Thank you!

I just wanted to say thanks for all the support I received when I posted last week. It really helped me through a tough spot.

I will just ramble a little about my story, in the hope that it could help someone else in the same situation that I was in.

I am a 25 year old female, with no family history of CRC. I had some bleeding with BM's since xmas this year, so I went to one GP who told me I was having a panic attack, and a GI specialist who told me there was nothing wrong with me. So, being stubborn as usual, I demanded a second opinion at a different hospital. A colonoscopy and gastroscopy was ordered and they found a malignant 6cm tumour in the rectum.

Three weeks ago I went into hospital and had a low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision, a J-pouch and a temporary ileostomy. Surgery went well, recovery went pear shaped. After problems with hypotension, tachycardia, a failed epidural, allergies to everything (morphine, latex, catheter) and a blockage in the small intestine (ouch!) I finally got out of hospital after 2 weeks. At this stage I fell in a heap and got myself worked up into a big state about "the bag". And then got over it...

It is now 3 weeks post surgery and the pathology came back with great news, stage 1. A huge concern for me was fertility, so I dodged the big hurdles of radiation and chemo which would have caused real problems, but now they tell me they want to do genetic testing due to my age. If this came back positive they would recommend not having children anyway, so that's a bit of a bummer. But I'll just stew on that for a while!

On a positive note, I did lose 8kg whilst in hosptial (Atkins has got nothing on me!) which is the best diet I've ever tried. Of course this does make me wonder if they perhaps "borrowed" a few extra organs while they were in there in the name of medical science...

The ileostomy is something that is quite an adjustment. I've always been an extremely squeamish person, and I think this system provides more information than is strictly necessary on how my insides work. Especially when it comes to peristalsis and this thing decides to turn into a huge caterpillar and start wiggling around (eek!).

Furthermore, I've learned that if we are going to talk about things where the sun don't shine, and it is going to involve someone sticking something up your bum, or chopping bits out your bowel, this person will invariably be young, male and good looking (yes, the surgeon, and the surgical registrar, and the gastroenterologist...).

And finally, I have also learned that if you have to have an ileostomy, many of the clothes you used to wear will no longer fit. This requires a big shopping trip after surgery to buy lots of new clothes. And shoes. And jewellery.

So now I will stop rambling, and suffice to say I count my blessings. I had a great surgeon (and surgical team) who did a great job of my operation (the scar is so thin it is unbelievable), and I am very thankful that it was found at this stage.

My thoughts are with all of those who have endured this (and far worse than me).

Cal xxx