Adenocarcinoma - just diagnosed

Thank you for this message! It feels so good to connect with others that are on the same journey. I am trying to take it one day at a time and reading less online is definitely something I need to work on. Found out yesterday that my CT scan results showed no enlarged lymph nodes or other concerns. Pelvic MRI next. From what I have read….. CT scans aren’t always accurate but I chose to enjoy that news yesterday and take it as a win in the long road ahead. Thanks again for your kind words, insight and encouragement.

Hello @fpdm
I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and I know exactly how you feel - I also have Adenocarcinoma, a rectal cancer recently discovered after emergency CT scan done for abdominal pain caused by severe constipation, only a week after a colonoscopy was done.
I was paralyzed with fear at the beginning, feeling lost and overwhelmed with the amount of information that I went through to find out more details about my type of cancer, feeling more and more scared from what I read... Until I decided that, No, I am not going to scare myself further, I will trust my medical teams, will take one day at a time, will stay positive, and will go through it with the help of my loved ones!
You are not alone on this journey, as @rjjacobsen said it really well, it is no longer a death sentence, the science keeps offering new choices for treatment, and we have to believe that we will be part of the success stories, and become Cancer Survivors, and no longer Cancer Patients! 🙏 For our own sake and the people who we cherish and love♥️ Your kids need you, keep this thought in your heart, always, and it will help you in your journey.
Sharing positive thoughts,
Eva G (aka BadassEva😉)

Can’t tell you how much this response means to me. Thank you. Will definitely follow your advice and keep you posted. I am so happy to hear your latest scans are cancer free. Going to try and work hard to get through this as best as I can. I have two young kids that need me.

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.

This is scary, and I’m sure you are feeling lots of different things. The scans will offer more information. Mine was an obstructing tumor, so surgery was the first step for me. Depending on the tumor location and size, treatment may consist of chemo, surgery or both. Take one hour at a time, and start researching Colo rectal surgeons. Are there any cancer centers locally? I was fortunate that we have Mayo, MD Anderson, and several others nearby.