Hi Joe,
Sorry to hear your diagnosis. My cancer was, well, at the complete other end of the digestive tract, but my mother had it in the bowel (a long time ago) and as a result I now have colonoscopies about every 1 or 2 years.
As a general cancer thing, this stage you are at is the pits. You know you've got a problem on your hands, but you don't know the magnitude of it, or what is in store.
My advice?
1. Don't google it.
2. Get your info from your doctor, and do so whenever you need it.
3. Ask lots of questions, fully understand, don't consent to what has not been explained.
4. REMEMBER: People survive, lots of them. Especially bowel cancer patients.
5. Don't theorise or let your imagination run away with you, in regard to what has not yet happened. Deal with things as they arise.
6. Get counselling, regularly, from your own psychologist (in addition to Cancer Help Line, etc). You can get at least 6 consults on Medicare, (and probably more), via referral from your GP.
Regards,
Mark.