I am only 40.......

jean1962
jean1962 Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Actualy,2 months before my 40th birthday I was diagnosed with rectal cancer. I needed to have a colostomy and thought that was the end of the world. It has been 8 months since being diagnosed and I have had chemo, radiation, surgery, and now back to chemo. The drs recently found a tumor near my spinal chord and I am now going for radiation again, followed by chemo. I have been strong throughout but lately it has been getting difficult to keep it together.

Comments

  • janhp
    janhp Member Posts: 1
    #2
    I am only 35 and had 12 inches of my lower colon-upper rectum removed in Feb. I didn't get a bag by less than an inch. I feel very lucky in that respect, however, I am about to start radiation with a continuous pump for chemo. How was your radiation treatment? Did it effect your bladder? Do you have kids? Can they remove the tumor my your spinal chord? Let me know what's happening with you... jan1966--janhp
  • vicmier
    vicmier Member Posts: 10
    #3
    You are only 40? I was only 23 when diagnosed with colon cancer. Was that a shocker. I dont think of myself as untouchable, but I never thought I would have cancer. I have been ok all this time, but I always wonder, the what ifs. What if I didnt have symptoms, what if it was too late?
    After the surgery I went thru many changes, emotional and lets not forget the physical. A nice scar runs down my stomach, nice huh? Chemo is a "m fer" isnt it? I dont know what I am trying to say here. This is the first time I say much about my situation. I have not been able to say much. I dont know if it is because it is scary to think that at any point it could happen again, or because it might be somewhere else.
    Forgive me if I blab on.
    My mother is in the same situation. She had her surgery one year before mine. And 3 years later she had it again. Only that time it was bening. My uncle on her side passed away of the same thing, he was in Mexico and could not afford to get better. Or it was just found to late. My cousin on her side also died of a brain tumor, all within the same time frame.
    Try keeping that together, you cant. It is too hard to keep it together. My girlfriend at the time dumped me. Because I changed too much. I stopped caring she said. Who wouldnt? So I married her, and now have two big worries. Chris and Julian. My two boys. That I hope this disease that is in my family would spare them. But if it spares them, what happens to my grand kids, would they be spared?
    I just dont know.
    I hope that you get better, and not give up. It is all we have, hope.
  • mrslacsr
    mrslacsr Member Posts: 30
    #4
    I understand how you feel. I am only 36 years old and I have been diagnosed with rectal cancer in Jan. and I am very scared! I have had chemotherapy and radiation and I am now waiting for my surgery. I have already been informed that I have to have a permanent colostomy and that scares me more than anything. How do you handle this? Is it hard to accept and maintain? I really could use your help with this! Thanks in advance for any help that you can give me on this matter!
    Michele
  • mrslacsr
    mrslacsr Member Posts: 30
    #5
    vicmier said:

    You are only 40? I was only 23 when diagnosed with colon cancer. Was that a shocker. I dont think of myself as untouchable, but I never thought I would have cancer. I have been ok all this time, but I always wonder, the what ifs. What if I didnt have symptoms, what if it was too late?
    After the surgery I went thru many changes, emotional and lets not forget the physical. A nice scar runs down my stomach, nice huh? Chemo is a "m fer" isnt it? I dont know what I am trying to say here. This is the first time I say much about my situation. I have not been able to say much. I dont know if it is because it is scary to think that at any point it could happen again, or because it might be somewhere else.
    Forgive me if I blab on.
    My mother is in the same situation. She had her surgery one year before mine. And 3 years later she had it again. Only that time it was bening. My uncle on her side passed away of the same thing, he was in Mexico and could not afford to get better. Or it was just found to late. My cousin on her side also died of a brain tumor, all within the same time frame.
    Try keeping that together, you cant. It is too hard to keep it together. My girlfriend at the time dumped me. Because I changed too much. I stopped caring she said. Who wouldnt? So I married her, and now have two big worries. Chris and Julian. My two boys. That I hope this disease that is in my family would spare them. But if it spares them, what happens to my grand kids, would they be spared?
    I just dont know.
    I hope that you get better, and not give up. It is all we have, hope.

    You sound just as scared as I am. I am 36 and I was just diagnosed in January. I worry about the same things as you. Will my kids get it? What about my grandkids? I have only one right now and he is almost 6 months old but that doesn't mean that when he gets older he can't get this? I have to have a permanent colostomy and I am not even sure if I can handle that change,either. My husband of 10 years is behind me 100% and says that I will be ok. I'm still afraid though and I know that he is. We are waiting to see the surgeon so that we can schedule my surgery. Look at me, I'm babbling, too. Sorry. Hang in there and I will try to do the same thing but I can assure you that will definitely be hard.
    Michele
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #6
    I hear ya! I was diagnosed with colon cancer 1 1/2 months before my 40th. My sister died of this when she was 33. Talk about scared. I opted to not do the chemo and so far am cancer free for 6 months. I lost it alot at first. that helped to get it out rather than hold it in and try to be strong for others. I have 5 kids. They need to see real life which means their mama is going to wail and scream a bit. Who wouldn't? The best to you. emily
  • wildcat
    wildcat Member Posts: 40
    #7
    2bhealed said:

    I hear ya! I was diagnosed with colon cancer 1 1/2 months before my 40th. My sister died of this when she was 33. Talk about scared. I opted to not do the chemo and so far am cancer free for 6 months. I lost it alot at first. that helped to get it out rather than hold it in and try to be strong for others. I have 5 kids. They need to see real life which means their mama is going to wail and scream a bit. Who wouldn't? The best to you. emily

    I feel like I am the old one in this bunch. I was diagnosed at age 42 with colorectal cancer. I had surgery last Oct. I went into Chemo, radiation/chemo and now hopefully on my last round of chemo. PLEASE, PLEASE contact you doctor about your concerns. I had a lot of troubles the first three months but basically kept the mental aspects away from my doctor. He got me involved with a support group. I am not big on group meetings but have been in contact with a couple of individuals that went through the same thing I am going through. This was a great help. There are also medications that the futher along I got they seem to help. Hang in there, type a lot, and crying is okay.

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