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Eurekagal

Hi Tina Sorry for taking a while to reply. I didn't actually have chemo after surgery but my father-in-law has Stage 4 Bowel cancer and he has been on chemo for nearly 2 years. As I understand it, chemo for bowel cancer is not as bad as for something like breast cancer but the best person to talk to is your oncologist. I would also strongly recommend seeing a counsellor or joining a local cancer support group. I went to a Quest for Life retreat which was brilliant. Wishing you all the best. kim x

Eurekagal

Oh Tina I so completely understand. It is such a huge thing to get your head around. I was so anxious that I ended up putting off my first surgery. Your head and heart really have to be in the same space but that can take a bit of processing. In terms of the surgery. It is major but I actually found being young helped as I got over both operations relatively easily. As for the bag, I honestly found it a lot easier to handle than I thought. It can be confronting at times, but there are lots of options for different types of bags and the stoma therapy nurses are brilliant. Please feel free to drop me a line with any specific questions you have. My heart goes out to you. Kim X

Eurekagal

Thanks everyone for your posts. They really help. Just have colonoscopy and gastroscopy and all clear. Skin check also clear. Now just need to worry about uterine and ovarian but will be having them removed later this year. I tried the local oncological social worker but apparently they don't run support groups. May be I need to set one up but still only 1 year out, not sure I can do that. Does anyone here know of support groups in the Byron bay, Lismore, ballina area?

Eurekagal

Thank you kasianne and purple angels. I will certainly use this website for support from now on. I have tried finding support groups via the local office of cancer council NSW. They gave me the number of the local oncology social worker, who I rang but could never get hold of. Another social worker eventually got back to me and left a message saying they didn't run support groups and told me to contact the cancer council! But I will try the local council - thanks for that suggestion, purple angels. I am seeing a counsellor who has been a massive help, but I would still like to connect face to face with other people who have been in that dark and scary place. Sometimes I feel as if I am walking around in a daze whilst the whole world is going on around me. But I can't continue to do that as my two boys (now 6 and 😎 really need me.

Eurekagal

Hi. My first time here. I was advised to try this site by the Familial Cancer Centre at the Peter Mac in Melbourne. I am 42, the mother of 2 young children and was diagnosed with rectal cancer in Nov 2010. Had my whole rectum removed and an ileostormy bag for 3 months. Now I have been diagnosed with lynch syndrome - an inherited faulty gene that causes lots of types of cancers, even though I have no family history. My main problem is loneliness and isolation. None of my friends have ever had to deal with a life threatening illness and most of their parents are still alive so mortality is the last thing on their minds. I live in a regional area with a new oncology centre, but have found it impossible to find a local support group for any other cancer other than breast (there are four support groups for that!). Starting to feel a bit like a second class cancer citizen as everywhere I go I see fundraising and support for breast cancer but nothing for any other type of cancer (even though bowel cancer kills more people than breast). Don't get me wrong, I am glad that the support is there for breast cancer, but doesn't every cancer patient deserve the same level of support???

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