Welcome...sorry we had a pretty active group at one time..the new site was not the only issue, I agree with you...people are just a bit afraid to share. We are all on the journey and certainly can help each other along the way.

Giday LD sorry about the late reply, the wife and I have been living the dream. I am not sure about this new site and still find it difficult to navigate around it.

I know you said your treatment is about to start have you spoken with the team and aware of what the plan. Like you I was scared when I was first diagnosed but found it helpful to know what was happening and what they hoped to achieve.

Wishing you well, G8

I'm sorry also for my late reply, this group isn't very active but I do try and stop in at times. Very sorry you are here but just know that with treatment you can get better, it takes awhile but is doable. Like you I was scared and still get that way when its time for another scan. Take one day at a time and do what you enjoy. You will be in my thoughts and prayers for a good outcome. Please let us know how you are doing. Big (((hugs)))

Welcome and sorry for the reason you're here!*hugs* I hope that your treatment goes well!*hugs*

I too have been recently diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer. I am on day 17 of chemo and radiation. So far so good. Taking it one day at a time and one section of this journey at a time. Surgery next followed by chemo for 4-6 months,,,,,praying for all

scared as well. hang in there

Hi, I am here, although I am not on very often I try to check in once every few weeks. I have rectal cancer as well. I did 40 days of Xelodo (Chemo) and radiation. Then on September 27th I had surgery so I am still recuperating from that. I had some colon removed although I don't remember how much because I was still medicated when the surgeon talked to me :) I will see him next week and ask again. I do know they removed it and that my lymph nodes were clear. They also had to reconstruct my rectum, so I have a temporary Illeostomy bag. On Monday I am having a port put in and then I start my chemo on Tuesday, which I will have every 2 weeks for 4 months. luckily its not the six months that they had originally thought it would be. I was only supposed to be in the hospital 5-10 days for my surgery but ended up being there 13 days. My intestines didn't really want to wake up and I guess I got dehydrated. All in all I am doing pretty good now, slowly being able to do a little house work, but still taking naps here and there. Hopefully the side effects of the chemo won't be to bad. The Xeloda and the radiation weren't bad, just got tired a lot. But I worked 7 hour days while on that, luckily I am a receptionist so it wasn't taxing on my body physically. @ falcon16, that's what I try to do just one day at a time and a lot of praying! good luck with your treatment, mine almost completely killed the cancer! :)