Diagnosed With Rectal cancer

STS

I am 43, M. Diagnosed with Rectal cancer 2 weeks ago ang surgery was done around 10 days ago. I am with Ileostomy bag now. Will be doing PET Scan on monday. After that , I will be refered to an Oncologist for Chemo and Radio... I am depressed and down. Are there any Rectal cancer stage 3 or 4 survivors here. What is your best advise for me?

danker

bag

I had a ileostomy bag for 6 weeks. Then had it reversed and my colon attached as in normal plumbing. Colonoscopy following Spring showed me NED(no evedenve of disease). Been NED for 6 yrs now!! Good luck to you!

lp1964

Dear Friend,

I'm sorry you have to deal with this. 3 years ago I was 48 when diagnosed with rectal cancer veRay close to the anus. I am NED now with permanent colostomy that has its challenges. But I'm happy to report that even though cancer is an insanely tough and scary journey and you will never be the old yourself, there is good life after the treatment. I'm healthy, happy and optimistic, because I decided to be and got lucky. 

Keep asking soecific questions and all the best to you. 

Laz.

ellend

Hang in there

I am also sorry you have to deal with this. I was diagnosed with Stage II cancer in December. I had 5 weeks of chemo/radiation prior to surgery with the goal of shrinking the tumor prior to surgery. The side effects of treatment are not very pleasant, but I think keeping a positive attitude helps result in a better outcome. I have been fortunate my results from the chemo/radiation and surgery have been very good. No lymph node involvement and containment of the tumor. I still have a temporary iliostomy. Although the tumor was close to the anal verge, there was enough tissue left to reconnect.

Wishing you all the best.Ellen

JanJan63

I was diagnosed with colon

I was diagnosed with colon/rectal cancer Dec 31, 2013. One doctor calls it colon cancer and another calls it rectal cancer so I'm not sure which it actually is. I had an illeostomy first, then chemo and radiation to try to shrink the tumour before surgery and then the surgery. I had some additonal issues that are not common so I won't get into that. I had some lymph node involvement so I was a stage three. I had the cancer metastisize to one lung earlier this year and had that blasted out with radiation and am told it's now gone.

You asked for advice. I'm not sure what to say other than eat well and take care of yourself but don't go nuts trying to eat a certain way. You'll likely be inundated with advice from people. Take what sounds legitimate and discard the rest. It's annoying but people are just trying to help. If you have any questions, no matter how silly or trivial they seem, ask them here. You'll get the best advice from people who have actually lived through it and who have already done the research. Remember that muc of what you'll read on line is old information or is not relevant to your situation. Unfortunately, cancer is different for everyone and the treatments also work differently for everyone. Few people react the same for everything. This is why it's going to be so hard to 'find the cure for cancer'. Each cancer requires it's own treatments and varying treatments even for the same cancer for each person. Also, a treatment can work at one point but then not work later, or the opposite can happen and the doctor will advise trying something again that didn't work in the past. 

There are no sure things. And never allow a dotor to give you a time frame of how long you may or may not live. Nobody can know that. Like someone said on here before, unless your doctor is going to come to your house and shoot you, they have no idea.

They are making strides all the time in cancer research and we are living longer. At the same time, my grandmother had colon cancer in the 1950's when she was in her fifties and she died at 84 from kidney disease, not cancer. And she was healthy up until just before the last time she went in the hospital. She'd just been back from Australia four months before. We live in Canada. She was healthy enough that she had the option of having a kidney transplant but she refused it because she felt that if one were available it should go to a young person. 

So try not to worry too much. Stress and negativity are one of the things that really do affect the body's ability to fight cancer as it affects the body's immune system in a negative way. We're here for you. You can do this. We are all a testament to that.

Jan

STS

I am a sorry . A typo error.

I am a sorry . A typo error. My age is 53 and not 43.

 

STS

I am from Malaysia. I am a Pharmacist and for the last 10 years i was propogating good life style , balance diet, Excercise and good supplements. I was excersing 3-4 days in a week at Gym, very careful with diet ( I dont smoke and drink ) . I was helping many cancer patients with supplements and life style modification. But when i was diagnosed, I could not take it and was having sleepless nights for the past few days. 

Right now, rectum is removed and with ileostomy bag and Biopsy confirmed cancer has spread in Lymph nodes. Will be doing PET on Monday and will get the results on Tuesady. That is giving me more stress.

Can I continue with supplements which boost Immune System. Now I am taking Transfer Factors. Are there any other good supplements. I willstill follow the Oncologist's advise after I get my PET report.

Thank You . 

STS

danker said:

bag

I had a ileostomy bag for 6 weeks. Then had it reversed and my colon attached as in normal plumbing. Colonoscopy following Spring showed me NED(no evedenve of disease). Been NED for 6 yrs now!! Good luck to you!

Did you go for Chemo or Radio

Did you go for Chemo or Radio ? How is your life style now ?

STS

Little correction. My age is

Little correction. My age is 53. Typo Error.

STS

JanJan63 said:

I was diagnosed with colon

I was diagnosed with colon/rectal cancer Dec 31, 2013. One doctor calls it colon cancer and another calls it rectal cancer so I'm not sure which it actually is. I had an illeostomy first, then chemo and radiation to try to shrink the tumour before surgery and then the surgery. I had some additonal issues that are not common so I won't get into that. I had some lymph node involvement so I was a stage three. I had the cancer metastisize to one lung earlier this year and had that blasted out with radiation and am told it's now gone.

You asked for advice. I'm not sure what to say other than eat well and take care of yourself but don't go nuts trying to eat a certain way. You'll likely be inundated with advice from people. Take what sounds legitimate and discard the rest. It's annoying but people are just trying to help. If you have any questions, no matter how silly or trivial they seem, ask them here. You'll get the best advice from people who have actually lived through it and who have already done the research. Remember that muc of what you'll read on line is old information or is not relevant to your situation. Unfortunately, cancer is different for everyone and the treatments also work differently for everyone. Few people react the same for everything. This is why it's going to be so hard to 'find the cure for cancer'. Each cancer requires it's own treatments and varying treatments even for the same cancer for each person. Also, a treatment can work at one point but then not work later, or the opposite can happen and the doctor will advise trying something again that didn't work in the past. 

There are no sure things. And never allow a dotor to give you a time frame of how long you may or may not live. Nobody can know that. Like someone said on here before, unless your doctor is going to come to your house and shoot you, they have no idea.

They are making strides all the time in cancer research and we are living longer. At the same time, my grandmother had colon cancer in the 1950's when she was in her fifties and she died at 84 from kidney disease, not cancer. And she was healthy up until just before the last time she went in the hospital. She'd just been back from Australia four months before. We live in Canada. She was healthy enough that she had the option of having a kidney transplant but she refused it because she felt that if one were available it should go to a young person. 

So try not to worry too much. Stress and negativity are one of the things that really do affect the body's ability to fight cancer as it affects the body's immune system in a negative way. We're here for you. You can do this. We are all a testament to that.

Jan

Thank You Jan, for your

Thank You Jan, for your comprenhesive reply. Are you taking any food supplements?

STS

ellend said:

Hang in there

I am also sorry you have to deal with this. I was diagnosed with Stage II cancer in December. I had 5 weeks of chemo/radiation prior to surgery with the goal of shrinking the tumor prior to surgery. The side effects of treatment are not very pleasant, but I think keeping a positive attitude helps result in a better outcome. I have been fortunate my results from the chemo/radiation and surgery have been very good. No lymph node involvement and containment of the tumor. I still have a temporary iliostomy. Although the tumor was close to the anal verge, there was enough tissue left to reconnect.

Wishing you all the best.Ellen

Dear Ellend, 

Dear Ellend, 

Mine surgey was done and on bag, I may need to wait for the bag to be removed before chemo or radio. Is it dangerous to wait?

STS

lp1964 said:

Dear Friend,

I'm sorry you have to deal with this. 3 years ago I was 48 when diagnosed with rectal cancer veRay close to the anus. I am NED now with permanent colostomy that has its challenges. But I'm happy to report that even though cancer is an insanely tough and scary journey and you will never be the old yourself, there is good life after the treatment. I'm healthy, happy and optimistic, because I decided to be and got lucky. 

Keep asking soecific questions and all the best to you. 

Laz.

Thank You LP. How is your

Thank You LP. How is your food Intake now. Are you taking any food supplements? Yours was stage what? Did the cancer metastated or localised?

STS

danker said:

bag

I had a ileostomy bag for 6 weeks. Then had it reversed and my colon attached as in normal plumbing. Colonoscopy following Spring showed me NED(no evedenve of disease). Been NED for 6 yrs now!! Good luck to you!

Thank You Danker. Did you go

Thank You Danker. Did you go through Chemo and Radio ?

vtspa6

So sorry that you have cancer

So sorry that you have cancer.  For the first 3 months you will probably be in a fog, at least that is how my husband (who has stage 4 cancer) and I were.  I just remember many tests done, colostomy surgery, scans, mri's.  Our calendar was full of Dr' appts.  It has been a year this month and he is still doing chemo.

lp1964

Supplements?

My rectal cancer did not spread to the lymph nodes or to other organs, however it was a size of a walnut and broke through the wall Into the surrounding tissue So it was between stage 2-3. I used to take supplements but they make me feel weird and give me a tummy ache so I quit. 

So sounds like you have a temporary ileostomy on the right side. 

Laz

JanJan63

STS said:

Thank You Jan, for your

Thank You Jan, for your comprenhesive reply. Are you taking any food supplements?

No, I'm not. I do take

No, I'm not. I do take vitamin B and D every day. The vitamin B is because I'm low otherwise and the D is because it doesn't hurt to have it and there is some idea that it may help fight cancer. Other than that I just try to eat a well balanced diet and I've never been a person who ate things like processed foods or pastries or crap like that so of course I don't now. One thing to watch with the ostomy is being careful to chew foods like oranges well because they can cause a blockage if you're not careful. That being said, I eat whatever I want with the ostomy including popcorn.

Jan

beaumontdave

Sounds like you were doing

Sounds like you were doing everything right and still got this stuff, welcome to the blog. I never took supplements, I take a multi-vitamin cause I'm older [58], and a baby aspirin because it's the one thing well studied that showed a relationship with it's use and lower reoccurances of crc. Can't take it during chemo and maybe radiation, because of the bleeding effect, but otherwise it's said to lessen chances of stroke or heart attack as well. And it's cheap. I fought stress with occasional Xanax [.5mg] and melatonin for sleep. Benadryl's even stronger, but I wake up groggy from it, and many don't get any effect from either. That's all I got for advice on supplements, good luck on the scan Monday....................Dave

STS

PET Scan

After receive the bombshell from my Surgeon, he refered me to an Oncologist in a neighbouring country. I did a PET Scan. PET Scan showed 3 tiny dots at Lungs, measured less than 2mm each. ( Removed my rectum on 4th of July ) Since they were too small he was not so sure whether they were cancer or not. But since Biopsy report showed 9 out of 24 lymph nodes had cancer trace, the oncologist confirmed mine is Stage 4. When I asked about the prognosis, straight to my face he told me I have no chance but I should concentrate little longer and try settle my bills and children's education.

I was devasted. 

Anybody Can give me some positive testimonials please.

lp1964

Dear Friend,

Many people here were given the same news as you have and I'm sure they will chime in. Every case and every individual is different. Some hopeful looking cases turn into tough ones some hopeless cases miraculously improve. (See Phil64 recently). Yes, get your life in order that we all should do after a certain age. Prepare for the worst but work towards and hope for the best. 

one mindset that helped me through my journey was this: today you are the same person as you were before you got your diagnosis. Today you have the same skills, personality, drive, work, family and friends than before you just happen to have cancer. Today you can still do the same things you could do before but you have a new task now: to fight and beat cancer. Research, learn and fight like hell. This fight will challenge you and your family greatly, but you had huge challenges before and this is your current one.

All the best for you and we are here to support you. 

Laz

STS

lp1964 said:

Dear Friend,

Many people here were given the same news as you have and I'm sure they will chime in. Every case and every individual is different. Some hopeful looking cases turn into tough ones some hopeless cases miraculously improve. (See Phil64 recently). Yes, get your life in order that we all should do after a certain age. Prepare for the worst but work towards and hope for the best. 

one mindset that helped me through my journey was this: today you are the same person as you were before you got your diagnosis. Today you have the same skills, personality, drive, work, family and friends than before you just happen to have cancer. Today you can still do the same things you could do before but you have a new task now: to fight and beat cancer. Research, learn and fight like hell. This fight will challenge you and your family greatly, but you had huge challenges before and this is your current one.

All the best for you and we are here to support you. 

Laz

Thanks LP...a great message

Thanks LP...a great message indeed.

 

JanJan63

I'm sorry STS but I disagree

I'm sorry STS but I disagree with your doctors. Unless you don't have access to treatments such as various chemos, radiation, ablation, or several other ways of dealing with it, I don't see why they're telling you to get your affairs in order. Doing so is always a good thing because anyone can be gone at any time and thinking we'll live forever is just being blind. Aren't they offering you any options for treatment? I don't know what it's like in your country but I don't think you'd have been told there's no hope here in Canada. The lymph nodes being involved is scary but chemo should deal with widespread rogue cancer cells. Radiation can take care of the spots on your lung. Efforts should be made. What are your options?

Jan