Diagnosed with colon cancer: Nervous..Help!

I'm sorry about your diagnosis. You'll know a lot more after the test results come in and you meet with your doctors. I was diagnosed in April 2022 with very early stage rectal cancer. They took out polyps in April and July last year but they returned by November, so I had colostomy surgery in mid February. I arranged for friends to help at home a couple hours in the mornings and afternoons and someone overnights for 4 days after I was discharged. I was able to fend for myself pretty well by the 2nd day home. I had people I could call for car rides/grocery runs (couldn't drive for a couple weeks) and since I live alone, I qualified for home health care visits 2x/week for 3 weeks and 1x/week for another 3 weeks to get me comfortable with my ostomy and make sure things were healing as they should. I didn't need chemo or radiation. The going back to work after surgery depends on what you do - I'm an accountant and was working from home for a couple hours/day the week after my surgery. I went back to the office once/week for just a couple hours at 4 weeks, then for 1/2 days after 6 weeks and added an hour/day each week until I was back in the office full time. I work for very small companies, so I told them about my diagnosis the same week I got it. They were very supportive - a few folks I work with even helped with the shifts at home after I got out of the hospital. There are lifting restrictions for 6 weeks after abdominal surgery, so if you have a job with lifting, you might be out longer or be limited longer until you get strength back. For me the whole experience has been more of an inconvenience than anything else - a lot of doc visits, surgery, etc but I'm pretty close to my normal activites just 3.5 months after my surgery. The Lord does have you and He'll help you get through this!

Hello. I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis and the worries you are experiencing. Many of us have been through this and have come out the other end smiling. It sounds like you're in very good hands and that you will soon hear what treatment is in store. If surgery is planned you will certainly need a bit of help for a few days when you get home. In my case I was diagnosed last October, had an operation in November and was discharged from hospital after 4 days and cared for by my wife, who deserves a medal. After a few days I was able to generally look after myself and prepare meals etc. and get exercise. Then followed 3 months of chemo which was a bit tough at times but didn't stop me getting around and doing near-normal activities.
Best of luck - I'm sure you'll get through it.