Diagnosed with Cancer at 33: My Journey and Recovery

Hi all

I am fairly new to my pouch friend. In November 2017, I came home from work feeling generally unwell. I then started to lose my ability to communicate and faded in and out. My partner called 000, and I was taken to the ED. Before being collected by the ambulance, I had a large amount of fresh red blood pass about 3 times.

The bleeding continued at the hospital. Eventually, it just stopped, and the hospital was about to send me home when a doctor said I should have an MRI done. During the MRI, they found nothing, but my pain increased. They sent me for a scope and found I had about an 8 cm tumor in my colon and also over 40 polyps which were cancerous.

27th November, I was advised I had cancer.

1st December, I was rushed back to the ED for surgery due to increased pain.

The doctors advised from the scans that they did not think they could save the rectum, colon, or large intestines. That a pouch was not doable and it would be an ileostomy for me. I agreed and said take whatever you need. It was strange as the news didn't shock me, didn't make me upset, and even now I have not cried over it.

The next 3 days after my surgery were the worst pain of my life. The pain was well up there. I had every painkiller you can think of, and in the end, they moved me to a special pain management section as we were struggling.

Day 4 and I was up walking (barely) around with tubes out of my return dressing, from my tummy, and out of my nose.

I continued to have a tube down my nose and throat for a few days due to not being able to keep my atomic contents down.

I walked out of the hospital on day 7 after surgery, had a week at home, and then back in due to complications for a week.

Another week home after that, and then I went back to work 1-2 days, that's right, just 4 weeks after it all. 6 weeks later, I was working 3 days and also at the gym with my PT doing slow walking and low impact exercise to help keep my mind focused.

I believe my recovery has a lot to do with my fitness before I was sick, but also a lot to do with the fact that I accepted it and just said right now let's move on and beat this. My business I owned also helped as it gave my mind something to do while in the hospital, (I was emailing, making sales, and doing job interviews all while in the hospital :))

My family was amazing, and my 3-year-old was my rock, cuddles and saying "Daddy ok now, his owie will go."

My partner has put up with so much as before the cancer I had had leg issues and other complications which are now all believed to have been part of the cancer.

All I can say is if you're not sure how to face it, I'd say take it head-on, don't let it beat you as life can be normal again over time. It's a lot to do with mind and physical strength.

I am lucky, no chemo for me, thank God, but still have a path of recovery to follow.

So what am I doing now?

I have grown my company since January by 250%

I have returned to the volunteer emergency services as a training and technical specialist

I am back at the gym 3-4 times a week, and my strength is growing every day.

So, in a nutshell, that's my story. There is plenty more, and I'm happy to talk to anyone who wants advice or otherwise.

This sight good sounding board.we all get stronger every day.thous born with geat over sooner.peopel like me and you get it right in the face.for about 3to 6or ase much 10 years.to unwind.geat back to real normal sow to say.heve one.jerz.

Aussie,

  Thank you so much for your inspiring words!  I'm sure your story will help those who are still on the fence about having ostomy surgery or feel better about emergency surgery.

  Many of us take for granted this gift of a second chance at life.  I try to remember everyday that we are much better off than a lot of less fortunate people in this world, with or without an ostomy.  Hell, I thank God for every day that I'm allowed to be above ground.  I even thank him every morning for a shower....lol

  But yes, we have it much better than most.  Roof over our heads, food to eat and a job to sustain ourselves.  I see so many people everyday that are oblivious to the things going on around them, nose buried in their smartphones, bxtching about how long they had to wait for their fk'n latte on Facebook, not using their indicators when driving, etc..etc..

  It's stories such as yours that keep me from losing faith in humanity.  I hope your story inspires others as well.  Take care!

Bain

Hi Aussie,

All I can say is God is GOOD!! Our strength to endure what we have gone through is a testiment to his mercy and kindness.

Many of us have struggled with cancer and tumors and here we are today doing quite well and some even better than before. Glad to hear you are doing so well and willing to help others.