Just diagnosed with rectal cancer.

Posted by clayc84 @clayc84, Mar 28 8:57am

Good morning all. I’m writing as I’m sure hundreds of thousands have before me. Was having some issues over last year and decided to finally get a colonoscopy done. What came back was not good and needless to say I’m scared &&@“less. I’m trying to find some positivity but it’s very hard at the moment. All the immediate thoughts that flood your mind are overwhelming. Never in a thousand years did I think I’d ever be diagnosed with any type of cancer. A large polyp was found and biopsied and they’re saying it in fact does look like rextal cancer. Had the catscan done and a few lymph nodes are affected and there is a new spot on the lower lung. Talking with my new oncologist nurse she said she’s had patients in same situation that have had the area removed from lung if it indeed has spread to there. My bloodwork came back good which is odd to me. I don’t really have any other symptoms as far as anemia vomiting jaundice etc. is this normal or is it a positive in a sense? I know I’m rambling and just looking for support. I go for MRI and petscan hopefully next week to get a more definitive answer as to where I’m at. Just lost at the moment and looking for inspiration I suppose idk. Just need another place to vent and open up. Anyone on this journey I wish the best for and hopefully we can all find a way to beat this! Thank you for reading if you have. I appreciate you.

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

ssargent77 | @ssargent77 | 4 hours ago

In reply to @charlescarnohan "Being treated for cancer is not for sissies. It’s tough. I’ve been here with colorectal cancer..." + (show)

@charlescarnohan

Being treated for cancer is not for sissies. It’s tough. I’ve been here with colorectal cancer since late October 2025. First thing was a temporary ostomy so they could start treating you with the radiation chemo. To have to use your rectum whilst going through radiation is not a good idea. I can’t imagine it. It was bad enough just getting that many many daily doses of radiation and the chemo drugs as well. Get the ostomy first. Then you don’t have that to mess with anyway long story short I went through all the treatments with radiation, chemo and infusion chemo and it’s been months and months of feeling like shit. I just got home from a major surgery removing little was left of the tumor, but along with it, my rectum and permanent colostomy they also placed a mesh inside my abdomen, kind of brace things up. The reason being as they use the abdominal muscle tissue skin and all flipped it down through my pelvis and filled in the gaps as part of the surgery.
I was healthy when I came in. I’ve been really fighting. The negative isn’t though it does creeping sometimes. As of now, I am cancer free! And yeah, I’ve been beat up, but I am doing well. I can walk. I can take care of myself. OK I feel like I have a new lease on life now if you’re gonna get this done get it done with Mayo and listen to the doctors. They know what they’re doing everyone has a different trip. Everyone has different outcomes. But if anyone can take care of you, the Mayo can do it. I was an operating room for 8 1/2 hours. It took a week for my intestines to start working again after the surgery. There’s a ton of suffering with it. It cannot be avoided. But now I’m taking just minimum meds and I can look forward to finally healing. Not just getting bolstered up for the next round of whatever horrible cancer treatment you have to do. So my story at this point in time is very positive, it’s taken less than a year. I should be able to sit again in a few weeks and I don’t have to worry about any more chemo or radiation! It’s a great feeling to think you’re never gonna have to go back in there and get that done anymore! Good luck trust the science. It’s not gonna be a messiah coming out of the sky and saving you get you through this it’s gonna be the scientific studies in the long hours of dedication of the Mayo doctors. Be strong if you can. The may also offer social workers that can counsel you. They have psychiatric doctors that can help you in group sessions online. Don’t give up take advantage of what you can get here.

Jump to this post

@charlescarnohan
After reading your story I immediately called the dr and we are meeting with the surgeon next week… thank you so very much for sharing your story and not sugar coating the pain that goes along with getting to the other side. Congratulations on being cancer free and all the best to you. You’ve been a huge help to us!