topic Re: Bowel Câncer Chemotherapy in Treatments and side effects

Bowel Câncer Chemotherapy

Bianca88 — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 20:31:03 GMT

My name is Bianca, I’m 31 and was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in July.

I’m not sure if anyone else has experienced this but I am struggling mentally with my chemotherapy. I have just started my treatment for bowel cancer (CAPOX), which includes an infusion every 3 weeks and tablets two weeks followed by a week break. I have 8 cycles. I have always tried to look after my body, never smoked, drank, tried to exercise and have been a vegetarian for the past 16 years. Usually I wouldn’t even take Panadol for a headache unless I absolutely had too so the idea of Chemotherapy terrifies me - along with all the stuff I had read online. Now I have started it (I’m on day 6), the symptoms so far haven’t been too horrendous but I am terrified they will progressively get worse and that’s all my brain can think about. I’m struggling to function day to day because my anxiety and panic is through the roof. I was even considering giving up on the chemotherapy yesterday because I was not coping mentally. I don’t want to do this of course but I’ve been getting so worked up it’s difficult to think straight. The doctor has prescribed me antidepressants but they will not be effective for another 2-4 weeks apparently.

Has anyone else felt similar to me, that would be willing to share their story? (Please no horror stories). I’ve felt very alone through all this and there doesn’t seem to be any support groups in Canberra. I was connected with a buddy through Bowel Cancer Australia but never heard back from my buddy.

Re: Bowel Câncer Chemotherapy

iloveyoudearly7 — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 13:44:48 GMT

Hi Bianca,

Your feelings and fears are absolutely universally felt with thousands of others going through a similar experience. Chemotherapy and the unknown is a naturally scary thought, especially when reading or hearing about the potential side-effects but everyone reacts differently. Some barely feel the effects while others will receive some form of degree of it.

Some of the story - My loved one went for a few rounds of chemotherapy for some months; the effects seemed to stay steady but had gotten easier for her over time. She experienced some hair loss, slight feet ache (which was eased with an ice pack), upset stomach and general tiredness. The doctors and nurses were there to provide assistances and recommendations during the chemotherapy treatment. Everything was a step-by-step process for us but we knew that it was a necessary remedy to remove/shrink them. Radiotherapy is also another effective way.

Like you, she was frightened about the lasting effects of chemotherapy to her body. But once the chemo was completed and about 6 weeks had gone by. She started to become more herself again, she had more energy and experienced less tiredness. She started to recover from the effects. The rest of the story isn’t related as it’s completely different from there.

Take it one step at a time, don’t over Google the side-effects as some or maybe even more probably won’t apply to you and if you ever have questions, please ask your treating doctors or even get a second opinion. They are there for you, like we are there for you.

Here are some suggested articles:

https://consumer.healthday.com/cancer-information-5/mis-cancer-news-102/most-cancer-survivors-say-chemo-fears-unfounded-614208.html - Health Day - Most cancer survivors say Chemo fears unfounded. Survey polled US Adults who had undergone cancer chemotherapy within the last 5 years. Everyone is different.

Around eight out of 10 cancer survivors said they had been fearful prior to starting chemotherapy, with most (76 percent) worried primarily about side effects such as hair loss, nausea and fatigue.
Looking back, almost two-thirds (62 percent) said those fears were unjustified. Just 14 percent described their side effects as "very difficult," and about a third (32 percent) had a "somewhat easy" or "very easy" experience with treatment.

http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/anxiety-and-cancer.aspx - Chemocare - Anxiety and Cancer tips

https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy/fears - Dealing with chemotherapy fears - suggestions at the bottom

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/10-tips-to-survive-chemotherapy.html - What’s it really like going through chemotherapy – Their experience

For additional supportive services:

https://cancerqld.org.au/get-support/cancer-emotional-support/cancer-counselling-service/ - List of supportive services via the cancer council.

Ph: 13 11 20 – You can even contact the Cancer Council directly for supportive assistance or recommendations in your area.

https://www.cancervic.org.au/get-support/connect-and-learn/ask-a-nurse - The Cancer Council Victoria (AUS) – You can speak with a nurse or even e- mail one your general questions, if you like.

1300MHCALL (1300 64 22 55) - Mental Health Services Access. They are able to provide information regarding supportive services and etc. Anyone can use them.

https://coloncancercoalition.org/community/stories/survivor-stories/ - Bowel cancer journeys.

Please do keep us updated regarding your journey!

Re: Bowel Câncer Chemotherapy

PhilPepper — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 02:31:19 GMT

Hi Bianca

I thought I was young for this stuff. I'm 47, I'm also in Canberra and wouldn't you know it, stage 3 bowel cancer. We have some other similarities. I hate taking drugs in general, so chemotherapy was a real challenge.

I'm on cycle 3 now, Oxaliplatin and Capecitabine. Three week cycles. Diagnosis in June. Surgery in July. Chemo started in August. I know you don't want to hear horror stories, but the reality is that everyone's journey is different. One person's horror story may not be yours so you can stress less.

My catch phase - chemo sucks balls. But so did surgery. So did finding out about cancer. What it comes down to is knowing that at 47, I could let go, but I couldn't let down the people who need me. I have a new outlook on life and I feel so detached from the person I was. The people who need me have been here for me and it helps to deal with my horrors.

What I find really amazing is this forum. It has helped me to open up and talk about things I'd normally bottle up. Like yourself, I've not found a support group for bowel cancer in Canberra, but I find this site to be an excellent substitute. These days I don't feel like I'm gaining as much as I used to but I've become hooked on giving back. And I've established some friendships on the forum which has been rewarding. I encourage you to stay on the forum and keep telling your story.

Anyhoo... I suffer anxiety before every chemo cycle and it's a tough gig. Meditation helps, thinking positive helps, but it still fails me every time. Yet I still turn up and go through it. Each cycle has been different and I can't wait for it to be over. Keep each one as a milestone and count them down. Every side effect is a notch in your armour. I know I'm going through it for the right reasons.

I have one more thing to add. Dogs help cure cancer. If you have a dog, post a photo. This is my Charlie.

And those are Bonnie's feet behind him.

Hang in there. Reach out if you need to.

Cheers

Phil

Re: Bowel Câncer Chemotherapy

Bianca88 — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 03:55:42 GMT

Dear Iloveyoudearly7,

I’m so sorry for not replying sooner. I was so grateful to receive your message. The comfort it gave me was immense and I am so thankful to you! The links were extremely helpful and I know you would have spent a bit of time compiling it so thank you! Thank you for also sharing some of your story and your loved ones story.

Re: Bowel Câncer Chemotherapy

Bianca88 — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 04:48:43 GMT

Hi Phil,

Thank you so much for your message! It certainly does sound like we have some similarities. I’m on the same combination of chemo too. I begin my second cycle next week. I’m really sorry to hear about your anxiety. Sometimes our minds seem to have minds of their own which certainly doesn’t help an already difficult situation. I actually went to a hypnotherapist the other day and they were somewhat helpful. It was all about getting into a relaxed state so that your brain is more receptive to positive thoughts. But it already sounds like you are doing this through your meditation and positive thinking!

Seeing as we we are both in Canberra if you were ever interested or wanted to catch up for a chat I’d like that but certainly don’t feel obliged too. I understand if you’d rather not.

Thank you for sharing the photo of Charlie!! He’s gorgeous!! I love animals! Unfortunately I don’t have any dogs but I do have two cats which I love dearly!! Theodore and Bonita (but she usually gets called Bonnie would you believe!!). They bring me a lot of joy!

Anyway thank you again for your message! Best wishes from Bianca

Re: Bowel Câncer Chemotherapy

PhilPepper — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 00:08:35 GMT

Hi Bianca

I'm happy to catch up. What day does your chemo cycle start? I'm on the improve following my cycle starting last week, although I'm in my peak of fatigue and low immunity right now. Perhaps before the anxious start of your next cycle and when I feel confident to drive again. I'm living at Googong but I have a lot of flexibility this week to go anywhere around Canberra. And I should probably take advantage of it this week with the fine weather predicted.

🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

I'd love to see your pseudo dog (cat) photos. Since you don't have dogs. But you must follow the pattern. A photo of Theo with Bonnie's feet in the background.

I'll show you my Bonnie now. This time a smiling face. She is a butt head. But isn't she gorgeous. No one should have husky puppies. Rescue them after they turn 2. Trust me.

I was just posting a response to Lampwork, pointing out that I've started to find the rhythm which I can't put myself into before chemo starts. My pattern unfortunately is anxiety and depression before chemo starts. It's like being asked to drink petrol. You know it's not good for you. How stupid though, it can save our lives. Meditation does help. And I play a lot of music before chemo cycle starts because my singing voice comes back (mostly) and the strings don't hurt my fingers. Unfortunately I can't pick my guitar up at the moment. Cold strings sting my finger tips. Seems so stupid. Towards the end of this week they should be feeling okay. I don't think I'll be able to sing properly again until November when the chemo has stopped.

I hope you are feeling better being at the end of your cycle. Hang in there. Chemo is tough but it brings results. It should be a lovely day in Canberra today. Remember to avoid too much sunshine. Chemo makes us light sensitive. Like vampires I guess. 🧛‍

Ciao

Re: Bowel Câncer Chemotherapy

PhilPepper — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 21:08:50 GMT

Hi Bianca

Has your next chemo cycle started yet?

My current cycle just ended early again. I've been in hospital for a couple of days which has been frustrating.

I hope you well

Cheers

Phil

Re: Bowel Câncer Chemotherapy

Bianca88 — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 23:50:56 GMT

Hi Phil,

I’m so sorry to hear you’ve spend the past few days in hospital! I can imagine it’s been incredibly frustrating and probably quite upsetting. I hope you’re feeling a bit better now? Are you home? Have you got a Support person living with you or someone who comes to check and help you out?

The whole process is a lot to deal with isn’t it! There are so many physical, psychological and Financial impacts of having cancer. We all know cancer is bad but until it’s directly affected you or someone you love it’s difficult to appreciate the gravity of just how bad. But I guess it’s the same as anything in life, everyone suffers and has challenges which you’ll never fully appreciate until you’ve

walked in their shoes.

I’m so sorry that you have been going through the anxiety and depression before each cycle, that’s incredibly tough! It’s very difficult to try and control your mind when the only thing you have to control it is your mind! But although I really don’t like taking medication I figured I’m already taking chemo so when my doctor suggested antidepressant I thought perhaps I should try. I know it’s just a “bandaid fix” but I have found them to be helpful actually. They calm me enough that rational thought can actually penetrate my mind! So it might be worth having a chat to your GP about it if you haven’t already. My doctor told me these particular ones she has prescribed aren’t addictive either (as I’ve heard some can be) and should be fairly effective although they can take 2-6 weeks to work. I think they do work straight away but it just takes 2-6 weeks before they are “fully” effective! She also gave me some Valium to help in the sort term with panic attacks. She warned me that Valium is very addictive though so I only take it when I really need to. It has been a great help too. Obviously your circumstances and needs won’t be the same as mine and I’m certainly no expert on medication and medical conditions but might be worth mentioning to your GP and see what they think if you haven’t already. It may not be right for you but just thought I’d mention encase it was something you hadn’t thought about

I’m so glad to hear you are finding comfort in your music though! What sort of music do you enjoy? I can appreciate any music really, apart from death metal lol. That’s brilliant that you can play the guitar too! I’m unfortunately not rhythmical gifted haha

I’m so sorry I hadn’t got back to you sooner!! I just started my second cycle and I haven’t been feeling too crash hot.

Hmm it seems that we are on alternating cycles so it could prove a little difficult for us too meet up but I guess we can still provide support to one another through this online forum if you’d still like too

I’ve attached a photo of my puddy cats. Unfortunately they are a little less cooperative than dogs so I couldn’t get them in the same stance haha.

Anyways please reach out if you need to! You can get through this Phil! I know you can because so far your track record for getting through bad days has been 100%!!!

Best wishes from Bianca

Re: Bowel Câncer Chemotherapy

Wyandra — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 10:02:35 GMT

Hi Bianca

I'm 69 ( much older than you), male with wife, 3 adults kids, 4 gchildren. I got diagnosed stage 3 bowel cancer December. It was a shock and upsetting, and I start 6 months chemo next week. Hospital and clinic staff are terrific. Try to stay calm and write down any questions or fears you have, and speak to them. This forum will help as well. The unknown side effects also worry me, but I pray for God's peace and help as I face it day by day. Try that for yourself. I know time drags when you're sitting around at home, but try to read a good book. All the best.

Re: Bowel Câncer Chemotherapy

Bianca88 — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 12:11:29 GMT

Hi Wyandra,

Thank you for your message! I’m so very sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I’m glad to hear you have a wonderful treatment team at the hospital though! I also found my treatment team to be incredibly kind and compassionate people. It certainly helps having a good support network around!

I was actually diagnosed at the very end of July so had my surgery in mid August and started chemotherapy in September. I’m just finishing my 6th cycle so hopefully I’ll only have 2 more cycles to go!

I know everyones experience is different but if I can provide you with any reassurance the chemotherapy for me definitely hasn’t been anywhere near as bad as I anticipated. I was absolutely terrified at the prospect of doing chemotherapy. I think it terrified me more than when I was told I had cancer but that was because I knew so little about it so was basing my knowledge off what I was reading on the internet and on television.

It’s such a scary thing because you hear so much horrible stuff about chemotherapy.

I remember when the triaging oncologist came to speak with me the very first thing he asked was “so what do you know about chemotherapy?” Looking back now I can see why he asked this question because chemotherapy really does have such a hellish reputation and I guess he knew this needed to be addressed.

My response was “not a lot. I know you feel very sick and lose your hair”.

He was so calm and reassuring. He said that the type of chemo I would be on it would be unlikely for me to lose my hair although it could thin a little and that they have excellent anti nausea medication these days (very true!), many of which are specifically for cancer patients and not generally accessible to others. He told me about a couple of side effects but assured me that they would monitor me throughout the treatment process and do everything they could to make the journey as comfortable and easy as possible (which they have definitely done!). I felt so much better after speaking with him, I went from feeling very apprehensive and scared to calm.

He asked if I had anymore questions and at the time I couldn’t think of anything but after he left and I had time to absorb everything, other questions began to pop up and of course I turned to Dr Google (bad idea!).

Silly me! I worked myself into such a state again reading about chemotherapy that I no longer believed anything the oncologist had told me. I just thought all these people Im reading about have gone through chemotherapy so they know what it’s like and he must have just told me those things so I didn’t panic.

I now know there is A LOT of old and irrelevant information online regarding Chemotherapy! These days it is a very tailored treatment. Your oncologist will take in many factors when considering the type of chemotherapy you need, how it’s administered, how often, over what period of time, the dosage, what other medication you might need to counteract any side effects you might have and so on. You will meet regularly with your oncologist to discuss how you’re managing your treatment and what symptoms you’ve had and how they can ease them.

When you’re first diagnosed you have a million questions and want answers then and there but try to avoid google (I know it’s sooo hard!) but your specialists will have the best and most relevant information for your particular situation. I was given the same advise by a fellow cancer patient when I was just about to begin chemotherapy and I didn’t listen. It’s difficult not to google because you have so many questions constantly popping into your head and when you do see the specialist they usually have very limited time but reading information online can lead you up the garden path.

The other thing to consider is that people often tend to comment when they’ve had a bad experience but not so much when they’ve had a better experience.

A useful tip I was given was to keep a symptoms diary and medicine log.

The symptoms diary is helpful as you get an idea of what symptoms happen and at what stage of your cycle. Example; you might notice that you feel tired on days 6-7 so you know not to plan any outings. It also helps when you see your oncologist as you can detail what symptoms you’ve been having and they will then be able to address them.

I also made a spreadsheet which listed all the medications I take and a box for morning, noon and night so I can just tick them off as I go.

Anyway I hope I’ve managed to ease your concerns a little about the chemotherapy and I apologise for the long reply!

It really is quiet mentally overwhelming especially at the start so if I can be of any help or reassurance please don’t hesitate to contact me!

I wish you all the very best for your treatment Wyandra! Take care!! Kind Regards Bianca

Re: Bowel Câncer Chemotherapy

Snowball36 — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 04:30:38 GMT

Hi Bianca,

I feel like I'm in a pretty similar situation to you although I'm a bit older. I am 45 years old, with Stage 3 bowel cancer which I was diagnosed with in March. I barely drink, have a very healthy diet, practice yoga, love swimming, walking and have rarely taken any medication in my life. I would also say I have a bit of a phobia of ingesting anything toxic. I am just about to start my fourth round of chemo, I have to complete eight in total. The day before my first treatment I was in full fight or flight mode, so fearful of having to 'poison' myself with these drugs. The first couple of weeks were awful, I made it through the first infusion with my sanity intact but I felt very anxious about having to put the tablets into my mouth. I just did not want to do it and nobody could force me. However, I had to face the reality that I was actually really sick even though I felt and looked fine.

My husband always likes to set me on the straight and narrow, he reminded me that it might feel like poison but it's most likely going to prolong my life and I want to grow old. The way I get through my anxiety is to remind myself of the big picture. I'm doing this for myself and my family, I need to be strong. You might create a little mantra for yourself or thank your body for being so strong to get you through all of this trauma so far. My nurse also said to me, the human body wants to survive and thrive. Meditation, yoga, and long walks have eased my anxiety greatly. As well as making regular visits to the hospital psychologist who is absolutely wonderful. Be really kind to yourself 🙂

Re: Bowel Câncer Chemotherapy

Ben30 — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 21:31:01 GMT

Hi Bianca,

I know you’ve already had some great replies to your post but thought I would say hi as well. I’m Ben, 30 years old and live in Melbourne and was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer (spread to liver) in late May.

I feel the same way about Chemo. It is genuinely the scariest thing I have ever done. I was so nervous before my first treatment I was throwing up. I have recently finished round 4 of chemo and like you the side effects aren’t as bad as I imagined. The main side effects I’ve had are fatigue and nausea/vomiting. They have gotten a little worse for me each time. but not drastically and it’s not unmanageable. Then again some others like mouth ulcers and taste changes seem to be getting better the longer into treatment I get. I’ve just been trying to take each day as it comes and not look too far ahead as I find it a bit overwhelming thinking about all the treatment still to come. I’m also getting pretty nervous for my next PET scan the week after next to find out exactly what is happening with the tumours. Fingers crossed it’s good news!

If you are still looking for support my partner called the Cancer Council and they were able to refer them to their in house counselling service as well as have a really good chat on that day that seemed to help a lot.

All the best to you and everyone on here with your treatment and always happy to chat! 😊

Re: Bowel Câncer

Mary60 — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 07:22:38 GMT

Hi my name is Mary I’m new to this . I have been diagnosis with stage 3 colon cancer as it spread to the lymph nodes. I have had the colectomy surgery where they removed part of my bowel. Now I’m waiting to see the oncologist in having the chemo. I was wondering if anyone been through this and how they cope with it? I’m very stress and down and I need to talk to people that have been there. i would appreciate all the support I can get as this has been a shock to me.

Re: Bowel Câncer

Bianca88 — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 13:04:35 GMT

Hi Mary,

I’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I hope the surgery went smoothly and you are recovering well.

I’m very happy to help in anyway I can, I understand it’s a very scary time and not knowing what to expect can be very overwhelming.

Cancer is an incredibly difficult thing to go though and it’s completely ok to not feel ok!

You’re probably finding lots of well meaning people telling you to stay positive and offer advice but now is a time for you to be a bit selfish. Try to surround yourself with things you find helpful and uplifting at this time. I found during my treatment that some people just aren’t great with knowing what to say. I understand it was difficult for them also, they had the best of intentions and meant no harm but their words could be (unknowingly to them) triggering to me. I wouldn’t say anything to these people because I didn’t want to make them feel bad or fearful of upsetting me but I also knew I had to protect my own mental health. So there were certain people I opened up to and others I did not discuss anything cancer related with. If they tried I’d just say I prefer to talk about something else and they’d be fine with this. You’ll develop your own way to manage this if it’s an issue but my point is just to look after and protect your mental health because it’s just as important as your physical.

I’m not sure how much you know about chemotherapy but it’s a very tailored treatment these days. Your oncologist will work out the best treatment for you and monitor you closely throughout the process. There are hundreds of different types of chemotherapy drugs out there, it’s not a one size fits all approach anymore, chemotherapy is very different these days. Pharmaceuticals companies are constantly working to improve existing chemotherapy medication and make new ones to improve side effects and treatment outcomes. Even people with the same type and stage of cancer might be on different combinations and dosages depending on their age and health etc. You might also be taking the same chemotherapy drug as someone you’ve read about online but remember pharmaceutical companies are constantly working to improve these medications so since that individual went through their treatment that drug as probably undergone a lot more testing and improvements (this was information I was told by my doctor). If you do experience any side effects be sure to tell your oncologist because they can probably do something to help you.

And if your doctor prescribes you medication to help with side effects be sure to follow their advice as taking the prescribed medicine, at the correct dosage and recommended time can all have an affect and result in a much smoother treatment.

It’s also good to talk with your GP about things that you might not have time to discuss with your oncologist. I was able to discuss things like anxiety, low moods and difficulty sleeping with my GP and she was really helpful.

A wise friend of mine who was also going through treatment gave me some great advice and that was to keep a side effect diary.

Record things like:

what you experienced
What day in the cycle
Duration

It makes it easier to recall when you go back for your routine checks with the oncologist.

You might find you have to take a few different types of medications, so I also found it helpful to make myself a checklist. I listed all the medications I was taking (Monday to Sunday) and Id just tick them off as I went.

Cancer doesn’t discriminate, it can affect anyone and that means you have lots of different people with different personalities, who deal with it in different ways and like to express themselves differently, putting their own personal experiences and advice out there for others. But there is no right or wrong way to cope, you do what you need to do to get yourself through this time!!

Unfortunately there is a lot of distressing information out there about cancer treatment which can be extremely off putting for people beginning their journey. I almost didn’t go through with my treatment because I was so frightened but I’m so grateful I did.

There are many variables with peoples experiences, things like; how long ago they went through treatment, their mental state, if they are a more glass half full/half empty person and if they followed the medical advice given to them can all effect someone’s perspective. Unfortunately people are also more likely to talk about something if it’s been a negative experience. Those who’ve had a smoother experience probably haven’t felt the need to vent or talk about it as much which I think is why we have a very unbalanced perspective of chemotherapy still to this day (especially online).

After completing my treatment I was speaking with a customer at work and she mentioned she had just been diagnosed with cancer and her oncologist recommended chemotherapy but she was so frightened and didn’t want to do it. I was able to tell her about my experience and how I felt exactly the same but I got through it and encouraged her to do the same. She has since completed her treatment and said she is also very glad she did.

Please don’t let the reputation of Chemotherapy frighten you from starting your treatment. Chemotherapy is very do-able! It’s not a walk in the park of course but if I had to do it again, next time I wouldn’t hesitate. I really didn’t think I could do it but I did and if I can do it anyone can!!

I’m not sure if any of my words have resonated with you but I hope they have provided you with some calm and reassurance.

If you have any specific questions please don’t hesitate to reach out.

It’s such a roller coaster of emotions when you are first diagnosed but things will calm down. How you feel now will be different to how you feel in 1-2 weeks time and one day you’ll be the person giving reassuring words to someone else. A lovely quote I read was: you were given this mountain to show others it can be climbed!! Xoxoxo

Re: Bowel Câncer

Mary60 — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:27:56 GMT

Hi Bianca

Thanks for your message it help me a bit and less nervous for when I go and have the chemo. I’m slowly recovering ok as I had the colectomy surgery about 4 weeks ago, now I’m just waiting for the oncologist and when I start chemo. All of this is just a shock to me just knowing I have cancer and I’m only 54. I know there is lots of people younger than me that have cancer. When I notice that I was bleeding a while back when I was living in Newcastle NSW I did not think of anything I thought it was Hemorrhoids?. So I didn’t do anything then when I turn 50 I started to get the bowel kit test sent to me, and when I did the bowel test it came back negative which was good. After a while I started to bleed so I went back to my doctor and told her and she sent a referral to the Newcastle hunter hospital in NSW for me to get a colonoscopy done this was in 2022. I have been waiting since then in the public system as I don’t have health fund. So I went back to my doctor again and said still no answer? So she sent another referral again and still no reply. So in 2024 I moved to Orange in NSW I’ve been here 3 months so the first week I was in Orange went to a doctor told her about it and she requested a urgent colonoscopy . In June I had a colonoscopy done and that’s when they found out I had a mass tumour. So they booked me in to see bowel surgery and 4 weeks age I had another colonoscopy and a colectomy surgery plus they removed one poly. I’m thinking of joining a support cancer group but I’m not sure if there is any support group in Orange NSW. If anyone on here knows of a group I would appreciate any help. Once again Bianca Tks for your message I will keep you posted on how I’m going . Hope your doing ok Bianca

Re: Bowel Câncer

Ashley_ccnsw — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:17:49 GMT

Hi Mary60

This is Ashley from the Cancer Council. I'm so glad you reached out the community to get some support and perspective, and it seems like Bianca's wisdom has also really helped you.

In terms of any additional supports, I just wanted to let you know that we have a counselling service, and depending on the staging of the cancer, we also have options for our Cancer Connect service where you can talk to a volunteer who has gone through the same thing to get some peer support, or we also have Telephone Support Groups as well.

If you would like any information about this please call our 13 11 20 line and we can talk with you and assist.

Wishing you well for your treatment journey.

Ashley

Re: Bowel Câncer

Mary60 — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:44:49 GMT

Hi Ashley,
Thanks for sending me a message, I will be considering what you said either counselling service or the Câncer connect service where you get peer support. I’m in stage 3 bowel cancer where it just started to go into the lymph nodes. I have had the operation which was the extended right hemicolectomy surgery. On the 30th September I will be seeing the oncologist regarding chemotherapy. Any support will be great Ashley

Re: Bowel Câncer

Ashley_ccnsw — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:51:49 GMT

Hi Mary60,

In that case I'll leave that with you, but if you need us, please call 13 11 20 and we can figure out what supports would be best.

All the best

Ashley

Re: Bowel Câncer

sch — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 01:05:37 GMT

Hi @Mary60

I was 40 when I was diagnosed with stage 2 bowel cancer. I'm 47 now, so it was a little while ago.

I had a total colectomy followed by 6 months of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy can be harder on some than on others, but overall it wasn't too bad.

I had lots of side effects. Goes with the territory.

Stay on top of your meds and preperation and make sure you talk to your treatment team about any symptoms or difficulties you've been having each cycle. They can help you with medication to help with the symptoms.

Best of luck.

Re: Bowel Câncer

Mary60 — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 01:30:15 GMT

Tks @sch I will keep you informed on how I’m going, I’m seeing the oncologist soon so not sure when chemo will start. Hope you’re doing well.