Postby kiwiinoz » Wed Dec 07, 2022 11:02 pm
Hi All
Just thought I would share with you the belated 10th anniversary of my diagnosis with stage IV rectal cancer.
Just over 10 years ago my wife & I had just had our 11th wedding anniversary, and bought our "dream home" when after Mrs Kiwi's loving reminders (I would never say nagging) she finally got me to got to a GI specialist as after 6 months of rectal bleeding I had not got anywhere after 4 visits to my local primary care (GP).
Before I went under the scope I expressed to my GI doctor and the nurse that was assisting that we had just purchased a great new home, and then when I came around, I noticed the atmosphere had chilled considerably and they wanted to talk to me once Mrs Kiwi had arrived to pick me up. That happened and it led to them advising me that I had colorectal cancer and that I needed to get a CT scan to get interim staging, which I proceeded to do. I can remember going in for the scan and crying in the machine with the radiologist waiting for me to stop so they could effectively get a decent scan, and then the phone call, a stage IV diagnosis with mets to my lung.
Things went well with my bowel resection, and I didn't need a stoma. Things went better as I was approved to have a lung resection, followed by 6 months of FOLFOX.
I can remember all that I met on this board and it was the one place I could come to and get understanding, laughs, stories of hope, and sadly, too many stories of saddness.
To those that I met along the way I have only thanks and best wishes.
To those of you how are just starting out, you have my heartfelt concern and support.
Cheers and thanks to you all
Kiwi
Stage IV Rectal Cancer (39 Year old male at dx)
pT3N0M1 (wish that was M0)
Diagnosed 05 Dec 2012
LAR 05 Jan 2013
VATS 27 Feb 2013
FOLOFX April 2013 - Sep 2013
Clear Scan 03 Dec 2013 - August 2020
Port Out 26 March 2015