sound flippant, but I am struggling a bit with all this!)
Also have to have my cervix removed and top end of my other lady bits! (Sorry to the men reading this!) (Scan showed I also have gall stones and cysts on my liver! But these are not a problem!)
I listened to the list of 'parts' the surgeon said he was going to remove, wondering if there'd be much of me left!
I looked down at my body and said " It's amazing how much is going on in there!" Bear in mind I'm the size of Kylie Minogue! He did say I made his job easier by being so slender!
He'll take out a section of lower bowel and join it to the the section of rectum that will remain after he's taken the tumour out of there!
I'll have an ileostomy (as correctly predicted by Beaker) which may or may not be reversible in a few months time. And I may need more chemo after surgery; this depends on the pathology report on the section of bowel that will be removed.
So . . . We're now planning a 'pre-op' holiday (the hospital have kindly organised a pre-op assessment for tomorrow so that we can go anytime between now and the operation on September 17th.)
Another 'bright side' moment; when I was diagnosed and had my treatments, my lovely colleagues wanted to do something to support me other than the usual flowers and cards. so they have organised a sponsored walk to raise money for the local cancer hospital where I had my radio/chemo and it's due to take place on September 15th, and I'll be able to go along and add my support!
So many positives, but still can't help feeling a bit all over the place! All aboard the cancer roller coaster eh?
Hope everyone else is ok?
Love to all, Meerkat xx
