I was confident I did not have bowel cancer until I did the national bowel cancer early screening program last August.
I had no symptoms.
I was referred to a specialist after the results came with microscopic blood in my stool. Within a week I underwent a colonoscopy that confirmed I have cancer in my colon approximately 15cm from my rectum. Within two weeks I went under the knife and had the cancer removed.
I am currently undergoing chemotherapy.
My life has changed since the diagnosis. While I have prepared myself as much as I can, there is still that anxiety or fear that the cancer may come back. My physical and mental nature has changed too in some shape or form.
I have pretty much concluded that my life will not be back to normal like it was before my diagnosis.
I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in Jan 2021. I underwent a routine resection with a temporary stoma followed by 6 months chemo. I spent most of those 6 months in hospital with chemo side effects. Currently NED.
My concern was that I first presented in Emergency with severe gastro symptoms which were becoming all too frequent. They decided to do an endoscopy and found nothing. I requested a number of times that I have a colonoscopy but the doctors said I did not have enough symptoms to warrant this procedure.
After a couple of months, it was still playing on my mind so I ended up inventing symptoms to get a colonoscopy and that’s when my cancer was found. I had done regular self tests sent out and these always were negative including the one a few months before my cancer was found.
I think regular screening should happen much earlier for the many younger people diagnosed with bowel cancer. I feel there needs to be more publicity and earlier screening for bowel cancer.
My name is Pat and this is my story.
I went into hospital for an appendix operation which resulted in the discovery of cancer in the appendix and a colonoscopy was then required. The colonoscopy showed another massive cancer in the colon area, so surgery was required a few days later where half my bowel was removed. It was stage 4 cancer and it had metastasized.
All my friends and family were shocked as I had always eaten healthily, undertaken bowel screenings (all negative) and was a "picture of health". It was not good news! However due to the expertise of my surgeon, I didn't need a colostomy bag which I was extremely thankful about.
After recovering from the surgery my life changed completely. I decided that I needed to have minimal stress in my life and stopped working. Retirement came early as my focus was on healing and living to the best of my ability. Fortnightly chemotherapy started in mid 2018, and next month I'm about to receive my 100th round of chemo.
I've had regular MRI and CT scans throughout. The cancer returned after 2 years and so further surgery was required with a change to the chemotherapy drugs as well. This was successful and currently there are no tumours visible on my scans.
This story is to give you hope though, that life can go on, albeit differently. Cancer has taught me to live in the moment and to love my family and friends like there is no tomorrow. I'm hopeful of a medical breakthrough (like specific immunotherapy) in the future but until then it's chemo every fortnight.
My one piece of advice for others would be to maintain hope and optimism.
Eat healthily, (see dietitian) and exercise (see physio).
Ensure you look after your loved ones by preparing a Will, Enduring Power of Attorney and Advanced Care Directive.
Make sure your loved ones know all about your money (including Superannuation) and insurance policies.
Spend time with your loved ones, telling them how you feel, appreciate them and make special memories living in the moment together. Laugh a lot!!
Every cancer story’s different. Every experience varied. This is just one of many, but this time it’s mine and I’d like to share it.
A routine men’s health check followed by a colonoscopy chaser triggered a whirlwind that changed our lives forever. In a post-anaesthetic haze I woke to the poker face of my gastroenterologist. “That was quick” I thought. Momentarily forgetting I had been unconscious. But before I had time for the thought to become verbal his poker face lips began to move. “All went well with the procedure, but we did discover a lesion”.
Right … the fog of haze messing with my understanding I asked, “What does that mean”? ‘Cancer’ His one word reply swiftly clearing the anaesthetic haze… Right.
Shock, disbelief, processing. That’s how it began. Three days later in the surgeon’s office a lower anterior resection was explained to me in in the kind of detail a high school science teacher sets out when the class is to dissect a frog. It was clear, graphic and confronting.The mechanics of a resection with the possibility of a stoma, surgical complications and dysfunctional bowel movement was like a slap across the face with a cold towel.
A sobering sting. That’s when the craving for knowledge began.
No random googling – reputable sites only was my mantra – a difficult oath to stick to when your mind is swirling with doubts and questions. Then the beacon in the storm, Bowel Cancer Australia. A whole site dedicated to, as my mate of 30 years put it, bum problems. I was like a thirsty dog in a wading pool. I read every story and all advice on the website.
With a week until my surgery a phone appointment with the Bowel Care Nutritionist Janet, set me on a path that for me, has been revolutionary. Janet’s pre-op dietary advice and post op consultations, which I followed to the letter, spoke to my bowels. Over the next weeks there were a lot of conversations with my bowels.
Like the lunar cycles followed by the first Australians every poop was charted and analysed for greater meaning. Immediately post-surgery the proximity of a toilet was my highest priority, together with sudocream and a spare pair of undies. But following the Bowel Cancer Australia low fibre diet wrangled my bowel into shape. Not overnight, but in a matter of weeks rather than months.
An accompanying food diary provided accurate insight into what blocked the bowel and what stimulated a “poonami”. For me dairy was an instant race for the toilet.
Then there was exercise - a buddy companion to nutrition. A 25% loss in muscle mass and strength had me walking whenever able, and on the weights (limited to 5KG post-surgery) as much as possible. I’d gone from pumping iron to pumping tin, but even the limited exercise regime increased my mobility exponentially. The combo of diet and exercise saw me released from hospital four days earlier than estimated and I was able to commence chemo two weeks ahead of the schedule.
Ah, chemo, or getting on the “juice” as we call it in our house. Initially I viewed it as poison – which is reasonable as it’s a derivative of mustard gas! Then, in the spirit of positivity I reframed it to the elixir of life … settling more appropriately on The Juice. Though I often visualise the Folfox6 chemical cocktail as Dexter (from the TV Series) cruising my bodies blood vessels taking out bad dudes. There’s a lot to say about the chemo road and not enough room here – except that I’ve managed to lead a pretty regular life even on the Juice, working 10 out of the 14 days between my cycles.
Top Ten Tips:
- Seek out legitimate evidence-based info from reputable sources.
- Asks questions – lots of questions.
- Cry and laugh as much as you want!
- Access the many resources available – Nutritionists, Nurses, Medicare Care Plans.
- Accept the days and the symptoms will vary.
- Good nutrition and exercise.
- Listen to your body.
- Join the Bowel Cancer Australia Facebook Group – great people great support.
- Phone A Friend – try and find a cancer survivor support person you trust.
- Speak your truth – don’t be afraid to revaluate your life or seek help or move forward in charge of your destiny as NO ONE except you knows what’s going on in your body or mind.
