Colon Cancer Support Group
Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer or bowel cancer, includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. Many colorectal cancers are thought to arise from mushroom-like growths that are usually benign, but some may develop into cancer over time. The majority of the time, the diagnosis of localized colon cancer is through colonoscopy.
Today marks the third anniversary for me of having surgery to have ultra low bowel cancer removed.
And I hope you will bare with me as I share a bit of my story.
After my diagnoses of cancer it was decided that I would have 5 rounds of radiation therapy wait a week then surgery.
After the surgery I went to intensive care during where my heart rate went to 200plus beats a minute. A cardiologist was called and he kept me in the ICU for 4 more days. Today I still believe this was my Higher Power's way of ensuring I had personalised attention.
Due to the lowness of my cancer, after the resection I ended up with a gauci bag for 3 months and this was and still is the worst part of my cancer journey.
The pathalogy report came back and they declared me dukes 3 with no lymph involvement. This was a relief as part of my diagnoses indicated that I had enlarged lymph glands in my chest and there was a real concern that it had already spread to the lymph system.
My chemo consisted of xeloda 4 tabs in the am and 4 in the pm for 2 weeks then a weeks rest and this cycle was repeated eight times.
During this period a friend of mine who I worked with succumbed to bowel cancer and that shook me. I remember sharing the feeling of guilt I had with my oncologist because I felt I was doing great and he was going down hill. My oncologist said to me G8 you are not getting well at his expense. These words were very comforting to me and I hold them dear to me today.
Half way through the chemo I returned to have the reversal operation where I lost the gauci bag. I personally found this worse than the first op. For the first few days after the op I felt extreme nausea. Eventually the bloke in the next bed said why dont you go for a walk and try to move things.
I did this and lay on the bed when I broke wind and boy did I break wind, it went on forever. The nurses came in and clapped me. After this the nausea left.
After I left hospital I resumed and completed my chemo with no side effects and for that I feel very blesssed and grateful.
Over the next 2 and bit years I have had nothing but very positive reports and look forward to a bright future, I am only now starting to get any real control over my bowel but that is a small price to pay. I look at this as the new baby learning to be toilet trained and it takes a while.
I have also be very forunate to be able to work the entire time only taking time off for the operations. I was lucky enough to continue to work during the chemo. I remeber one day taking my pills at work and one of my collegues asked me what they were. She did not believe me when I told her they were chemo. Her reply you look too well to have had cancer.
I have also during this journey been blessed to meet many very positive people many of who are on this site, many who leave me feeling humble when they call me friend.
Most of all I have been blessed to have the lady in my life who is the mother of my children. The day she said yes to me in marriage is the most treasured day of my life. She has stood beside me throughout this journey and has been the rock of Gilbraltor for me, my love for her grows stronger every day.
I look back now at my cancer journey and think, do I wish I never had cancer and of course I say yes, but I also look back and think how lucky I am for all the wonderful people this journey has brought into my life and in a strange way, for that I am grateful for haveing cancer.
Anyways thats enough of my journey except to say thankyou to everyone on this site, you all bring me strength and hope by sharing your journey.
Gr8ful
24 April 2010
And I hope you will bare with me as I share a bit of my story.
After my diagnoses of cancer it was decided that I would have 5 rounds of radiation therapy wait a week then surgery.
After the surgery I went to intensive care during where my heart rate went to 200plus beats a minute. A cardiologist was called and he kept me in the ICU for 4 more days. Today I still believe this was my Higher Power's way of ensuring I had personalised attention.
Due to the lowness of my cancer, after the resection I ended up with a gauci bag for 3 months and this was and still is the worst part of my cancer journey.
The pathalogy report came back and they declared me dukes 3 with no lymph involvement. This was a relief as part of my diagnoses indicated that I had enlarged lymph glands in my chest and there was a real concern that it had already spread to the lymph system.
My chemo consisted of xeloda 4 tabs in the am and 4 in the pm for 2 weeks then a weeks rest and this cycle was repeated eight times.
During this period a friend of mine who I worked with succumbed to bowel cancer and that shook me. I remember sharing the feeling of guilt I had with my oncologist because I felt I was doing great and he was going down hill. My oncologist said to me G8 you are not getting well at his expense. These words were very comforting to me and I hold them dear to me today.
Half way through the chemo I returned to have the reversal operation where I lost the gauci bag. I personally found this worse than the first op. For the first few days after the op I felt extreme nausea. Eventually the bloke in the next bed said why dont you go for a walk and try to move things.
I did this and lay on the bed when I broke wind and boy did I break wind, it went on forever. The nurses came in and clapped me. After this the nausea left.
After I left hospital I resumed and completed my chemo with no side effects and for that I feel very blesssed and grateful.
Over the next 2 and bit years I have had nothing but very positive reports and look forward to a bright future, I am only now starting to get any real control over my bowel but that is a small price to pay. I look at this as the new baby learning to be toilet trained and it takes a while.
I have also be very forunate to be able to work the entire time only taking time off for the operations. I was lucky enough to continue to work during the chemo. I remeber one day taking my pills at work and one of my collegues asked me what they were. She did not believe me when I told her they were chemo. Her reply you look too well to have had cancer.
I have also during this journey been blessed to meet many very positive people many of who are on this site, many who leave me feeling humble when they call me friend.
Most of all I have been blessed to have the lady in my life who is the mother of my children. The day she said yes to me in marriage is the most treasured day of my life. She has stood beside me throughout this journey and has been the rock of Gilbraltor for me, my love for her grows stronger every day.
I look back now at my cancer journey and think, do I wish I never had cancer and of course I say yes, but I also look back and think how lucky I am for all the wonderful people this journey has brought into my life and in a strange way, for that I am grateful for haveing cancer.
Anyways thats enough of my journey except to say thankyou to everyone on this site, you all bring me strength and hope by sharing your journey.
Gr8ful
24 April 2010
I found this quote that I think fits you.
"A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery while on a detour." ~Author Unknown
NAT I love your new avatar, is it Bruce?
Many congratulations and best wishes for continued health and happiness --CC
It was told to me it is very important to find a place to share your story so you can put a narration to what happened to you.
Once I put that narration to my story I started to understand what was happening and for me in that understanding I started to lose the fear.
G8
Oh, and G8... Get out of bed or I'll sick Nat onto you.
GO THE MAGGIES!!
Happy tears ... : )
MPNC