@myboysthree Wishing your son and his family all the very best. You will all be surprised how resilient and adaptable you all will be in dealing with the twists and turns of this journey. It’s been heart warming to read all the responses and care from those who have commented here.

I’m a stage 4 appendix cancer survivor with > 2 years of no evidence of disease post treatment. Part of my treatment included removing a portion of my colon. I was warned and mentally prepped that I might need a bag after surgery, as the surgeon would not (in my case) know exactly what he would need to cut out until he was in. I was mentally ready and had read so many stories from those who adapted and lived full lives with their bags. If it had to be then it had to be. Being alive with a new normal was so enticing by that stage. I woke up from surgery without one.

The earlier treatment starts the better the prospects of being healed with less treatment and with more prospects of being able to work during and aftertreatment 🙏❤️‍🩹 I was fortunate and did despite the spread due to prompt and aggressive treatment 🙏❤️‍🩹

PS If your son needs to do chemo he must chat with his oncologist about neuropathy. My job meant I needed to minimise neuropathy if I could so chose to avoid Folfox and anything to do with oxaliplatin as my 1st line. I had Folfiri and Avastin for my particular cancer/condition and have had no neuropathy.