Just diagnosed

Almost to the day one year ago I was where you are now.  Your mind is spinning and you can't get enough information fast enough.  I used to say that I earned a PhD in rectal cancer by reading everything Google could find.

I recommend that you devote most of your research time to reading the posts on this forum.  We are real people, without any hidden agenda's, who have and/or had CRC.  The information on this forum is true and blunt.

You will also discover new friends on this forum - people that you will most likely never meet, but people who will positively affect your life.  You are not alone in your journey.

Jim

Stay with this site and don't look at anything else. The 'facts' are often old information or are not even accurate and everyone with this is different. You can't base your situation on someone else with the same cancer because it doesn't go that way. There are many success stories and there are new drugs coming out all the time. We've all been through it and you'll get through it, too.

Jan 

Like Jim, I am one year into this as well. I find it interesting that so many of us have rectal cancer specifically. Mine was a 10cm mass, and after 28 treatments of radiation and Xeloda last Summer, I had my rectum removed and a permanent colostomy. I was terrified of all the above...needlessly! I am still here and keep getting stronger. If you have any ostomy concerns, let us know. I know in my heart my surgery has bought me time and a second chance. I try to be grateful for every single day. And I feel good. Hang in there. There are options and second opinions if you don't feel 100% comfortable with something. 

I was diagnosed with RC about 11 months ago and it was shocking and I didn't know what to do or what the options were. I wound up Stage 3B and am going through the standard treatment protocol. Today there is a fair amount of experimentation with what's done and in what order. My schedule was 28 days of chemo and radiation, six weeks of rest, surgery to remove the tumor, recovery, six more months of chemo, wait three months for scans and then schedule reversal surgery. Some of the newer approaches are to do all of the chemo and radiation up-front and to do less chemo.

You will likely have scans done to get the precise staging and to ensure that it hasn't spread to other parts of the body. There is a huge learning curve so we usually don't throw everything at someone just starting but we're happy to answer questions.

BRHMichigan said:

Right away

Yes, my gastro was 100% certain immediately after perfoming the colonoscopy. I didn't believe it until he called with pathology results. They just know, unfortunately, when the see it. I say that sadly because it must be so hard for them to deliver this news. He sent me on my way with pictures and his diagnosis, and also told me exactly what to expect next... He referred me to both an Oncologist and Radiologist for pre-surgical radiation. It never hurts to hang onto hope, just please prepare yourself. It is tough, but it is doable. Praying you are early stage, but even if you are 3 or 4, like me, there is lots of hope. 

Same here as with BRH.  The colonoscopy doctor said the tumor had to be removed promptly.  Actually, for me, the tests were a bit misleading, the biopsy was inconclusive and my cea was low.  But at surgery, it turns out I was "staged" as IIIb.  Keep your hopes up, but also be ready with a plan if the reality is not what you hoped.  Or, as I have always said, "hope for the best and prepare for the worst."

Mine didn't tell me but they said they found a mass there and after seeing it, it just kind of sounded like they were trying to tell me without actually saying the words.  They wanted another test done the following Monday (some type of ultrasound).  My colonoscopy was done the day before Thanksgiving so that really was not a very good day for me to celebrate that year.  They've seen a lot and they can usually tell what is and what isn't.

Kim

I was told right away. I even remember questioning how could they know without more tests. 

My process was the same as MikeNH (radiation with chemo pills/rest/port & surgery/rest/chemo/rest/surgery for colostomy bag removed/return to living a normal life!). I was stage IIIC. Seven lymph nodes and my uterus showed signs of cancer before surgery. They couldn't confirm cancer in the nodes or uterus after surgery because my first round of treatment was very responsive and killed everything, even the large one in my colon. 

I just finished my final surgery last month. Anyone who has the colostomy bag will confirm - THANK GOODNESS that is gone. I was back to work within two weeks of my last surgery and enjoy every minute of life now. This site is very informative. I just recently joined and wished I had sooner. I was a lost puppy always asking questions and being alarmed with every pain. At one point, I had a headache for a few days and insisted it was cancer (it wasn't). 

This process will challenge you and at times make you feel defeated, but you will beat this. Take one day at a time. 

My surgeon told me that by the looks of the mass, it is most likely malignant.  So just imagine the thought of me being in intense pain, lying on the operating table with my surgeon being 3 hours late, with the thoughts of me having cancer playing on my head.  It wasn't very pleasant, but what I did was to get over the surgery first and I'll think of the rest later.  I prayed that he was wrong, but at the same time ready that he's right.  I ended up being stage 3B.  I hope and pray yours is caught early.  Chemo and surgery aren't really the best experience, on top of the mental and emotional stress cancer gives us, but once you're there, you'll learn to strive and survive.