Today was the last of the" ologists" to see,now the cards have been laid on the table and the path has been made.Choice do I accept this path or hide in the corner and await the inevitable.28 sessions of radiotherapy along with 28 days of tablet chemo twice a day for 28 days,this will be with the intent to shrink this tumour that very pleasantly has decided to sit itself in the rectal passage[alias bowel cancer].At the end of these 28 days will meet with the colorectal surgeon who has informed me that everything has to go during surgery outcome a new friend who I shall name Fred for now aka colostomy bag,not temporary now my lifelong friend.After this surgery and 2 weeks of getting to know my new friend I then return to chemo this time via infusion worn on my arm for 6 months [another new friend although not as permanent as Fred].Outcome is still curable at this stage and not to hard a decision to make,frightening,scary,confronting and worrying yes but a path I have to take.So from the 17th of May my journey begins and I will continue to post as many blogs as I can in the hope that it makes even the smallest difference to 1 person. I will continue to draw strength from this community and will never feel alone because of all the wonderful people out there who have already helped so much.Huge hugs and wishes to all X ... View more

Five and a half weeks of radiotherapy and chemo unsure of how the chemo works as I dont meet with the chemo oncologist until Friday.Have never had a tatoo before always hoped my first one would be when my beloved western bulldogs won a premiership not to be had to have tatoos yesterday as markers for the radio oh well I can still look forward.Does anyone know how the chemo and radio work together,what the side effects may be and ways to get around them.I am following all of everyones great advice and am so glad that this wonderful community is here as the support has been endless and priceless.Huge hugs and wishes to all. ... View more

Today was the first appt with the radiotherapist,tommorrow is the day of the simulator for the radiation and Friday is the day for the chemo oncologist.Why wasnt it until today when I was in the waiting room that it hit me right between the eyes "I have cancer".How can I offer support and best wishes to this community when I cant even cope with my own cancer.Thanks to all the wonderfully brave people out there I feel like I am not alone although I wish nobody had to go through this fight with this insidious disease.Hugs wishes and especially thankyou to all.X ... View more

What does this mean I asked but thanks to my wonderful GP and psychologist was able to understand that MDT was a multi disciplinary team who will work in conjunction over the next 5 weeks of chemo and radio,not some new disease I had contracted like mentally disturbed tyrant or worst still might die today.Oh the wonderful places our minds can take us when we are scared stiff,for me it was a lesson in not guessing just asking even though you may not want to know sometimes the answer is better than your own thoughts.Wish I could be as brave as the many wonderful people out there who know so much about their cancers and are able to accept and deal with it as well as share their knowledge and support with others,I take my hat off to you all.Huge hugs and wishes to all.X ... View more