Giday OST I was diagnosed as stage 3 just on four years ago. Had a check up just recently and was told I am cancer free. Had the surgery and chemo/radiation but I am still here to tell my story.

Also others with stage 4 will tell their stories and they have been here longer than me. Being told you have cancer no longer means you definetly have a death sentence there is plenty of hope.

Will put you friend on my prayer list, G8

I was just diagnosed with Stage 3 as well positive in only 1 lymph node, my CT scan showed it was only in the colon thank goodness for that, my oncologist is very positive that I will make a full recovery after 6 months of chemo, I had surgery a little over a month ago to remove 12 inches of my colon. I have had 1 chemo treatment so far, and today I feel great. It is a lot to handle mentally, your friend is so very young and I'm sure very healthy otherwise so this alone increases her chances. Good luck to you and your friend, just be there for her that is what she needs right now.

There are one or two others here that are that young, however colon cancer at that age is unusual, your friend may want to get checked for FAP (Familial adenomatous polyposis) and possibly Lynch syndrome, these are two conditions that might cause colon cancer at an early age.

as the others have said, cancer is not necessarily a death sentence, and this is one of the cancers that can be cured with surgery and chemo if not spread to other organs, i was dx stage 3 last feb, had a resection ( they cut out the cancerous bit and join the two ends together) that was all done keyhole hopefully she wont need a stoma, as she is a young lady for this kind of cancer, i am now all clear and getting back on with my life. best wishes to you both, true friends are priceless at this time, and she will need you for support as the early stages of her cancer can be very scary, i will put her in my prayers, and good luck for the surgery.

I am 58 and was diagnosed last year. I had surgery followed by 6 months of chemo, which was no where near as bad as I had expected. your friend is young and strong.
I am still here and living alone, driving, and taking my grandkids out to eat.
I will pray for your friend, she is lucky to have someone like you who cares so much. BJ

Thank you all so much for your encourageing words! I feel a little better now. I sitll have not heard exactly when she will have her surgery but I know it will be today or tomorrow, she is on an emergency list. She has a lot of family support too, both her mom and dad are with her now. She lives 6 hours away from me and I feel so completely useless. My hubby and I are going down in two weeks, but I want to be there now.
Markarina, I will tell her about getting tested for Lynch syndrome and FAP, thank you for that advise.
They were told that she would have to have a stoma and wear a bag for a while anyway. I know that will suck for her.
I am glad her doctors are acting fast tho, they said it is growin fast, apparantly is has gone from stage 2 to stage 3 in less than a month. That sounds fast to me but I am not that educated about it.
Thank you all again for your well wishes and prayers..

I am a professor at a local college and one of my very young students (in her 20's) had told me she had a colostomy bag (ulcerated colitis) for a while but eventually didn't need it. Sorry, I don't have the specifics but want to let you know that your friend isn't alone.

Always sorry to hear about young people dealing with illness. I was dx'd 2009 stage 3 - I have my Oncology appt tomorrow, mostly a quick check up followed by hugs and high fives. Hoping the same for your friend and you.
Best wishes for a smooth surgery. Lot's of support here throughout the journey.
MPNC

So, more news on my friend. She had to get a colostomy (spelling?) bag. It sounds like she will have it for life. They still have to operate to remove the mass growing in her rectum but they have to shrink it first. Apparently all of the doctors she is dealing with are having a conference tomorrow to determine her course of treatment. This poor kid has really been sent on a roller coaster ride, however it really seems like she has good doctors treating her which is good. She is still in the hospital. I feel so useless, I can't be there, :(
My husband and I are going down on the long weekend in May for sure to see them all.