I didn't have rectal cancel, but stage 3C colon cancer and am doing well since my surgery in May 2021 and chemotherapy thereafter. Mine was also found after a colonoscopy and resulted in removal of the entire colon. I had my surgery done at Mayo in Rochester, MN and chemo done at Mayo Health System in Red Wing, MN. At my latest scans are cancer-free.

The big thing at this time is that you really don't really know much or severe and hence the fear of the unknown is difficult to handle. So, some perspective: a cancer diagnosis is no longer a death sentence - there are effective treatments (surgical, chemical and radiological) that can heal a large majority of people and they can usually experience near-normal lives thereafter. I'm such an example.

Second, it is helpful to reduce the unknowns via scans/blood work and getting a treatment plan in place ASAP. Once you have a treatment plan which may require surgery, chemo, radiation or multiple, do your research online (from reputable resources such as Mayo, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Sloan-Kettering, etc.) and ask as many questions of your care team as you can think and write them down. Replace those unknowns with knowledge.

Third, and perhaps I should have mentioned this first, is to get your friends, family and anybody in your support system such as your church if you are a person of faith. In short - it is easier handling stuff like this with caring help - you don't want to do this alone. My faith during this time was extremely helpful.

Last, have confidence and faith that you can get through it. Depending on your treatment plan, it can be like a marathon and often a slow one step after another crawl. One day at a time, one step at a time until it's done. It may be tough, but you are tougher. I called it patient insistence.

Anyway, I'm sorry about your diagnosis, hope your unknowns get defined with an effective treatment plan and that you beat this. I'll follow this conversation and may respond if I have something helpful.

All the best.