Hi Jo,

Was sorry to read that you've been struggling this week, but remember to be kind to yourself, you've been through an awful lot and struggling is allowed.  Glad to hear that the pre-op went well, albeit the embarrasing changing moment!  I hope that now you've got an actual date for your op you are feeling a bit more focused, nothing worse than waiting.  Thinking of you and sending you a virtual hug.  Hope x

Hi Jo, glad to hear that you have the date for your surgery - Nov. 7th. Somehow there is comfort in knowing when things will take place so you can focus on planning what you need to do before that date. Until you have that date, your thoughts are all over the garden path when trying to plan for it. I reviewed your posts, but I'm still unsure of your upcoming surgery. Is this abdominal surgery that you will have on the 7th? You mentioned lung surgery, but it doesn't sound like this one is on your lung. Is there a plan for lung surgery later on? Have you had lung surgery in the past? I know, I know, I should do my research of your posts, but its' just much easier to have you clarify it on here. LOL

Jo, I think you and I are on a very similar path with this cancer journey. Like you, I have had colon cancer surgery, (although I don't have a colostomy - yet!) I had surgery for lung cancer 2 years ago, and of course, now, unlike you, I have bladder cancer, (unrelated to my colon and lung cancer, which were/are related). When I was diagnosed with colon cancer, I couldn't tolerate the chemo either, and in fact, they had to stop the treatment because it would have killed me before the cancer would have. I'm having a PET scan soon because there is concern that my lung cancer has come back. So far, my liver seems to be okay, although the PET scan could prove otherwise.

As I reviewed your posts (some of them, I confess) I just got this eerie feeling that there are very common threads to our cancer journey here. When were you first diagnosed, and I believe that would have been your colon cancer? Its' been almost 5 years for me, (colon cancer Dec. 2009) Is it that long for you, or longer than that? It seems like eternity that I have been dealing with this, but I guess I have a lot to be thankful for - I'm still alive.

I'll certainly be thinking of you on Nov. 7th and wish you the best for the outcome. I know you said at one point there that you are treatable, but not curable. That's where I am as well. I look forward to hearing after your surgery that all is well. Take care and get all rested up and stay away from the sneezes and sniffles.

Hugs. XXXX

Lorraine 

Thank you Hope, Jules and Lorraine for your latest responses.

You're all right with thinking that now I've got my date, my mind is more focused and less all over the place! It's almost as if I need that boundary of time to focus on what I need to get done before my next trip into Hotel NHS!

Hope, thanks for the virtual hug! Presumably, you're on half term hols this week? Hope you've got some treats planned. I think a few lie-ins or rest and relaxation days are called for too, in readiness for the next half term and the run up to Christmas! I'm disappointed to be missing out on it again this year! But as I'm not on chemo, I can pop into school and enjoy watching the children from the sidelines! (Though I will feel guilty looking at my frazzled colleagues!) x

Jules, my dad loved his cake. It really was a bit 'cobbled' as I cheated and used a shop made Madeira cake which I then embellished with chocolate sticks and wafer thin mints (not sure we're allowed to advertise on here!) and it was meant to look like a shed! (My dad has this thing about sheds!)

It looked a bit more like a log cabin, but he was delighted with it! Easily pleased! His actual 70th is on the 8th, but as I will probably be reclining on a ward somewhere, we brought his Birthday forward and had a brunch, a dog walk and a shed cake! x

Lorraine, grab a cup of tea, this is a long ramble! 

Our journeys do sound similar don't they? I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in April 2013, and had chemo radiotherapy for 5 weeks, then in September 2013 had my bowel resection. I had 'belt and braces' chemo but like you, it really didn't suit me at all so had to stop. Then in Feb of this year, scans showed 3 liver tumours so I was put on a Watch and wait for 3 months. The next scans in May now showed a lung hotspot too!

I had a liver resection in June and the next step would have been to have a lung resection, but the follow up scans after the liver op, showed new hotspots in my abdomen and pelvis! These new pesky little blighters will be removed in the op on the 7th and depending on what the surgeon discovers when he operates(or the pathology of the tumours) this will determine whether a lung resection is the appropriate next step.

In the meantime, I also keep meeting up with my colorectal surgeon and he's given me the 'good to go' with the stoma reversal op, (had all the investigations to see if my bowel surgical site has healed) but this is a low priority procedure in the scheme of things, so 'Stumpy' the stoma gets to live for a few more months!

When I look back, it's only been (only been!) 19 months from diagnosis to here, but it seems so much longer (as others will probably testify) and life has seemingly revolved around cancer forever! For you, Lorraine, it's been so much longer - But as you say, we're here, being well looked after by our medical teams and like you I have much to be thankful for!

Sorry for the long ramble, Lorraine! But hope it saves you trawling about on here!

I hope your PET scan goes ok and that they don't keep you waiting too long before the results are available. (Our PET scan service, (private company) delivers results in two working days to the requesting surgeon, but it's often an additional wait to get a clinic appointment to hear them!)

Keep in touch x

Sending Love and hugs to you all, Jo xx

Dear Jo and Lorraine

I've seen many of your posts and I have commented from time to time. However, I've just read your "stories" and I wanted to say that your cheerfulness and positivity is inspiring. I'm sure you both have your bad days (which is understandable) but your positive comments really do help others.

Good luck with the op, Jo!

Debbie

Hi there Jo and thanks for the summary of your journey with this terrible disease. I really appreciate you taking the time to recall all those events for me, so I didn't have to trace back to figure it out for myself. There really are similarities in our journeys, but still different in some ways. I have been into this longer than you have, but what's a few years between friends. Talking about years between friends; I am also qute a bit older than you, not that I know your age, but you are still working, so I'm guessing in your forties or fifties. I've been "officially retired"  for ten years, but I had a private practice for a few years after I retired and would still have it if I was well.

I'll be thinking about you on the 7th when you go for your surgery and wish you the best outcome. Until then, don't over do it. Get rested up so you're able to recuperate faster and easier after the surgery.

Take care.

Lorraine  

Hi Debbie, thank you for your kind words. You are right that I have bad days, (I can't speak for Jo on this) and the encouragement I get from others on here, (Jo included) are a big help to me during those times. I guess that's what this forum is all about - helping you, helps me and vice versa. Just knowing that I'm not on this journey alone, not that I'd ever wish this on anyone, takes away some of the "isolation" of it because it is a lonely journey. Certainly our loved ones try to help, but often they just don't understand. Besides, they have their own struggles with trying to deal with it. It will be a red letter day when a cure for cancer is found.

Take care.

Lorraine 

Hi Jo

Hope the half term means lots of lie ins/relaxation for you.  The shed cake was a great invention rather than a 'cobbled attempt' -  thats not cheating but innovation (whereas I rely on the bakers in our family or shop buy!!!).  I am sure you will be getting plenty of tlc leading up to your op but like all your forum buddies wish you well and will be thinking of you on the 7th.  Not sure what day she goes away but Hope is going away during half term and will hopefully find plenty of sun and 'wind down' time prior to coping with the children in the build up to Christmas next term.  Our eldest has his 6th birthday at the end of November so he is already excited!!!  Virtual hugs and here to listen any time.Jules xx

Hey Jo

Seems that 7th will be a fact finding mission for both of us as this is the day that im having my contrast enema to see if i have healed well and can have my stoma reversed.

I must admit that i am looking forward to returning to work on the run up to christmas, our children too get excited as i work in a Junior School, and the magic is still there (year 5 are at the stage where they have doubts about santa but dont want to admit it just incase he doesnt come   )

we take teach year group on a trip to the Geman Market (in Birmingham)  Our choir also make visits to the local old folkes homes to sing some carols.  I always accompany the children on activities as they were my idea and they have now become somewhat of a tradition (10 years on)

Anyway, i will keep my fingers crossed for you on the 7th, until then, enjoy half term and keep well   

Hi Debbie,

Ah, thanks for your kind words. I'm definitely with Lorraine in that I too do have low days, but they tend to be when I'm overtired. This forum ( and the wonderful folks on it) has certainly been a saviour many times, knowing its a place where others understand how you're feeling.

You always send out positive vibes in your posts, Debbie (Ive seen many a supportive comment from you on various threads!) and reading your story, you've been through the grinder too!

The news about Access on the Branchial Cyst thread has saddened me. I've been a follower rather than a contributor on that thread. I did hijack Nicola's thread though, way back when she first posted, even though our cancers are anatomically, poles apart. I'm sure this is where we first 'met' Debbie.

Thanks for the good luck wishes too. It's strange, but even though this surgery is far simpler than the rest, I'm more anxious about it! I think it's the fear of what they'll find! Ever the optimist eh?

Take care, Jo xx