A new journey has begun

[wavedancers]

I'm in the UK. I started noticing bright red blood in the toilet late last summer and was told it was haemorrhoids. I had no issues with the yearly stool test, so I treated them at home. Then the pain started with passing hard stools that were too much to ignore, so I went to my GP, who found a lump just inside my back passage and referred me urgently to the Colorectal Team. The consultant seemed quite concerned, so a biopsy was ordered. This was performed on 31 January, and in the recovery room, the surgeon said it was cancer and was "big, hard and angry." He ordered a full body CT and pelvic MRI, which, by phoning the appointment booking team daily, I was able to get within a week. He said there would be two possibilities... "chemo & radiation or a "BIG" operation." He didn't give any more information.

Now comes the waiting. The MDT is supposed to meet on Mondays, so I hope my situation has been discussed. The pain is about a 6 out of 10 most of the time, with spikes to 8. I am taking Tramadol and Co-comadol and of course, have to take laxatives daily now. I've not been assigned an oncologist and have no idea what to expect going forward.

Can anyone clue me in on their experiences?

[Dino12345]

Things should happen fairly quickly once the teams have discussed your case. They should also know the full results of your biopsies by then. My cancer was in my colon and had grown so big it was a full blockage. I had surgery first to remove also 2ft of bowel. Then 4 weeks later mate my oncology team and started chemotherapy 2 weeks later.

It sounds like they are deciding to try and shrink your tumour first or to operate to remove it.

So sorry you've had to start this journey.

It's rough but rideable

[wavedancers in reply to Dino12345]

Bless you 💜 The waiting is so hard right now, but I realise that once it all starts, it will be a roller coaster! I hope you are doing okay now ~

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator]

Hi wavedancers,

Thanks for posting with us. I hate to hear about situation.

Summary of my journey … I was stage 4 colon cancer in 2012. My tumor was almost completely blocking my ascending colon. I had a CT scan, 2 days later I was in front of a surgeon telling me “that’s coming out and it’s coming out now”. I had my first colonoscopy the next day. A couple of days after that I had partial collectomy surgery to remove all my ascending colon and half of my transverse colon. I spent 8 days in the hospital, I met my Oncologist while in the hospital recovering. Before starting chemo at my first cancer center , I had genetic testing and found I was hereditary with Lynch Syndrome ( MSI-h, dMMR, MLH1). After 2 years of chemo, a clinical trial found me because I had done the genetic testing. The trial was with an immunotherapy drug that saved my life.

I like Dino12345 comments … you’re on a journey. “It’s rough but rideable “❤️👍💪🧬

[wavedancers in reply to GCCA-Survivor]

Thanks so much 🙏 I’m so sorry that you had to go thru that… what an incredibly strong soul you are! Are you in the uk? This waiting for the NHS, though I am so very grateful for it, is mind-breaking 🥺

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator in reply to wavedancers]

Ugh … I am in the US. We have our issues as well, but I do see so many having issues navigating the NHS. It definitely drives up the stress. I hope they get you sorted out soon👍💪❤️

Please keep us up on how things are going.👍