just diagnosed

I too was diagnosed with rectal cancer (stage IIIc) in 2010 and I'm still here enjoying life.  It's a very scary time for you right now.  Good luck with your scans, ultrasounds and doctor visits.  Getting that information will help.  It does get better!  This group can be very helpful with the practical questions.  Once you get more information and have some questions, ask away.      

I can assure you that we all understand the "initial" feelings of this diagnosis.

I myself got the diagnosis of a cancerous rectal tumor the week before Christmas 2009.  I had major surgery March 2010 with the removal of the anus, rectum and total hysterectomy.  I also got a colostomy.

Life is good....changed but good. 

Don't hesitate to ask any question or express your feelings here.  We all understand.

Wishing you the best with your treatments.

Marie who loves kitties

You are really in one of the hardest parts of the whole process...the first weeks after diagnosis, when the uncertainty and fear can be just overwhelming.  That's pretty normal.  I think we all felt that way.  But once you get an official dx, and a treatment plan in place, you will feel a lot better, at least emotionally (as hard as that is to believe at the moment).  And we'll be here to help you out as you go along.  There's a great deal of experience and compassion on this board, and hopefully we'll be able to offer you some information and support.

Hugs~Ann Alexandria

Hi Kenny:

It is so normal to feel what you have shared. The whole journey is challenging and once

you have the facts and a treatment plan in place, your feelings of hopelessness will subuside!

The initial shock and "what-if's" and "what will happen" are exhausting.

Please know there are many, many kind and helpful folks on this board who can answer

questions and guide you. We all understand!

I have been in treatment for 20 months and have had many ups and downs......and quality of life

has been decent. Symptoms of this disease are very insidious..........

Getting the best Dr.'s and surgeons is very important and your comfort level with them.

Ask questions and be pro-active as possible.

Wishing the best for you  - Barb

I've been to Stanford a few times myself, great surgeons and oncologists there.  I was just there the 23rd of June through the 31st getting my second liver resection.  Shame my appt is the 28th otherwise we could have a cuppa of Joe together. What is your surgeon's name, might be the same one I had for a colon resection over two years ago.

When you are first diagnosed you go through a lot of thoughts and sleepless nights, it gets better, well after a bit of anger and why me, I think it took about three months before I got into the "Okay, I have cancer, let's deal with it" mode.  The cancer had spread to numerous parts of my body, but here I am, over three years later still going strong. I got a lot of help along the way by the people on this board, I hope we can be useful to you as well.

Winter Marie

Hi Kenny, sorry you needed to find this forum but there are many helpful folks on here to help you through your journey.  I am coming up on the second anniversary of my rectal cancer diagnosis (July 2011).   I am currently NED (no evidence of disease) and am having a good quality of life.  Like you when first diagnosed, I felt like my life was over, couldn't sleep or eat and felt disconnected.  As others have stated, once I had all my test results and a treatment plan I felt better, not necessarily good, but better.   Getting outside also helped me and still does when I feel anxious.  Goodluck over the next days getting your plan in order.  Just know what you are feeling is normal but it will get better.  Remember to breathe. 

Laura 

I'm very sorry that you had to join this group, but you've found a great supportive place.  You will experience a whirlwind of appointments and tests.  Please make sure that you bring someone with you at all your appointments.  When you are going through all this at the early stages of diagnosis your head is reeling and when you go to an appointment you don't always comprehend what is being said so it is best that you have 4 ears instead of 2.  Mine was rectal also so I've experienced the bleeding too but it was very little and only a short time before going in to doctor but then he said probably hemorrhoids (golly always have to look up the spelling for that).  You can read my story (just click my name) and you can see what I've been through.  I've been through the ultrasound at first scheduling too and that was to find out about lymph node involvement.  Your CT scan will tell much more of if it has spread to other organs.  I'm wishing you the best outcome.  We here can answer a lot of your questions about what will happen next and the treatment involved and side effects, so please don't hesitate to ask questions.  Also, ask your doctor, any of them, to prescribe you an anxiety pill or sleeping pill or both.  Since my diagnosis I've not been able to sleep and wake up in the middle of the night still thinking about it so the better sleep you get the better your recovery.  I'm taking a low dose now and it seems to work.  Let us know how things are going.

Kim