Hi Hayley, sorry to hear your news im julie I'm 36 and was diagnosed with bowel cancer in January, I have had the right side of my colon removed and am currently waiting to start cycle 5 of 8 chemo treatments as cancer cells were found in three of the 27 lymph glands that were taken and one blood vessel, I hope your treatment goes well, keep in touch julie x  I

Thanks julie x hearing all your stories is helping me greatly x  

Has anyone else in your family had bowel cancer as my mum had the same thing 6 years ago had the op and some chemo and radiotherapy and has been pretty much discharged now x hers was only in the bowel it hadn't spread anywhere else. 

Also if you don't mind me asking what your symptoms were as I didn't have any bowel symptoms I just started with some vague pain under my right ribs . To be honest I thought I had probably got gallstones . 

My kids are 22 and 19 and both at uni but they will be home for the summer soon and they better not bring any uni bugs with them

Speak again soon hayley x

Hi Dan,

Sorry to hear it's not been going all that well for you. I'm on treatment called Capecitabine which is an IV for 4.5 hours every 3rd Thursday and 5 tablets, morning and night for 2 weeks. I then have a week off to recover. I haven't found chemo as bad as I expected to be honest. The only side effects I have suffered are a little bit of tiredness and slight constipation. 

I have had some positive news from the Oncologist this week, the Cancer is not as aggressive as first thought so I'm eligible for a further drug which "may" help shrink the tumours on my liver leading to an op! That's what I will be focusing on and keeping a positive mental attitude.

Ive bought myself a decent ear thermometer to keep track of my temperature as the nurse recommended getting one. 

I hope that that you are feeling better soon mate and just drop me a line if you need a chat!

Cheers

Lee

Hi Lee 

That sounds like really positive news x

I have also been diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer this week. I haven't seen a surgeon or oncologist as yet but things are in motion.

Have you had a pic line put in for your IV chemo or are they using a cannula ?

Hayley x

Hi lee I also have the capecitabine in tablet form for 2 wks and oxaliplatin at the hospital through iv for 2 hrs every third wk, glad your tolerating the treatment well :0) take care julie 

Yes my grandad had bowel when he was 50 so I have been referred for some genetic testing, I'm just waiting to hear back from them. I had no bowel symptoms at all!! My tumour was in the right side of my colon where things are still watery so the surgeon thinks this is why I had no problems, my only symptom was being anaemic which I have been goin to the Drs with for around 18 mths The first time I saw the bowel surgeon he said he was happy to leave me alone because I had no symptoms and because of my age for me to call him if anything changed he then phoned me back about 3 days later he had a little niggle and would I go for a colonoscopy just to rule out any problems thank god he did!! He may have just saved my life! Or at least give me chance to see my children grow up! 

I hate the cannula its the worst thing about the whole experience! My veins are rubbish and it takes 4 or 5 goes to get one in :0/ if I wasn't half way through I would defo ask for a line x 

I also have the cannula but will be swap pining to the PICC line after this next treatment. 

Im really sorry to hear of your diagnosis Hayley, I was in surgery within 24hrs as I had a blockage in my bowel and it eventually perforated! Scary times. I find that having a positive attitude helps a great deal. 

Hope all goes well

Lee

I am so saddened to hear of your prognosis - when I was over 60yrs old I did the old poo on the stick& went for colonoscopies to be told I had a maliganant tumour in my rectum - no problems at all so one of my specialists told me to have my bowel removed & have a colostomy bag but because of my lifestyle ..I thoght no way so had a second opinion & told my surgeon 'lets go for it '  - I was told if it went wrong because so close to my vaginal wall ...I could be pooing out of my vagina so agreed with the operation & have never looked back - ok the radiotherapy was horrendous - my nether regions were totally frizzled - but I am now taking my dogs for a walk  & feel great - is that because I love my life - I do not know - my partner for over 30 years died of kidney failure so I enjoy every day !!!

Please keep positive !!!!