Lost

Oh Sweetie, I am so sorry you have to travel this road. It is cruel for such a young person as yourself to have to deal with this. The best advice I can give you is to act quickly and aggresively to treat this. Your treatment will depend on what stage your cancer is. Surgery is almost inevitable, but chemo and which chemo would depend on the stage of your cancer. I'm assuming you have spoken with an oncologist, yes? Do you feel comfortable with and trust him/her? Get a second opinion if you feel the need. The feeling of being out of control is usually what panics us. Educate yourself about the disease; the unknown makes us more scared. Speak frankly with your oncologist about your fears and concerns. Discuss things with the people you know you can rely on to support you through this. It is scary to hear the word "cancer", but colorectal cancer is one of the most treatable cancers out there if it is caught early.

This discussion board has been a real support to me during my cancer journey, and I think you will find all kinds of great advice and support here. Know that we are all pulling for you and sending prayers your way.

Kirsten

Hi sweetie
It is very tough at the begining....but I guess you have a good chance to be in the early stages ( we will be praying for that).just start thinking about how you are going to fight it and what at you are going to do after everything is gone....You will receive a lot of information here....read about diets, vitamins, attitude etc....
God bless

Ditto on all of the above. My thoughts are with you.

Debbie

I'm so sorry you are dealing with the beast at such a tender age, but with the support of your fiance and sister and the wonderful members of this board you'll come out OK. Really.

I agree with what the others have said... talk with your medical team and listen intently to what they have to say. But remember, you are in charge. If you don't like what you're hearing politely tell your doctor(s) you'd like a second opinion and they might even arrange one for you with a colleague.

I don't know where you live, but if there is a major cancer center nearby that would be an ideal place to go.

I've been told that colon cancer is largely a slow-growing beast so the fact that you are so young could mean you are in the early stages. There are also some hereditary versions of the beast that your medical team will want to rule out.

So don't panic. Girder up with faith and prayer (or good vibes if you wish) and get talking with your doctors. Then come back here and let us know how you're doing and we can share our experiences with you as you take on the good fight.

Tally ho!!! Like Bruce says, never give up!

Hi -

I am so sorry you have to be here, especially at such a young age. But you have come to a place where you can get great support and information.

The shock of diagnosis is intense, so try and take it one day at a time and take the treatment one step at a time.

What treatment options have you been given? Have you had colon surgery yet? (You most likely will have that surgery, perhaps after radiation or perhaps without pre-radiation). Let us know and we can provide more information. Usually colon surgery is the first step (but not always). Try and get thru this one step at a time. There is MUCH hope. If chemo is required, there are many regimens depending upon stage. Let us know more details about your diagnosis and we can help.

Everyone is correct in that if you are not comfortable with your oncologist or colorectal surgeon (depending upon where you are in the process, you should seek a second opinion.

Feel free to email me on this site (see the envelope icon at the bottom of this email). I was diagnosed Stage IV (liver met) in May 2005, had colon surgery and 6 cycles of chemo and am doing well.

Everyone else has given you good advice. Please also try to ignore Internet statistics. Most of them are out of date and even when you look at "data" about individual drugs, it often comes from early clinical trials which were quite possibly done on the sickest patients and don't represent the norm.

Please keep coming back here for support. I of course know nothing of your family situation, but it does get easier with every friend / family member you tell. And, the more you learn, the more you will realize that this disease is very often treatable.

Take care,
Betsy

You've received good advice so far in the replies already posted.

I'm so sorry you don't have more family support. Lean on your sister and fiance -- of course, you'll find support at this website.

We don't know where you live and other details of your diagnosis -- but I agree with the others that if possible, head to a teaching hospital within a reasonable distance from your home. It is important to have confidence in your oncologist and that he or she takes time to listen to you and explain things so you understand.

One piece of advice I can add is to take someone with you when meeting with your doctors, to take notes and give you moral support, and to remind you to ask all the questions you have (make a written list of your concerns in advance). You will have to make some important decisions, and you should do everything possible to make the decision-making process as easy on yourself as possible. Because of the stress you are under, you may forget details of your meeting so having another with you person is a great asset.

One thing to keep in mind during this stressful time: this is a dreadful disease BUT it is beatable and as numerous people at this site will attest, YOU CAN BEAT THIS DISEASE and lead a long, normal life. Never give up.

I am so sorry for what you are going through. You have come to a great source of information and support. Everyone here will help you get through this. It is so scary for you , I am sure. For my husband and I, the worst part was in the beginning and getting over the shock. After you get all of your information and find the best plan of attack to fight this disease, you may find that things get a little easier. I hope you can find the support you need from others close to you. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Please let us know how things go.

Have Faith!

Hi and welcome, but also sorry you have to be here. What is your onc telling you? Be sure to discuss all options thoroughly with him or her and don't be afraid to get a second opinion from another doctor if necessary. Keep us posted. God Bless.

Diane