Hi Jo,

Like you I've had recently had a tumour removed from my sigmoid colon and am waiting to start chemo next week. Also came as a shock to me- no major symptoms, no family history and mainly the fact that I'm only 23...doctors can't believe it. Trying to remain positive! Best of wishes for you in your journey :)

x

Hi rmstyles04, 

23 is very young to be diagnosed. Thank goodness it was detected rather than you being told you are too young. Have you seen the campaign #nevertooyoung? 

I hope you made a good recovery from the surgery and I wish you all the best with the chemo. What are you going to receive? 

Jo

I was told i was too young for cancer, ive probably had it for years as its stage 4 for me and spread to my lymph nodes and liver. I'm only 28 and was first diagnosed with vitamin D defficiency and a fever after blood tests showed a raised CRP. I only really noticed it due to coughing as my liver was so enlarged and pressing against my diaphragm along with a regular fever. It wasnt until i had another fever and my partner forced me to go to A&E where they then did an ultrasound and CT scan and then a colonoscopy to discover primary bowel with secondary liver. 

My oncologist said if i had waited another few weeks i wouldnt have been able to start chemo and it would jist be pallative care. No surgery for me as its stage 4 but im still pushing for it. Ive been in hospital a lot which means my chemo has sometimes been delayed by a week quite a few times as i havent been well enough for it.

I feel terrible most of the time but when my chemo is delayed by a week i have a good week! I have cycle 7 next week out of 12 and then maintenance 5fu for a year. After that a break and then repeat i guess... 

If you look at the drugs in FOLFOX two were inventrd in thr 50's and 60's whilst oxiplatin was in the 90's. Im surprised a newer better drug hasnt been developed yet...

Hi Jo, 

only started the treatment on Tuesday- main side effects seem to be nausea and tiredness, both manageable so far but just take every day as it comes. The treatments apparently easier in the early stages. When do you start your treatment? 

X

Still waiting for the appointment with the oncologist. Expecting to get a letter next week. Also I have now been staged post operatively as stage B or stage 2 so I don't even know if chemo will be an option or not. 

I've just been diagnosed with a tumour in my large bowel. CT scan and MRI show no spread. Surgery this week and I will have a temporary bag. Histology of tumour and lymph nodes after 10 days will determine if Chemo is required. Like you it came as a total shock. Was expecting IBS.

Hi spc 

yes I was shocked to receive the diagnosis! I thought I just had piles! 

My surgery was really successful and although I  was marked up for a bag prior to the surgery I didn't need one as my surgeon managed to resect my bowel I spent 6 days in hospital and 6 weeks on I now feel great. 

I hope your op and recovery go as well as mine did. 

Hi Seasider Hope it goes as well as mine did. I am now waiting for an appointment with an oncologist to discuss the need( or not) for chemo. Jo

Hi Jo, thank you for the good wishes.  Once I am back home I will let you know how I've got on.

good luck with the Oncologist

Cath

Hello all, my little story is I was being treated for piles - blood in stool often, no other symptoms, but as a fitness fanatic I was running in 2016 and needed the loo after a mile jog. Went back to gp and got referred for check for piles, found a tumour in bowel. Usual scans etc staged t3 n2 m0. Five weeks chemoradio then surgery in October. Informed no signs of cancer and didn't need further chemo etc. Have a temporary stoma and today told after dye test that bowel is healed so hope for reversal soon.

upshot if all of this is that folk shouldn't be fobbed off if you feel something is not right, that treatment these days is amazing and we can survive this. For further information I'm doing video blogs about my experience - it's on YouTube titles Beating Bowel Cancef with Fitness. Hope it's useful. Love to all.

Hi all best wishes to all of you, I'd like to try to give something positive to you, and share some things that I believe helped me.

My story, I am now 4 years 9 months since having a diagnosis of Bowel cancer with mets on my lungs, I was 49 and it was a horrible shock when I found out. I had operations on my bowel & both lungs & 2 courses of chemo with Bevacizumab, my last operation was in December 2013. Currently I have no detectable signs of cancer and hoping it stays that way.

I tried to look at all the ways I could influence the outcome.

I tried to find the best place to get treated (NHS), having confidence in the medical team looking after you is really important & you have a right to choose.

I had low Vitamin D before my diagnosis (like Robunknownuser above) I have been taking vitamin D ever since. I'd advise asking your medical team if it is ok for you to take as there are studies that show that Vitamin D is helpful both in treatment of & prevention of bowel cancer you can google them.

I think trying to be positive really helped, I read a book called "How the mind can heal the body" it was a bit ying & yang in places but it had lots of helpful ways to try and focus your thoughts & ways to deal with how you maybe feeling.

I made time to try to do things I enjoyed with family & friends

I changed my diet, I now eat many more vegetables, much less red meat & less processed food, reduced the amount of alchohol I drink.

I increased the amount of excercise I take & used excercise to help with recovery after operations.

I really feel these things helped me so I hope some of this is useful to you

take care

Hi all best wishes to all of you, I'd like to try to give something positive to you, and share some things that I believe helped me.

My story, I am now 4 years 9 months since having a diagnosis of Bowel cancer with mets on my lungs, I was 49 and it was a horrible shock when I found out. I had operations on my bowel & both lungs & 2 courses of chemo with Bevacizumab, my last operation was in December 2013. Currently I have no detectable signs of cancer and hoping it stays that way.

I tried to look at all the ways I could influence the outcome.

I tried to find the best place to get treated (NHS), having confidence in the medical team looking after you is really important & you have a right to choose.

I had low Vitamin D before my diagnosis (like Robunknownuser above) I have been taking vitamin D ever since. I'd advise asking your medical team if it is ok for you to take as there are studies that show that Vitamin D is helpful both in treatment of & prevention of bowel cancer you can google them.

I think trying to be positive really helped, I read a book called "How the mind can heal the body" it was a bit ying & yang in places but it had lots of helpful ways to try and focus your thoughts & ways to deal with how you maybe feeling.

I made time to try to do things I enjoyed with family & friends

I changed my diet, I now eat many more vegetables, much less red meat & less processed food, reduced the amount of alchohol I drink.

I increased the amount of excercise I take & used excercise to help with recovery after operations.

I really feel these things helped me so I hope some of this is useful to you

take care

Hi 

Sorry to jump on your post - i was just wondering if anyone had been diagnosed whilst having normal blood tests? 

My Dr is reluctant to refer me due to my CRP and CA125 levels being low - at 9 & 5 which is great but ive been so poorly with Blood, bloating, stomach upsets ( 7-10 x a day) abdominal pain and a dodgy left hip. Im 35 and being told its likely just to be IBS but im worried.

Thanks

Sally x