Saw the surgeon today, a week ahead of my surgery. Whilst I knew I was grade 3 tumour before and after chemo I was a bit shocked to hear that I’ve got N3 also following chemo and shown on post chemo scan along with a narrowing in my bowel. Surgeon seems confident that surgery and mop up chemo will be successful but pointed out the downside too.
I am so frightened but know all I can do is put my trust in the team.
Thank you all for being here as a vehicle for voicing my innermost fears. Xx
Hi Deeedals, What you are going through is really scary and as much as people tell you to stay positive it is easier said than done. Try to put your faith in your team and what they are telling you. I trusted my team and over eight and a half years later life is good. Yours can be too.
Best Wishes, James.
Hi it is scary times are they going to do the bowel at the same time? Scans are soo precise I found out I had many organs in the wrong place called multispenia. My op was supposed to be more complicated but the op was fine. I am 5years on. I had 2 teams on hand incase they couldn't pull the stomach up they were going to use part of my bowel as an oesophagus.
Wishing you a good end result.
Debbie
Hi Deeedals, I had lymph nodes that were affected 2-3 down the line from the tumour site, I didn't want to know what it was called just if they thought I had a chance. 11 years on I'm still here and my surgeon was right. It is scary and I admit if my cousin hadn't come with me to the appointment for surgery I might well have walked away. I have everything crossed for you and sending you strength and calm. Just keep eating as much as you can to put weight on and get as fit as possible before the op
If you want to do something Make a list of a few Suckable nibbles you like ie chocolate buttons, soft fruit compote, Ritz crackers, Jaffa cakes, dairy Lea Triangels quavers, pates, soft cheese, yoghurt, your visitor can bring it in when you are allowed soft foods, . Things that will dissolve in your mouth for when you can try soft foods in hospital a kids lunch bag with ice packs in worked for me. Hospital food then was a bit too much and the portions way too big. I found orange or lemon squash was too acid for me too, strawberry Ribina was my go to and ginger ale. A friend was in to elderflower and sparkling mineral water. The doc suggested pineapple or guava juice as it has enzymes that help digestion once I started nibbling, Plain water just didn't encourage me to drink it when I was allowed sips of fluid and for some reason coffee and tea were not appealing either for a few months. Big hug stay safe
Bless you. Yes put your trust in the medics. Its a rough time for you but you will prevail. Thinking of you, chin up and best foot forward you can do this.
Trust & listen to the medical team. Post-op physio will be important in your recovery & prepare you for the chemo to come. You'll get through it. Good luck.
Completely normal for you to be scared, I was petrified and even waiting to go into surgery I wanted to get up and run!
Trust your team, lean on your support system and lots of praying.
It’s a huge surgery and big recovery but all worth it to keep living. I had really bad complications for months but still all worth it. My favourite quote going into this was Churchill’s.
When you are going through hell, keep going. I used to wake up in ICU ( I spent 57 days there) take a look around and say to myself ‘keep going’ before I would drift back into oblivion.
Best of luck and keep going!
Awaiting Surgery
Is it normal to have Chemo before and after surgery
Surgery or not!
Post Surgery - histology found cancer cells in lymph nodes
