Just joined the club

Mona6518
Mona6518 Member Posts: 8
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi everyone. I just got the results from my colonscopy yesterday and am going in for surgery next Friday to have the cancerous growth removed. So glad to hear about this group and look forward to getting to know you all.

Little about me:
Just shy of 38, married (to a great guy) and doggy Mom to two demons dogs (each about 100 lbs)
Family history - none for colorectal but plenty of other cancers on my Dad's side of the tree (so I guess you could say I've always expected this diagnosis).

Don't know yet how localized vs widespread this is - just that the biopsy came back cancer. Should know more in a few weeks (after pathology does their thing).

Handle - Mona6518 but you can call me Monkey :)

Comments

  • timlou
    timlou Member Posts: 60
    #2
    Hi Monkey,
    Welcome, although I am not the "official" welcomer, I am the first on today. There will be many more. You have come to the right place. These people are the genuine article they are here for us always encouraging and very, very funny. There are days I do nothing but read and laugh, and other days I read and cry. We are all together in our battles I with breast cancer my husband Tim with colon cancer. We are all sisters and brothers in surviorship. Best of Luck. Louise
  • HowardJ
    HowardJ Member Posts: 474
    #3
    Hi Monkey, and welcome. You'll find folks here who've been through just about anything you're about to, all willing to share their experiences and answer any questions you have along the way.

    Good idea waiting till next Friday for surgery. I had mine 1 year ago yesterday and it wasn't fun spending New Years in the hospital--not a lot of staff around.

    Good luck with the surgery.

    Howard
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #4
    Welcome to our group. If you have any specific questions, just ask. we have been there and know alot about this terrible illness.

    Moe
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #5
    Hi Monkey -

    Sorry you have to join our group, but given the circumstances, it is a great group - lots of support and lots of information.

    Keep us posted on your status - I'll be thinking of you next Friday.

    Betsy
  • wendy_21
    wendy_21 Member Posts: 30
    #6
    Welcomr. This is a great place for information and support. I'm sorry you are now one of us, but this is a good place to be.
  • Jen28
    Jen28 Member Posts: 45
    #7
    Monkey,

    Sorry that you have to be here, but welcome. Best of luck with your surgery next Friday. Don't know if it's an option for you, but I had laparoscopic surgery for my sigmoid colon resection, and found that the recovery time was pretty short and my scars are not too bad.

    I've found that the people in this group are great, and I think you'll find a lot of support and information here.

    Jen
  • spongebob
    spongebob Member Posts: 2,565 Member
    #8
    Oye, Monkey! Que tal!

    I like your handle and nick-name - are you Latina?

    Like everyone else has said, sorry you're here but welcome, we're glad you are. This is a great place to ask, vent, cry, laugh, yell, and answer. I have been here for a few years now (the number of postings was somewhere around 600 when I first arrived. Now we're over 22,000!) and found everyone to be extremely supportive. There are folks here from all over the US, Canada (that's part of the US, isn't it?), Australia, Hong Kong, the UK. There are even people from as far away as Texas! (they actually speak pretty good English when they post).

    Sounds like you have an excellent attitude (which is 80% of your battle in my opinion). We'll all be with you in spirit on Friday as you officially become a Semi-Colon!

    Cheers

    - SpongeBob
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    #9
    spongebob said:

    Oye, Monkey! Que tal!

    I like your handle and nick-name - are you Latina?

    Like everyone else has said, sorry you're here but welcome, we're glad you are. This is a great place to ask, vent, cry, laugh, yell, and answer. I have been here for a few years now (the number of postings was somewhere around 600 when I first arrived. Now we're over 22,000!) and found everyone to be extremely supportive. There are folks here from all over the US, Canada (that's part of the US, isn't it?), Australia, Hong Kong, the UK. There are even people from as far away as Texas! (they actually speak pretty good English when they post).

    Sounds like you have an excellent attitude (which is 80% of your battle in my opinion). We'll all be with you in spirit on Friday as you officially become a Semi-Colon!

    Cheers

    - SpongeBob

    Hiya Monkey....struth....nicknames are a worry sometimes. Being another "animal" on here I have to tell you that sooner or later sometimes the names get shortened, lengthened, or just plain aka'd.I'm Ross here to the group but often called kangathong or rainbow man...more on that another time...I digress.
    Welcome to our family albiet would have been better under more pleasant circumstances but no matter.The very fact you found us is great so as Bob said.....anything goes here..you will find all the support and info you need. We can be serious and throw a bit of humour in too but the main thing is that you keep us informed and don't pull any punches....even the very personal problems related to bowel cancer are answered here. We want to make sure you feel relaxed about even the "taboo" , not spoken about problems that you may have. Bowel cancer here is not a dirty word.......it just happens to relate to the "unspoken" part of the human body. All of us here talk about our arse like we would talk about; "who won the ashes between oz and the brits", " who won the tour de france----Lance--YAY!"....or.....geez...I can't speak for the guys stateside.
    In short, don't be bashfull....and never think you are complaining.
    Keep us informed and we wish you the very best for friday.
    Do you feel a little more comfortable now?...I hope so.
    Ross and Jen
  • Mona6518
    Mona6518 Member Posts: 8
    #10
    Hi Timlou, Howard, Moe, Betsy, Wendy_21, Jen, SpongeBob and Ross and 3greatkids... :)
    Thanks for the warm welcome ! :)

    The growth is located in the upper realms of my rectum so I'll be having a low anterior resection done. I get to have regular (vs laparoscopic) surgery (which is fine by me since I like one piece and tankini bathing suits better anyhow).

    4-5 days in the Hospital to recover (and yes, Dr has already told me he wants me up and walking as much as I can - even on the day of surgery). Then, I get to go home and recover there (thank heavens for DVR/Tivo devices - I'm already recording movies).

    So the Monkey thing :)
    My given first name is also the name in a lovely series of books by Beverly Clearly ('X' the Pest).. so I've always gone by Mona (expect when I was in trouble with my Mom).
    Some friends of mine (from Puerto Rico) kept telling me that Mona was a monkey in Spanish (which I didn't believe). And then, three years ago, I saw my first Mona Monkey at the Atlanta Zoo while there on a visit. I've gone by Monkey every since. :)
    *Plus... it's a nickname my husband can use in public*

    Oye Spongebob! Nope.. not Latina, but grew up in S Fl so took Spanish as my 'foreign language' (I've also tried to learn German - bad idea after learning Spanish - and American Sign Language).

    Again, thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. I may be silent for a week after surgery but I'll be back up here as soon as I can.

    Monkey

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