- The first thing to say is that bowel cancer is a very treatable disease if caught early - doctors will have seen thousands of of bottoms in their time and heard numerous stories about patients' bowel habits so please DON'T BE EMBARRASSED - it's your life we're talking about. Sadly lots of people wait until it's very late and then the cancer is much harder to treat. Here is some information from the 'beating bowel cancer' website about the symptoms of bowel cancer.
- I never had any qualms about my symptoms - severe constipation, bloating, abdominal pains, so I went to the doctor several times but they thought me too young to have the illness. Hopefully, now we have the National Screening Programme, GPs will gradually become more aware of the disease itself and that, although rare, it can strike at any age. Most cases however (around 86 per cent) occur in people over the age of 60. The good news is that there is better treatment available now than before. Many of the drugs used in bowel cancer treatment don't usually cause hair loss so that's one less thing to worry about.
- Cancer research and treatment is moving fast. However there is no miracle cure so you have to fight as hard as the cancer. The positive news is that in cases like mine, which are incurable but treatable, doctors are starting to look at cancer as a chronic disease like diabetes which can't be cured but can be managed. Of course, cancer is unpredictable and people like me, who are living with it, know they have to factor that uncertainty in to their lives. But here's an uplifting story, my friend Lola's (not her real name) mum was diagnosed with cancer 23 years ago. She's lived a largely good life with periods of treatment as part of that. Ten years ago, she was told that she had a year to live. Today she's still alive having beaten all the odds. Even at the grand old age of 87, she says: "I'm not ready to die yet!" I'm with Lola's feisty mum - she's been an inspiration to me all the way along and I carry her words with me every day.
- I'm not qualified to give any medical advice but I'm providing links to charity webpages which are.Take a look at the 'beating bowel cancer' website, it's very informative.
My own non-medical advice would be:
- Try and take a positive approach - even when I've felt really low and ill, I've always gone out with a full face of makeup and my hair done because when I look well, I trick my brain into believing I am well! Surround yourself with positive people too - it makes a huge difference. The minute somebody starts asking you about the stage and prognosis of your cancer, bin them! People who are bright, funny and optimistic are the ones you want to be around. Love and laughter are some of the most healing medicines available so try to get as much as you can of each!
- Take control of your situation as far as you are able. A good doctor will be happy to discuss with you any new treatments you might have read about, alternative therapies for side effects (not the cancer itself), Ideas about diet and exercise. It's good to stay well informed but be careful how you do it. There is some very helpful information on the net from reputable charities like Cancer Research so I would advise anyone to stick to these websites or those of renowned hospitals such as UCLH or The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre - a US hospital with a reputation for being one of the best cancer hospitals in the world.
- Make the most of every day - even if you're only able to lie in bed, if you can, why not read a good book. I found Lance Armstrong's -' It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life' ,about his incredible victory against stage 4 cancer, really inspirational - or watch your favourite TV programme - in my case that's 'Judge Judy' who has unintentionally made me laugh every single day since I started watching her highly amusing daytime show!
- Always try to have something to look forward to - perhaps seeing friends, watching a favourite TV programme or film, going to a show, going on holiday. I know that this might seem difficult if you're bed-bound but every day things give me pleasure such as cuddling my cats - animal therapy - wonderful!
- Listen to your body - if it's telling you to rest, do so, if it's telling you to eat, do so. If you feel sad or angry or frightened, that's normal. Sometimes I just want to turn my face to the wall and cry and, although I sometimes feel self pitying, within a couple of days, I've usually bounced back.
- Ensure that you seek the best care available. Unfortunately health care in this country is patchy. If you can, get yourself referred to a specialist at a renowned teaching hospital such as UCLH or to a specialist hospital such as The Royal Marsden. You can obtain hospital ratings from the Care Quality Commission but personal recommendation to a particular hospital, consultant or department is even better. I've found alternative therapies such as Reiki and Homeopathy really beneficial for side effects but I would advise, once again, to get yourself referred to a specialist hospital such as The Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine - formerly The Royal Homeopthic Hospital. A good conventional hospital such as UCLH will offer you alternative therapies such as reflexology and massage at your bedside whilst you're having chemo.
- Never feel afraid to ask for help. If you don't have friends and family to call on, there are some wonderful cancer charities that can give you help and advice. For example: Macmillan Cancer Support which offers benefits advice, cancer support groups as well as the support of its famed Macmillan nurses. Chai Cancer Care is a charity for Jewish people with cancer - which also offers benefit advice plus yoga and Pilates classes, counselling sessions, massage and much, much more. There are many more charities that help people with cancer, just look online or in your telephone directory.
Wishing you well
Dina xxx
