Hi I have always been healthy, ate well, positive approach to all that life throws at you etc but balaced with enjoying life too 😂 Diagnosed with bowel cancer stage 3, 8 months ago. Tumour removed 7 months ago. Been on chemo, which was awful for me. Cancer progressed to stage 4 and now in kidneys too. Chemo was stopped and I commenced on immunotherapy which seems to be working for me - more energy, no pain at tumour removal site, can participate in activities with joy and positivity. Although I am feeling good and am managing the side effects so far, I have aggressive mutant cancer cells and the possibility of radical surgery looms in front of me. It is likely to be the removal of several organs and I am not sure yet whether I will go ahead with the surgery. I don't want to live a half-life - dependent on others and my days filled with appointments and other stuff to monitor and support the impact of the organ removal. However, before I can make the right decision for me (and my family), I feel I need to find out from others who have been through surgery and removal of rest of bowel, sections of liver, kidney and maybe more. What is life like for you? How do you manage the complexity of this on a daily level, your emotions, independence, positivity etc. I have a feeling that if the oncologist says it's time for surgery, I want to have some understanding of what it might be like post surgery. Then, I can weigh up the impossible decision between a life filled with ongoing medical (and psychological) management and one that may be shorter. Who knows how the future progress of my cancer will unfold, but I would like to have as much information as I can, to help me have some kind of agency over how I want the remainder of my life to be. No crystal ball for any of us but I would like to live (and therefore die) with open eyes and clarity, and accepting what comes with the choices I make. I want to live longer but I want to be prepared as best as i can manage - for what comes. If you are willing share your journey of multiple organ removal in the bowel area and how you coped with this, I would be deeply grateful 🙏
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