Hi, I'm Jayne. I'm from the United Kingdom, and I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
Initially I thought I had kidney/urine infection as I was suffering from lower back pain. Following a month of in and off antibiotics and no culture showing in samples, the GP and I discussed my other symptoms, which were tiredness, abdominal pain that persisted and unexplained weight loss. The doctor decided to pursue these symptoms instead.
When I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer, I was angry and scared. I was sad and confused that it was cancer.
I felt powerless, numb and resentful too — a chaotic mix of emotions that left me reeling.
Post-diagnosis, the change I made to my lifestyle was reducing my smoking frequency.
My doctor had several treatment recommendations for me.
- Partial Colectomy
Non-surgical treatment:
I was also recommended for a hysterectomy. I trusted his advice and went ahead with all of the suggested treatments. Stoma was created for me after my surgery.
It made me happy to have the next steps laid out. However, there was fear and anxiety surrounding the experiences I would go through as I try to recover.
I experienced hair loss as a side effect of the treatment, and I struggled with peripheral neuropathy. I was constantly fatigued as well.
I attempted to ease the discomfort of side effects by increasing my exercise frequency and relying on prescribed medication.
Cancer changed the way I lived my life. I smoked less than I used to, prior to cancer.
But it wasn't just my health that underwent a transformation — my relationships did too. I prioritize a stronger connection with my parents now and visit them a whole lot more than I did before.
Prior to knowing I have cancer, I'd give them a call or send a text maybe twice a week. After being diagnosed with cancer, I found myself reaching out more often, making sure to keep in touch almost every day.
For myself and my family, holidays were at the top of the list. I look forward to creating fun memories with my loved ones.
As for my personal aspiration, it is simple yet profound: to be happy and healthy.
My biggest fear was losing my independence.
I made a conscious effort to reclaim my independence in any way I could, by trying to keep everything as normal as possible.
Today I still feel anger, fear, sadness, and surprise, just like I did when I received the news of my diagnosis. The only difference is that I feel optimistic and hopeful now, as I continue along my treatment journey.
I cannot say that the journey will be easy but focusing on the small wins and trying to squeeze in as many fun experiences with family and friends on the good days will get you through.
Exercise has played a massive part in the speed of my recovery so I would highly recommend being as active as possible :)
This patient's story is published and shared with their full consent. Any personal data that can be used to identify the patient has been omitted.
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