Just diagnosed with rectal cancer.

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.

@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!

Good Morning - Almost two years ago, upon awakening after my colonoscopy, I was told that they found a “suspicious mass” in my rectum that needed to be biopsied. Two days later, on a Friday afternoon, I received the call advising me that it was cancerous. My gastroenterologist recommended I find an oncologist and a colorectal surgeon, and recommended two. They turned out not to be the greatest, but everything worked out. In hindsight, my advice to myself and to you would be, immediately begin researching oncologists and colorectal surgeons and take the time necessary to find the best ones you can, that you feel in your gut are good. And, the most important part, DO NOT hesitate to get second opinions if you don’t feel 100% confident in your first choices and the plans they recommend for your treatment. In my case the first phase was chemotherapy, twelve cycles of Folfox. I then began additional research on my cancer, treatment options, pros and cons, and for me which ones offered the best Quality of Life outcomes. Determining what outcome is best is a very personal thing that you need to discuss with the important people in your life, and there are several alternatives which will help you determine which course of treatments you decide to follow. With a good team of doctors, colorectal cancer is manageable. Next month I will have my one-year follow up, second CT scan, the first was clear, and a colonoscopy. A year ago I had low anterior resection surgery to remove the adenocarcinoma tumor and some lymph nodes. I was very fortunate to have a wonderful surgeon who patiently guided me through the process and spent seven hours with me in surgery. So, here I am, feeling great and doing all the things I enjoy. A few weeks after my six-month CT scan I turned 79. You have control over the process and the people who you partner with. After a major disagreement with my first oncologist he said, “You’re the boss and I’m the doctor.” That was good, we were on the same page. Bottom line, you need to get to work. The more information you have the more confident you will feel that everything is going to work out for you. I wish you the very best in the journey ahead. P.S. Speaking of disagreements with treatment teams, I have a friend who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and told she had two years to live. Four years later she’s living an active life doing the things she wants to do. It’s been a pretty rough road but she decided on the one she wanted to travel.