Hello Mountain H
I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It's understandable after all you've been through that you're feeling overwhelmed by things and the proposed treatment plan. 

We do have some information here on our website that may help to answer some of your questions but I'm going to suggest that you also give our team of nurses a call. I'm sure that talking to them will help to answer some of your questions and hopefully help you to ask the Consultant team about any further information so that you can make the right decision for you. They're available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 0808 800 4040. 

I hope this helps and that all goes smoothly. 
Best wishes, 
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator

Hi I expect you have had your op now. I hope u r doing well. I had a stoma created with plans to reverse it but I decided not to have reversal as I find the stoma easy to manage with little impact on my life. I like to travel and be busy and reversal risked bowel control issues and more hospital appointments which I didn't want. Mine was low rectal stage 3. I am now 2and a half years on and feel very well. I did alot of work to make my diet super healthy and try to reduce stress. All the best to u

Thank you for posting this positive response. My husband has just been diagnosed and we are waiting to find out the extent of it. 

Hi,

I just wanted to check up to see how you're doing. I was diagnosed with rectal cancer in January 4-5cm tumour which I'm waiting to be removed x

Such a positive story to read. Thanks for posting. I'm waiting for open surgery I was told I may have a temporary stoma. I'm petrified but just want this out of me now x

Hi 

Thank you so much for checking up on me, I am doing ok, healing takes time and needs a practical approach, I am really sorry about your diagnosis, where exactly is your tumour located?,  Please feel free to chat, what I realised is the more you discuss this condition with people who have undergone similar experiences the more comfortable the journey becomes

 Wishing you well in your journey 

Hi,

Its good to read that you're doing ok, we're similar age. I was told under 50 is very young and could be genetic so I will be tested for that too.  My tumour is in the lower rectum. I'm going straight for open surgery no radiotherapy first. They will test the lymph nodes after surgery to see whether I need chemo or not, it's just the waiting around for surgery that's stressful. 

Hi

were you given the choice about going straight for surgery? My husband was told he needed a stoma ( probably permanent) which has been done. Next he's having radiotherapy then four rounds of chemotherapy. Surgery was not mentioned as an option until after these other courses of treatment are completed 

thanks

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your husband. No I wasn't told of any other options whatsoever. I was told the best course of action was straight to surgery temporary loop Ileostomy and only chemotherapy if required. A friend of mine who I've met through forums had radiotherapy and chemotherapy and no surgery was needed because the treatments alone has cured her. I wish Id had have had  'options'.. best of luck to your husband x

Hi, 

i hope you're ok.

my dad was diagnosed with stage I adenocarcicoma moderately differentiated on Monday and he's now waiting for surgery. He may need chemo after and will have a temporary stoma. He will have a section of his rectum removed where both cancers were found. The Dr said since he had lots of polyps removed during his colonoscopy, many of them looked malign so that indicates that there's a genetic element which could potentially mean he could get cancer again. He's sending off the samples to the genetics lab as it will mean that me and my brothers will have to undergo a colonoscopy sooner than expected. We're all in our mid to late 30s my dad is 64. 
 

anyway, that's us dealing with this horrible desease. 
 

Take care!