Hello Smarg and welcome, really sorry to hear your diagnosis. I was diagnosed 2 years ago, like you barely a symptom and 57yo saw my GP and 6 weeks later told i had terminal cancer and how long i may have left. Smarg it's an awful, emotional and stressful thing to try to understand and come to terms with, the early days being by far the worst. but you will find a way to move on, we all do, and starting your treatment will help with your emotions as you start to fight back against your cancer. I am 2 years on from you and life is still good, one or two minor issues but nothing that stops me getting on with life. I do have counselling which is a big help and most of my new friends, have lost a few old ones, made since my diagnosis have cancer but i find it so much easier talking to people who understand what you are going through. I see my condition as, treatable with a dash of denial. good luck with chemotherapy, take care.

Eddie

I just read your reply to smarg i have just been diagnosed with colon cancer and your words were also comforting to me , in this time of mixed emotions and feelings 

thank you 

Hi Gordgrc, Your very welcome. I see you are still at the testing and waiting for results stage, an awful time, the uncertainty can be overwhelming, but knowing and treatment starting does help emotionally, I hope your results are kind and good luck with treatment.

Eddie

I definitely have cancer i have been told , the thing is if i hadn’t seen blood and mucus on my stools i would be blissfully unaware because other than a feeling on my lower left hand side which i have only started noticing since i was told i could have cancer i feel as fit as a fiddle, but my tumour is 5 cm big , its like a silent assassin it creeps up on you without you knowing, i had a fit test in 2022 and that was normal, its scary stuff, i joined this chat today and reading other people’s experiences does help 

I definitely have cancer i have been told , the thing is if i hadn’t seen blood and mucus on my stools i would be blissfully unaware because other than a feeling on my lower left hand side which i have only started noticing since i was told i could have cancer i feel as fit as a fiddle, but my tumour is 5 cm big , its like a silent assassin it creeps up on you without you knowing, i had a fit test in 2022 and that was normal, its scary stuff, i joined this chat today and reading other people’s experiences does help 

Sorry Gordgrc i didn't mean to imply you have not got cancer, i was referring to good luck that your cancer has been caught early, take care. Eddie

I know i think i have just worded it wrong i understood what you meant i seem to be going through a phase semi panic and repeating myself , your story gives me hope , i hope you stay fit and well for as long as you can 

Hi Gordgrc, i didn't mean to suggest you havn't got cancer i only meant it in respect of position, ie large bowel or rectum so sorry for any confusion. When i was diagnosed my only symptom was getting up at night to go to the loo once or twice as i was 57 i put it down to old age, though to be honest my cancer type and variant are so aggressive catching it really early would have not changed the outcome, also i  can't have chemo or surgery as my heart would fail, have had HT+RT and still feel ok physically with just a few emotional times.

Eddie

No worries Eddie i knew you wasn’t suggesting that, my cancer just creeped up on me , no real symptoms still don’t feel ill , i wish you luck with your cancer but not sure what good it will unfortunately, i will be thinking about you on your journey, i will let you know my outcome once i know i am hoping they can do something but everything seems to work so slow 

HI Gordric I was in healthcare for 15 years of which 5 were in cancer care, retired early 2019 and the advances in cancer treatments from just 5 years ago are amazing, and not just cancer care, new developments in anaesthetics have allowed me to have 4 "minor" heart Op's recently so my heart may cope with certain chemotherapy drugs, so there's hope for us all.

Eddie