https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14333#M780 I wish your surgery was tomorrow because I think that the waiting is the hardest part. I hope you are having a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with an end-to-end anastomosis because they literally chop the bit out and join the hose back together, stick you on the rapid recovery diet, then wave you good-bye, as right as rain. I had this back in 2009 and I've never missed the missing bits. My advice, and this is personal, is to get off the opiate meds as soon as you are able. They mess with the peristalsis action of the bowel and can create their own dramas (again, personal experience only). Second pearl of wisdom is to get out of bed asap and walk, walk, walk your way back to health and fitness. Thirdly, I'll quote Churchill, "If you are going through hell, keep going." Be strong x Thu, 12 Mar 2015 11:51:05 GMT Netti 2015-03-12T11:51:05Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14331#M778 Hello, I was recently diagnosed with bowel cancer. I am having surgery next Thursday March 19th. They're telling me it's early stage and well contained, a tumour on the ceacum. I'm feeling really well, positive. I've never had surgery before so I'm finding that more daunting than having cancer. My friends have all been wonderful, I am blessed to be surrounded with some wonderful people. My sons coped well with the news, parents not so well, and my husband is my absolute rock. Just thought I'd join up here as I think the aftermath of the surgery will be my challenging time. Wed, 11 Mar 2015 01:13:05 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14331#M778 wavegirl 2015-03-11T01:13:05Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14332#M779 Wavegirl, yes its a very scarey time, I had my operation within a week of my diagnosis, didnt have much time to dwell on it. The operation is not so bad, although I had quite a few complications. Good luck Thu, 12 Mar 2015 05:26:52 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14332#M779 Maureenf 2015-03-12T05:26:52Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14333#M780 I wish your surgery was tomorrow because I think that the waiting is the hardest part. I hope you are having a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with an end-to-end anastomosis because they literally chop the bit out and join the hose back together, stick you on the rapid recovery diet, then wave you good-bye, as right as rain. I had this back in 2009 and I've never missed the missing bits. My advice, and this is personal, is to get off the opiate meds as soon as you are able. They mess with the peristalsis action of the bowel and can create their own dramas (again, personal experience only). Second pearl of wisdom is to get out of bed asap and walk, walk, walk your way back to health and fitness. Thirdly, I'll quote Churchill, "If you are going through hell, keep going." Be strong x Thu, 12 Mar 2015 11:51:05 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14333#M780 Netti 2015-03-12T11:51:05Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14334#M781 Thank you Netti for your message, it quite made my day! Yes, the waiting is certainly the worst part. I am having exactly the surgery you describe, so feeling pretty positive about it. I already had walking on my recovery agenda, as I'm a very active, fit person, so sitting around is going to be difficult for me. But I've taken note of your advice on the optiate meds. Fortunately I have an excellent GP. It's only due to her thoroughness that my cancer was picked up at all, so I will be able to debrief with her post-op and can talk about all these things with her. Just putting one foot in front of the other for now. Thanks again xx Fri, 13 Mar 2015 08:05:59 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14334#M781 wavegirl 2015-03-13T08:05:59Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14335#M782 Thank you Maureen. The waiting is the worst. And I've never had surgery before so I really don't know what to expect. This time next week it will all be over and I can move forward xox Fri, 13 Mar 2015 08:08:17 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14335#M782 wavegirl 2015-03-13T08:08:17Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14336#M783 Glad my messages have been seen! Thanks ladies! Fri, 13 Mar 2015 08:28:28 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14336#M783 Maureenf 2015-03-13T08:28:28Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14337#M784 and wave girl, I agree with what Netti says, thats the surgery I had but dont be suprised if they want to do a bit of 'mop up' chemo after! Fri, 13 Mar 2015 08:30:52 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14337#M784 Maureenf 2015-03-13T08:30:52Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14338#M785 ok, sort of working it out now, this site, I mean, you will be very sore afterwards, I still feel that now but as I said not so bad! the waiting I understand, just horrible but you will be fine!Where are you having it done,I am in Melbourne, dont know where you are! Fri, 13 Mar 2015 08:34:16 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14338#M785 Maureenf 2015-03-13T08:34:16Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14339#M786 I live in Merimbula on the Far South Coast of NSW. I am having the surgery in Canberra. Fri, 13 Mar 2015 08:52:37 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14339#M786 wavegirl 2015-03-13T08:52:37Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14340#M787 Yes, I'm hoping not to hear the word 'chemo', but I'll cross that bridge if I come to it. All I know is they send the cancer and lymph away for testing, and that will determine if I have to have any further treatment. My father in law had the same thing, and the surgery was the end of it, so fingers crossed!!!! Fri, 13 Mar 2015 08:55:24 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14340#M787 wavegirl 2015-03-13T08:55:24Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14341#M788 Yep! Said that to me, I think they like to work on the safe side but dont even going worrying about that at this stage! You will be fine and if you do have to do the chemo thing, its your choice!~ Fri, 13 Mar 2015 09:46:55 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14341#M788 Maureenf 2015-03-13T09:46:55Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14342#M789 Hi Wavegirl and Maureen, I remembered (I tried to block it out, you see).... I remembered that the waiting is not the hardest part after all. The hardest part is the last 500ml of bowel prep. That stuff would gag a brown dog. I see you both nodding because you've been there before. So I wanted to wish you luck for tomorrow night. Stock up on barley sugar. Not that it makes much difference. Think of Maureen and I as your virtual cheerleaders for the home stretch, that last 500ml. You can do it! Tue, 17 Mar 2015 06:30:12 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14342#M789 Netti 2015-03-17T06:30:12Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14343#M790 Been thinking about you wavegirl, hope you are doing ok? Fri, 20 Mar 2015 08:08:17 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14343#M790 Maureenf 2015-03-20T08:08:17Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14344#M791 Hi I'm new to this page. My father was diagnosed in February of this year with bowel cancer, although we have known for a long time something was wrong, but he wouldn't tell his doctor. He has lived with us for the past 8 years and have been watching him go down hill since then. But he is old school and A women never speaks out of line so I and my husband have never been able to tell a doctor our fears. Anyway he has just had his surgery and we r currently just entering the recovery period. I hate that I am angry with him for not seeing some earlier when he was fit enough to cope with this and when I had help running my business. I fear him coming home and the amount of assistance he is going to require We have no family no friends we are totally alone. I know I shouldn't be thinking of myself and husband but we are the ones who will have to deal with this. Wed, 25 Mar 2015 01:37:20 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14344#M791 Charlie 2015-03-25T01:37:20Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14345#M792 Charlie, well, how is he, what has been done and what is the prognosis? Thu, 26 Mar 2015 06:14:49 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14345#M792 Maureenf 2015-03-26T06:14:49Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14346#M793 Thanks for asking, he has been operated on, one week ago but still in intensive care yesterday is the first day he has eaten anything, and we think the stoma is starting to work, as for prognosis we have no idea the biopsy results haven't come back or the doctor just hasn't given them to us. Communication between hospital/doctors is very poor. I understand they're busy but this has been an on going problem since February with the medical professionals. We originally believed he would be in hospital for 10 days but now feel this will be a lot longer with no idea of a release date. I just wish there was someone I could ask. The biopsy is very important to me to know which steps need to be taken for my job in the coming months and I can't seem to get anyone to understand when you run a business with no employees you need to be very organised in advance. It's so frustrating. Fri, 27 Mar 2015 18:47:17 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14346#M793 Charlie 2015-03-27T18:47:17Z https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14347#M794 They seem to have a way of telling you the news of the biopsy on the day of discharge, my experience anyway! I went in for 5 days and was there for almosy 3 weeks! Good luck! Wed, 01 Apr 2015 23:54:31 GMT https://onlinecommunity.cancercouncil.com.au/t5/I-ve-just-been-diagnosed/New-member/m-p/14347#M794 Maureenf 2015-04-01T23:54:31Z