Had anal and colon cancer

Posted by belles22 @belles22, Apr 12 10:46am

At the moment I’m in a mess had anal cancer 7 weeks of radiotherapy 18 months later I got colon cancer ended up with a colostomy bag had it now for 18 months and I hate it with a vengeance it’s like having an Alain stuck to my stomach and yes it’s a bag for life !! For the past 6 months I’ve got all the symptoms of ain again or it could be the return of anal cancer my mental health is shot to pieces can’t get an appointment until 2nd may it’s like sitting in a ticking time bomb I’ve had no macmillen nurse no stoma nurse no mental health support omg I could go on and on and I’m sure there are people out there with far worse than me but it’s so hard dealing with everything by yourself in your own brain

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Colorectal Cancer Support Group.

roywalton | @roywalton | Apr 12 11:31am

Have you considered joining one of the Mayo Clinic forums and/or web meetings for support and sharing?

pb50 | @pb50 | Apr 12 1:06pm

What part Of the country are you in? And have you requested some support program for these major events?

When I had lung cancer last year, the hole in my side where the chest tube was didn’t just leak - it was like a lawn sprinkler. I didn’t realize it until the morning I was discharged but realized I would never be able to reach it to change a bandage. So I sat down, and demanded a case manager and some home health for wound monitoring and needed care (and made Clear I was not leaving until I saw a case manager. They wanted me to leave my room - and I refused because I didn’t trust them. Them wanting my room was the only leverage I had.
They came every couple of days to monitor the wound, and an occupational therapist gave me exercises to help keep ribs and back strengthened and flexible.

So.. make it about you and your needs.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 16 5:24pm

Welcome, @belles22. I'm sorry to hear that life with colostomy bag is not getting any easier for you. It's hard to accept. I invite you to follow the Ostomy support group and join in the discussions there. Click this link:
- Ostomy Support Group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/ostomy/

You also sound like you are worried about recurrence. I think recurrence is in the back of every cancer survivor's mind. What symptoms have you been noticing? Have you been able to tell your cancer team about the new or returning symptoms? When is you next followup appointment?