Hi Beaumont44, 

I just wanted to say we are thinking of you during this stressful time. I guess the MDT meeting was today and I hope that you get an appointment soon to find out exactly what is going on. It's completely normal to be scared when dealing with all this uncertainty at the moment and after having been through all these tests. 

Let us know what you find out - you are not alone though and many members of our community have been through this before and will hopefully come and say hello soon and share their stories with you. While you are waiting, as there is nothing harder than waiting for a diagnosis, I thought I would share with you our helpful tips to help you cope while waiting for news. 

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Thankyou for your response , nothing today but hoping a phonecall in the morning x

Hi I can understand why your head must be all over the place it’s a lot to take in. They don’t know how far up the tumour is so you know you may need a temporary stoma or a permanent one. I know someone who had bowel cancer eight years ago and had to have a permanent stoma, but he is living a healthy cancer free life and said that it’s not his choice to have it but it has given him his life back. Please try and stay positive. Sending you hugs xxx

Bless you yes lots to take in and very over whelming.  Be positive unfortunately these things are out of our hands.  They will look after you.  Take care lots of love xx

Hi how are you and your daughter ? I've got op date for 7th ! Got lots to do 2 days before to get ready for it , it's daunting not knowing what I'm facing until I wake up ! Hope you all have a good Christmas..sending lots of love xx

Hi yes all good.  Wow all happening so quickly.  It is very daunting I am feeling anxious about my daughter’s scans and surgery.  It’s major surgery I guess? I just don’t know how she will manage after surgery with looking after willow.  I will need to take time off work to help.  I worry about the stoma bag, will she cope.  She has her 5th round of chemo on the 27 December final one on the 10th January.  You have a lovely Christmas, I will be thinking of you on the 7th.  Lots of love xx

Hi I’m glad you have a date for your operation. It is all very daunting but these surgeons are amazing at what they do. I will be thinking of you on the 7th. I started chemotherapy on Thursday so that no 1 finished and have second on 2nd January. I’ve been a bit wiped out with a little tingling in fingers when touching anything cold. I hope you have a lovely Christmas. Sending lots of love xxx

Hi yeah they def are amazing just hope I get the best outcome, the tingling from chemo was prob my worst side effect , but I got used to it obvs keeping hands warm etc , hope all goes well for you too , have a lovely Christmas, I will update after my op xxx

Hi I hope your daughter is doing ok and looking forward to Christmas with her daughter and you. I am staying positive and ticking off the chemotherapy from now until February 27th. Then it will be fingers crossed a date for the surgery. My niece is a doctor so is on hand for me with answering my constant questions. I hope you have a lovely Christmas. Lots of love xx

I’m pleased you have a date for surgery as it is something to focus on. I’m six months post surgery and with a stoma. It does take some getting used to but I’m sure you’ll manage. My stoma nurses are brilliant and I know I can always ring them if I need help. The thing I have found really helpful is the Colostomy UK website which has some really good free literature. Also I have joined the Colostomy uk facebook group and everybody on it has been so helpful and supportive even if you think you have a silly question. 
I hope you have a good Christmas and I’m happy to answer any questions if it helps. Take care. 

Hi thankyou for the advise I will keep it in mind, is your stoma permanent? Im just reading about it all again! Was your cancer low in rectum ? Xx

They have said my stoma is reversible but I’ve no idea how long I will have it for. As I had a sigmoid tumour which is not so low down it was quite advanced and my operation was 5 hours. 

They have said my stoma is reversible but I’ve no idea how long I will have it for. As I had a sigmoid tumour which is not so low down it was quite advanced and my operation was 5 hours. 

Oh that's good news , I just wish I knew then I can prepare but il deal with it , are you waiting to see if you are cancer free now? Not sure how that next bit works xxx

I had a follow up with both my consultant’s registrar who said my op was good. They removed all the tumour and also removed all lymph nodes near the bowel and no chancer detected in any of them so the chemo had obviously done its job. After talking to my oncologist we decided no further chemo was needed at this point. It’s a kind of limbo now waiting for first yearly checkup which I find quite scary. I’m just concentrating on trying to get my energy levels back up and I get frustrated. The best advice I was given is be kind to yourself and just do what you can. Just been out for meal with my husband so it can’t be bad. X

Did you have a good Christmas? My daughter had chemo today she is feeling pretty rough.  Had a bit of a melt down she was feeling very anxious xx

Hi it was a nice day yeah thankyou , had call from hospital today to go in on the 2nd for bloods and prep stuff before I go in on 7th , I had letters today too about the op , im back to square one I think with the anxiety I honestly feel so so scared for stoma bag and people are saying it will be fine ! I honestly don't feel that way at all , aww bless her hope she's feeling a bit better today , im scared now for surgery too ! Hope you're ok and had a good Christmas xx

Lovely Christmas.  I know my daughter is getting anxious about her surgery we just hope the tumour has shrunk enough x

When does she finish chemo ? Xx

Her last one is the 10 January she has scans booked for the 20th January.  Then I think maybe 2nd February appointments with her oncologist and surgeon xx

It's the not knowing again for me basically if the cancer is low down in rectum il have a permanent stoma ..if its higher they might be able to save my sphincter then I will have a temporary one but I won't know until I wake up! Xx

I am in a similar situation,I have a sigmoid tumour, found out at begining of December and have op for surgery booked on 8th Jan. I thought I was coping ok with it all till a few days ago when the enormity of it hit.  Not sure what I am scared the most about,the cancer or the thought of having a stoma for life. I will not know about the Stoma till I wake up from operation so feel out of control and not able to plan for after the op. Saw the stoma nurse yesterday so I could be armed with more information she was great and explained everything but still struggling to process the thought of having one. Am starting to get very nervous about the operation and feel like I am counting the days down to me never being the same person again as I am.now, does that sounds weird?!

I keep trying to remind myself at least I will be alive and hopefully cancer free afterwards.

Hope all goes well with everyones Chemo and operations.

Hi there , no does not sound weird at all I feel like in living my last days until life changes ! I also am scared as like you say you can't plan as no idea until I wake up ! I'm praying it's reversible all I can do at the minute I'm so scared , nurse was also lovely gave me a pack with stoma bag etc in to have a look at and get the feel for it..its still in the car ! I feel I've dealt with chemo and I will deal with surgery. But seems no end to it , obvs hoping to be cancer free , hope all goes well for you too....pls let me know and I will you xx