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Original poster

Shit - I have bowel cancer. Any advice from people that have been through this?

11 replies

Taytotots · 27/02/2018 09:45

Please excuse the pun in the title Blush. Got rushed into hospital Thursday with abdominal pain. Bowel obstruction found in colon and operation to remove that and most of my colon Thursday night. I got let out yesterday and have about a week's wait to see if I get a call from the oncology team about follow up. Apparently if I don't it is good news but I need to wait for my surgery follow up in 3 weeks to know as they just don't contact you Hmm. This has all come as a massive suprise. The only symptoms I've had (apart from the stomach pain this week) have been anaemia and I have been seeing a gynaecologist trying to get that sorted as both he and gp thought was the cause - of course it might be and this could be coincidence. Has anyone got any tips on reading or other resources to help me? Particularly need to know about post-surgery diet both now and for long term, and general resources on treatment, prognosis etc. Mainly after evidenced-based stuff. Also very keen to hear from people who have experience of this. Absolutely the last thing I expected and feels a bit of a kick in the teeth as I've always tried to be as healthy as possible and don't really have any of the risk factors (think of all those lovely bacon sandwiches I avoided!). Really quite scared. I'm relatively young and have two young kids.

OP posts:
ggirl · 27/02/2018 10:13

Hi Tayto , Sorry to hear you've been through this , what a shock for you and your family.

I had a right Hemicolectomy (right side of large colon taken out) 3 weeks ago for suspected bowel cancer .The waiting for results is awful .
There are lots of very supportive mums netters going through similar waiting on this thread here

Did you get a post surgery diet advice sheet from the ward? I am following a low fibre diet until 6 weeks post op , no brown bread/rice , vegetable/fruit skins ,fibrous veg,seeds etc.
My surgeon has advised me to avoid mushrooms/corn and whole nuts for life to avoid bowel obstruction, I bloody love mushrooms !!

Not sure about sources online for you to look at this NICE site may be a good place to look I wouldn't advise googling too much though , I know it's tempting.

I really hope you get no news from the oncology team ,but it's good that whatever it was is gone now and bowel cancer has great results for survival.

PositivelyPERF · 27/02/2018 10:16

I’m so sorry Tayto. I really don’t have anything practical to say, but I just wanted you to know that this poster cares. 💐

EggsEggcetera · 27/02/2018 10:17

Sorry to hear this x

m0therofdragons · 27/02/2018 10:20

I work with this lady and she recently shared her story:

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/real-life-stories/jackie-mifflin,-61-from-yeovil/

Her experience may be of help. Thanks

mumblechum0 · 27/02/2018 10:20

I had colon cancer in 2003 and am still very much alive and kicking if that helps at all.

My symptoms were similar; pain on eating, and feeling faint which was caused by anaemia.

GPs faffed around for months then I went to a private specialist who diagnosed me that day and I had a right helicolectomy a week later. Although the surgeon was pretty sure he'd got everything I opted for 6 months chemo to be on the safe side. Fortunately this was in pill form, so I didn't have to go to hospital.

I had one day off work while I was on chemo, due to side effects but other than that sailed through. Got the all clear 4 years later and have had no problems at all since.

Fingers crossed you'll have as good an outcome. It's a slow-growing cancer so they will probably have caught it in time.

WeaselsRising · 27/02/2018 10:25

I had stage 3 bowel cancer in 2011. I have been in remission ever since, following surgery and chemo. One of the best websites for info and advice is Beating Bowel Cancer. They have forums and advice lines as well.

I followed a beige diet for a very very long time, and put on a lot of weight. Took ages before I could eat veg and nuts.

Original poster
Taytotots · 27/02/2018 10:36

Thanks so much for the replies. Particularly good to hear your stories ggirl and mumble - good luck with your treatment ggirl and pleased to hear your positive outcome mumble - I had no idea they could do pill chemo either. I'll check out that link too m0ther. I did a search before posting ggirl but didn't come up with your thread (search on here is rubbish!) thanks for link will check out. I didn't get any diet advice other than eat what you want Hmm sad to hear about mushrooms, corn and nuts although staying off nuts would definitely help me not gain weight as I have a serious habit! .

OP posts:
Original poster
Taytotots · 27/02/2018 12:21

Thanks weasles too. Glad to hear you are still in remission. I'll take a look at that website.

OP posts:
mumblechum0 · 01/03/2018 10:35

I was a private patient, not sure if you can get pill chemo on the NHS.

My surgeon didn't say to avoid anything. I do try to only eat red meat once a week and I eat tons of veg and fruit but the hospital didn't give me any particular dietary advice.

Borntobeamum · 20/03/2018 10:25

Any update? 💐

Fatbird71 · 02/04/2018 08:31

Sorry to read your post. My friend had a very similar experience about 18 months ago. She had the pill form of chemo on the NHS for 6 months.

In her case all went well and is currently clear.

Hope you are doing ok. It was all such a shock for everyone.

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