Newly diagnosed

[Caymangirl]

Hi, I'm new to all this. Tumor found in sigmoid colon 9 days ago, waiting for results of CT scan and labs and also surgery date. I'm 51 and put off having a colonoscopy for a year despite worsening symptoms because I was too busy with handling crisis after crisis with my teenage son, plus too busy with work and really did not want to have the colonoscopy - stupid I know. No family history or other risk factors except for hitting 50 so completely blindsided. Was anyone else in denial? Have I really messed up with the year's delay? Anxiously waiting for results that can't come soon enough. Positive and ready to fight. My kids need me. Good luck and good wishes to all

[Green Tea]

Welcome to the Forum. It looks like you will have to wait a bit before you know your tentative diagnosis.

I think it would probably help, in the mean time, if you could create a signature block here to give people the basic information that you have so far on your situation. The information will appear at the bottom of every post that you make in the future and will be useful for people who are reading your post. Once you have a tentative diagnosis, people here will be able to give you some feedback on what your options might be, as this will depend on what the doctors found out with the biopsies, scans and labs.
A link to the signature creation page is here

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/ucp.php?i=ucp_profile&mode=signature

The kinds of things that you might want to put in your signature are listed in this post:

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=52681&p=421597#p421597

Once you create your signature you should update it each time you have additional, relevant information to add.

Here are some direct links to other Forum features that you might want to use:

Forum features:
http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=50946&p=392504#p392504
.

[cashmere]

Hi Caymangirl,

I waited until I was 51 also but my surgeon said that it was a slow growing cancer so I probably would have been in the exact position 1 year earlier. So don't beat yourself up for waiting.
Life gets in the way a lot of times.

We are here to help so ask away, Pearl

[Beckster]

Hi, I'm new to all this. Tumor found in sigmoid colon 9 days ago, waiting for results of CT scan and labs and also surgery date. I'm 51 and put off having a colonoscopy for a year despite worsening symptoms because I was too busy with handling crisis after crisis with my teenage son, plus too busy with work and really did not want to have the colonoscopy - stupid I know. No family history or other risk factors except for hitting 50 so completely blindsided. Was anyone else in denial? Have I really messed up with the year's delay? Anxiously waiting for results that can't come soon enough. Positive and ready to fight. My kids need me. Good luck and good wishes to all

Hi Caymangirl!

You sound like me. No family history and I did not have any symptoms...My mother had polyps at the age of 67, so I thought I would go when I was 57. I woke up from the screening to my dr telling me that I needed surgery. Tumor found on the right side (cecum) near the appendix. I was in shock and that day was a blur. I waited for the biopsy to come back and it confirmed invasive cancer. When I woke up from surgery, I told the nurse "if I only went when I was 50 and said it might not have been there. The important thing is that you went for a screening." When I met with my oncologist, he said that is why we have screenings. I was stage 2A with two high factor risks, so I am on Xeloda for mop up. First, wait until you get your results, stay positive and know that you have our support. You will get through it!

[SEWHAPPY]

My story is very similar, i am only about 4 months ahead of you! Welcome to the forum - it is a great source of info and support. You will feel much better with a plan of action. Post or PM with any questions ! Hugs, Laurie

[Wonderfullymade]

Yup..same here. I was just 53 and have spent a lot of wasted time beating myself up that I should have gone for that screening at 50, but...with no family history ( that I knew of), no symptoms and an awful lot of life in the way...I didn't.

I don't know how much progress I had in those couple of years, but I can't let what I didn't do get in the way of my fight now! Take that energy and use it to fight where you are!!
You are in my prayers!
Wonderfullymade

[dianetavegia]

I was 'too much of a lady' to get a colonoscopy, so I got colon cancer instead. I was dx'd at 58 after a partial obstruction began giving me real trouble. My tumor was 2.5 cm and I was Stage III. Doctor said it could have been growing 10 years or more. I turned 66 the end of December!

Can you push for an earlier date for the CT scan and surgery? I had my colonoscopy on Jan. 2nd, saw the surgeon Jan. 5th and surgery Jan. 7th, 8 years ago. I'm now Stage IVa and have been for 5 years in Feb. but NED since then, as far as I know. Next tests are end of March/ beginning of April.

Best of luck and try to keep hope alive! Colon cancer is quickly becoming a chronic disease instead of a death sentence. They're even using the word CURED with some people!

[razorbackgirl]

I have been cancer free for 7 years now since being diagnosed with stage IIIA back in 2009. I had a large tumor in my sigmoid that was blocking my colon. I truly believe the reason I am alive today is because I had a colorectal surgeon instead of a general surgeon. I personally know 3 people diagnosed after I was and they all used well-regarded general surgeons. They are all deceased now. Insist on a colorectal surgeon.

[WriterGirl1969]

I think you'll find that a lot of people can say the same thing, Caymangirl.
It's probably more rare to find people who immediately went and got a colonoscopy and caught things early. <:- ) Sad, but true. Try not to beat yourself up too much, or spend your time thinking of what you could have done. Try not to read Dr. Google, as a lot of the info you'll find is either outdated or just plain wrong. Wait until you know what you're dealing with. I know, easier said than done, and waiting is the hardest part, but once you know the real truth you can start to learn things and get some of your power back. Keep us posted, and ask questions all you want. We're here for you.

Hugs and Prayers,
Tracy

[rp1954]

We used "first aid" with cimetidine and high powered supplements immediately while arranging surgery and it worked great, even for a metastatic CRC / stage 4 situation.

Also we have found a little extra blood testing extremely useful to avoid common catastrophes. These extra blood tests before and after surgery can be particularly important for treatment and monitoring with continuous dosing strategies whether stage 2, 3 or 4.

Especially before surgery and chemo, these steps improved the situation radically and made a longer, better future possible.

[Green Tea]

We used "first aid" with cimetidine and high powered supplements immediately while arranging surgery and it worked great, even for a metastatic CRC / stage 4 situation.

Also we have found a little extra blood testing extremely useful to avoid common catastrophes. These extra blood tests before and after surgery can be particularly important for treatment and monitoring with continuous dosing strategies whether stage 2, 3 or 4.

Especially before surgery and chemo, these steps improved the situation radically and made a longer, better future possible.

Very important! While you have some time now and before surgery, you should read rp1954's posts and consider following the pre-surgery advice where applicable. This is time-critical information. You have to implement these suggestions before surgery.begins because after surgery some of these actions can no longer be pursued,

[RocketB52]

Hey, CaymanGirl!

I put off mine for ten years... the rest is history.

Don't you dare berate yourself! No one deserves to get ill because they put off, or get careless, or are in denial. The important thing is, there is help and a remedy! Believe it!

You'll find this board to be a great help.

Rocket