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Colon Cancer stage 3 - new to site & scared

CindyUKNZ
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Hi everyone, just want to say hello and see if anyone else is going through a similar experience.

A couple of weeks ago I had a right hemicolectomy due to a polyp that turned into an adenocarinoma. On Friday I was told that 3 lymph nodes had shown signs of the cancer and that I now have to go through chemo for six months.

I'm really scared and depressed. I live alone with no support, one good friend who doesn't drive and my only family member left lives abroad.  I work for myself so if I can't work I earn nothing. I also lost my Mum, step Dad and family home this year and have had not time to grieve so have no secure ground under me.  

I see the oncologist on Thursday. 

I wonder if anyone else out there has a similar diagnosis and willing to share thoughts and mutual support?  I'm struggling not to think my life is over and I'm pretty terrified of chemo side effects which I know vary but it's hard not to see it as poison rather than a cure.

Thanks for reading and above all good luck to every one of you whether you are a supporter or sufferer.

Cindy 

 

 

 

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    hi Cindy sad to hear about ur news unfortunately this cancer is something i'm familiar with my sis was diagnosed some time ago with stage 4 bowel cancer

     

    for what i understand it´s treatable if caught early for us this wasn't the case though so make sure u ask ur doc about staging, etc, etc take notes bfore ur appointment that helps not to forget anything u want to ask

     

    if u want to talk i'm here

     

    good luck for thursday

     

    Sandy xx

     

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    Hi Cindy,

    Your news is relatively good - though it may not seem that way at the moment. The earlier it is caught the better and though stage three is pretty scary, it means that e cancer hasn't had chance to spread very far. 

    Chemo is a necessary evil, a means to an end, not very pleasant but worth the hassle if it helps get the cancer under control. Most of us get wound up thinking about it, then feel a sense of anti-climax when it starts literally asking "is that it?" Yes, chemo is a poison but so is alcohol, aspirin and every other drug that you might take. Try to avoid Googling and visiting the more extreme anti-chemo/conventional medicine websites. There are literally millions of people alive today because of chemo - I am one of them. 

    You might want to contact your local MacMillan service and have a chat with their benefits advisor about what benefits you might qualify for. If you qualify for PIP you will get it regardless of whether or not you are working as it isn't means tested. 

    I hope everything goes well for you. 

    Best wishes

    Dave

     

  • Offline in reply to sandy.w

    Hi Sandy, thank you so much for your reply.  I am so very sorry to hear about your sister.  My sister is trying to support me and we've been so much that I actually feel bad putting more stress on her.  I really feel for both those going through cancer and those, like you, who are trying to support loved ones with it. 

    I'm trying to remain positive and talking to people really does help.

    I value and appreciate your reply and am so sorry for your sister.  Wishing you the best of luck (and miracles) too.

    C :) x

  • Offline in reply to davek

    Hi Dave,

    Really appreciate your reply and very glad you are alive today because of Chemo.

    I'm trying hard not to jump the gun on my diagnosis but it's pretty hard not to Google it when waiting for information but I like hearing the words 'relatively good'  - that gives me some hope.  I am also avoiding the extreme websites and sticking to the MacMillan one and proper cancer society pages that give practical stories rather than hypotheticals.

    Interesting that you said things like Aspirin etc. are also poisons - i truly had never thought of that and it helps to give a bit of perspective on the chemo thing.  

    Thanks for taking the time to chat.  I hope that you are well and have overcome yours now.

    Best wishes back, 

    C :)

     

  • Offline in reply to CindyUKNZ

    No worries - a doctor once told me that if Aspirin was invented today it would be prescription only. This Wikipedia article is quite scary - en.m.wikipedia.org/.../Aspirin_poisoning

    :-)

     

  • Offline in reply to CindyUKNZ

    thank U for ur kind reply Cindy my heart goes out to u and ur sister

     

     i'm really and truly hoping everythng will turn out ok for u many cases do u know don't give up hope and fight all u can  

     

    virtual hugs

     

    Sandy xx

     

     

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