Dear Mr Phil, It's always good news when you're around. Yes, I think at the moment that the pathology centres are a little over run with testing for coronavirus. As long as they don't drink the blood instead of testing it. I am really excited for you about the great test results. Well done. That must be such a huge relief.   I spoke with my surgeon the other day. He said that the virus transmission rates were low enough that we are going to schedule my colonoscopy and hernia repair (side effect from surgery) for a couple of weeks time.   I'm really excited about your blood results! Do you plan on doing anything to celebrate?   -s           ... View more

Woops.  Next meeting is Wednesday 29th of April (6-8pm) ... View more

Hi all,   Despite the coronavirus pandemic, this support group for young people (25-45 - I love that they still call me young!) continues online via zoom. If you are interested in attending, please send an email to the group contract email address and you will be provided with details of the zoom session. It's a friendly, inclusive group of people and it would be great to see you there. -s ... View more

Hi Sav1986, How long has it been since you finished chemo? 4 months? After my colectomy, I have to say that things were pretty damn uncomfortable to say the least. All I could manage was a very slow walk/shuffle. And that had to suffice for exercise for me for some time. I've finished my chemo and many many months afterwards, I still have peripheral neuropathy in my hands and feet.   As far as cardio and, really, exercise in general. I wouldn't be starting off for a run and think that it will be all back to normal again. You need to start this up again very slowly. You really do. Let me know if you want to discuss this further. It gets easier over time as you work out what your body is and isn't comfortable doing.   -s ... View more

Hi Sav1986,   I'm sorry to hear about your cancer, but I'm very happy to hear that it's in remission. Yes, it seems relatively common for the doctors to tell people with a major illness that there is no hope. I think that it would probably be more difficult if they told you that there was hope, where it turned out that there was none. But I think that it gets overlooked is the patients who are in the middle of this. Maintain your hope!   Yes, I've had survivors guilt in the past. I had an illness in 2005 which I've managed to mostly make a full recovery from, while some fellow patients had no options but to move into a nursing home when aged in their 30's or 40's.  I struggled with that for some time.  Why did some peoples social/career/family lives effectively cease, while I had managed to somehow hobble things together? It didn't seem fair.   I've tried a few psychologists, but unfortunately I haven't been able to find one that I can work well with. I think I've just about given up. I've managed to fumble my way along this far, I guess I can fumble my way along a little longer.   For me, I've always found that running has been very therapeutic. It creates a personal space and also allows me to be very relaxed outside in the open air.  If I had the time, I would run every day, but I have two young children, so running becomes an exercise in time management. But music is also very important to me. I listen to a lot of music!   Do you have someone with you that can help support you? Best of luck in your recovery.   -s ... View more

Hi Isawolfe, I'm very sorry to hear about your Mum.  No matter our vocation, dealing with the loss of a loved one is always very difficult to deal with. I'm not too sure if I'm qualified to be imparting wisdom to a nurse (or wisdom full stop to be honest), but perhaps I could share some of my thoughts.   You might be a nurse, but you are were a daughter first.  Inside the clinical environment of the hospital, you have been trained to put emotion and feelings aside so that you can concentrate on the patient's needs. Now when your mother is ill, everything is reversed. Don't fight these feelings.   There are many people here who have had bowel cancer (myself included) and survived. My father was diagnosed with the same, and lived for many years after diagnosis. Has your Mum received much information about her cancer?   -s   ... View more

Hi Paul, Congratulations on getting the all clear! I don't know about you, but I've always found it a huge feeling of relief. I'm glad that the having to stop the BCG didn't effect the outcomes for you. That's so good to hear. This is the first post of yours that I can recall reading, so I'll have to go back through them all and have a read. Looking forward to it.   -s ... View more

Hi Lillypad, So what did you make for dessert? I guess, the fact that you found the energy to make dessert would seem like a good thing. Now you've made me think of a nice chocolate mousse. Hmm. I think I might try making one this weekend.   If you've come off the antidepressants and you're not feeling right, please make sure that you let your doctor know, even if it's just so they can monitor you for any effects.   It sounds to me like you're in shock and still processing these events. I think that after everything you've been through, I think that this would be normal. The accumulative effect builds up.   Make sure you keep in touch.   -s   ... View more

Hi Lillypad, I understand how you are feeling. Everything just keeps on piling up and piling up, and just when you feel as though you can't cope any more, more things just pile on top. I hear you. Sometimes things are just shit. All of these issues just seem unsurmountable and the horrible things just won't stop piling up. Keep your hope alive. We can some times achieve amazing things. You and your Dad are in my thoughts. Find someone to talk to, even if you just drop in here and comment and talk to us.   -s   ... View more

Hi Corryne, I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis with cancer. I can't comment on the long term survival rates of the open surgery vs keyhole. Over the years (I'm 43), I have, however, had quite a few surgeries.   I've only had an issue with infection once, and that was in 2005 and I've had a number of surgeries, both key hole and open surgery since then. My last surgery was for my cancer and that was open surgery (remove tumour and colectomy). One of the things that really helped me in recovering quickly was walking and exercising as much as I could. Not pushing things too hard, but gentle exercise. Also, you have age in your favour, so that should also helping recovery time.   Have you  started discussing dates with your surgeon yet? Let me know if you have any other questions.   -s   ... View more