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  someone
  Healthshare Member

  Hi Scott
  
  
  
  Thanks for sharing what you are going through. I am very pleased to hear that the prognosis is good.
  
  
  
  I am sure that many in the Bowel Cancer Community will want to know how you get on. Please keep us updated on your journey…
  
  
  
  My best Darryl Reply to this post  |  Report
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  Bowel Cancer Australia
  Health Consumer Organisation

  Bowel Cancer Australia works to reduce the impact of bowel cancer in our society through awareness, education, support and research. We aim to help save ... View profile

  Hi Scott,
  
  
  
  Thank you for sharing your story with us.
  
  
  
  It is wonderful to hear that your prognosis is good, and that you are so positive about your bowel cancer journey
  
  
  
  There are definitely lots of people out there in the same position as you, who would love to connect. There is also a wealth of information and resources available to help you through the next stages of your treatment and recovery.
  
  
  
  Our Nurse Advisor will be in touch shortly with a response also.
  
  
  
  In the meantime, there is quite a bit of information available on our website that you might like to have a look through http://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org.
  
  
  
  A snapshot of the types of information you will find there includes:
  
  
  
  Understanding bowel cancer - Bowel Cancer Australia publish a wide range of useful patient information, covering all aspects of bowel cancer. You can download our booklets, brochures as well as other information from this page.
  
  
  
  Living with bowel cancer - Information about life during and after bowel cancer (including stoma care)
  
  
  
  Bowel Cancer Pathway - An interactive chart that shows a typical bowel cancer ‘patient pathway’, and links through to more detailed information on each element.
  
  
  
  'Love My Family' Community - Bowel Cancer Australia's ‘Love My Family’ Community, is a voluntary network of people affected by bowel cancer, whether personally or via a family member.
  
  
  
  Real Life Stories - Often, people find it helpful to read about the experiences of others who have been affected by bowel cancer, what happened to them and how they are now. Stories within this webpage are about members of our ‘Love My Family’ Community.
  
  
  
  A number of the stories are also available as videos on our YouTube Channel.
  
  
  
  Hope that helps and please do let us know if you have any further questions.
  
  
  
  Wishing you all the very best for your treatment, and looking forward to hearing more about your bowel cancer journey.
  
  
  
  Kind regards
  
  
  
  The team at Bowel Cancer Australia.
  
  
  
  Please Note: Bowel Cancer Australia's Nurse and Nutritionist Advisory services are subject to the following disclaimer. Reply to this post  |  Report
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  Bowel Cancer Australia
  Health Consumer Organisation

  Bowel Cancer Australia works to reduce the impact of bowel cancer in our society through awareness, education, support and research. We aim to help save ... View profile

  Hi Scott,
  
  
  
  Thank you for such a positive message and your question regarding your recent diagnosis.
  
  
  
  The bowel certainly is an interesting and complex organ, so depending on the result of your surgery and whether or not you will require a colostomy bag either temporarily or permanently, you may have to adjust to a very different regime when it comes to your bowel habits.
  
  
  
  If after surgery you do not require a colostomy bag, be prepared to take it easy for up to 12 weeks post surgery in order for your muscles, nerves and bowel to get back to slight normality. It can take up to 12 months for some people before they have re-established a routine without feeling the urgency of having to go to the toilet. So in terms of work and needing a toilet near by, I highly recommend you know the location of a toilet within the first 12 months of being back out onsite, until you become confident with your bowel and it's actions after surgery. 
  
  
  
  The addition of a colostomy for many of our patients has been a surprisingly more positive experience than first anticipated. Most previously, the technology involved with colostomy bags have improved so much, fitted for both comfort, ease and most preferred by you. If the stoma is required, you will speak at length to a stoma therapy nurse before having the colostomy fitted, in order to understand what to expect and they will help you initially get used to managing it, from cleaning around the stoma site to fitting a new bag when necessary. You will not be left alone to do these things at the beginning.
  
  
  
  If you do require a colostomy bag after surgery either short term or long term, and you would like to speak with other bowel cancer patients who have dealt with this new addition, please contact us at Bowel Cancer Australia and through the Love My Family Community, we can put you in contact with other people who can give you their own experience on how they best coped with this new addition to their lifestyle.  
  
  
  
  I hope this helps Scott,
  
  
  
  Kind regards
  
  
  
  Tammy
  
  Bowel Cancer Australia Nurse Advisor
  
  
  
  Please Note: Bowel Cancer Australia's Nurse and Nutritionist Advisory services are subject to the following disclaimer. Reply to this post  |  Report
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  benbravery
  Healthshare Member

  Hi Scott,
  
  
  
  I'm 29 and going through the exact same thing. My tumour is sitting in the sigmoid but has grown out of the bowel wall and joined to my rectum. It was found in Janurary. I then had chemoradiotherapy for 5.5 weeks (28 doses) and also had continuous low-dose chemotherapy via a PICC line. I am going in for surgery in less than a week.
  
  
  
  I have been keeping a blog that explains some of the tests and treatments for our type of cancer. You can see it here:
  
  
  
  www.benbbrave.blogspot.com
  
  
  
  Please get in touch via my email on that blog if you want to talk some more.
  
  
  
  Ben Reply to this post  |  Report
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• • 

    scottn1au
    Healthshare Member

    Hi Everyone,
    
    
    
    Thank you all for your support and advice it is much appreciated. I have been overwelmed and frankly suprised at the amount of support and well wishes from people I have never met from all different organisations and groups.
    
    
    
    Well I survived my first week of treatment and I still don't feel sick at all apart from being a bit more tired than usual. Like Ben I am recieving a low dose of chemo continuosly and radiation 5 days a week. It is quite a strange feeling waiting to become sick when you feel perfectly fine.
    
    
    
    A tip for those people that live in the southern suburbs of Melbourne, I have been receiving my treatment at Ringwood private hospital. They have radiotherapy facilities there and a chemo ward as well. It certainly beats driving into the city everyday and the parking is free and plentyfull also. I'm not entirely sure but I dont think you need to have private health insurance to be treated there as it is all out-patient which is covered by medicare anyway. My colerectal surgery will be at Cabrini private hostpital in Malvern, they somewhat specialise in bowel cancer there and have very experienced surgeons. I was susprised that my surgeon had not heard of Ringwood private's facillities and wanted to refer me to a hospital in Melbourne for treatment.
    
    
    
    I wish you good luck Ben with your upcoming surgery and hope you recover well. I have read your blogs already and enjoyed them, informative and good for a laugh, just what I need.
    
    
    
    I have just finished reading a book called Saving My Arse by an author in the U.K called Mark Davies. I highly recomend it.  It is one man's tale about, well… saving his arse! A very funny, in fact hilarious but informative story about his fight against bowel cancer. Ben I think you would really enjoy it.
    
    
    
    You can get the book via his website www.savingmyarse.co.uk . Although I did have problems downloading the PDF copy to my computer, but after contacting Mark directly he was more than happy to email me a copy of his book.
    
    
    
    Well that's all for now.
    
    
    
    Regards
    
    Scott Reply to this post  |  Report
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• • • 

      jerra40
      Healthshare Member

      Hi Scott and Ben,
      
      
      
      I'm 40 and discovered that I had bowel cancer almost by chance a few weeks ago. I have Haemachromatosis (too much iron in my blood) so give blood every 3 months to reduce the iron levels. The Red Cross asked me every time I donated to have my iron levels tested via my GP to make sure the frequency of donating was appropriate. I ignored them for around six months and finally had it done when I went to the quack with a good dose of the flu.
      
      
      
      The tests came back with anaemic iron levels - not right for someone with my condition. So Gastroenterologist - colonoscopy - bingo! Still in an anaesthetic haze I was informed that it ‘looks like you have a cancer in your bowel’. So much for my prediction of a stomach ulcer!
      
      
      
      Anyway couldnt get into a surgeon quickly enough in Canberra so rang a surgeon in Sydney and had consult, scans and surgery within a 48 hour period. Macquarie University Hospital was brilliant. It was a whirlwind but it didnt give me time to think too much about my predicament. Turns out it was stage 2.
      
      
      
      I was lucky. I had no symptoms and would have discovered this when things got bad if I didnt have the blood tests. Luckily the lymph nodes around the cancer removed during surgery were clear. I have 6 months of chemo just to nuke anything that may have gone unseen.
      
      
      
      My lessons learned :don't research too much - can get depressing and it's a different experience for everyone. Colorectal surgeons are good at this stuff, let the surgery happen and concentrate on your recovery. Good pain treatment as well (aka ‘painbusters’).Post surgery - everything will work again, don't stress. (and don't send emails when you're on morphine…)Dont be afraid to eat when you get home ('anything you can cut with a fork, no nuts or popcorn'). It's worked for me, haven't tried steak yet though 4 weeks on.Ask lots of questions, particularly ‘what next’. Ask for copies of your results to take to your next appointment!Enough about me - good luck to you both. There is definitely a big shiny light at the end of the tunnel. Like me I'm sure you know or have learned of people nearby who got through this and 10-15 years later still going strong with no issues.
      
      
      
      Cheers
      
      
      
      Tim Reply to this post  |  Report
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• • • 

      Mistyhaze
      Healthshare Member

      hello Scott only just found your post,am interested how hou are going? i had rectal cancer t3 and went through everything you discribe but I also had chemo post surgery as well whilehaving a temp illiostomy. thankyou for sharing your experience and i wish you well Reply to this post  |  Report
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  Mistyhaze
  Healthshare Member

  hello to SCOTt how are you going now?? Reply to this post  |  Report
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