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I'm Carole, living in London, happily married and mum to two amazing boys.I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Rectal Cancer in April 2010. Surgery took place in November 2010 and I now have a permanent colostomy...Spinal mets were then diagnosed in October 2011...In January 2012 I was told of further spread to the hip area (multiple lesions)..My life expectancy is now 6-9 months. Walk alongside me on the last part of my experience with this..

Sunday 19 September 2010

Another Piece of Important Info...Hot off the Press!

I was reading up on an article in the Daily Express the other evening - about 'bowel' cancer.

I do wish they would refer to it as either Colon Cancer or Colorectal Cancer rather than bowel cancer because I honestly think that some people literally completely switch off at the mere mention of 'bowels'.... Anway, that is besides the point of what I wanted to talk about.


When my cancer was confirmed the surgeon said to me that it was extremely unfair as I didn't fit the bill at all for this particular type of cancer.

Afterwards the Colorectal nurse discussed this in more detail with me.

Markers for Colon Cancer (or Bowel Cancer if you prefer) :-)

  • Eating an excessive amount of red meat - Nope, I was always a light meat eater and would choose veggie where possible.

  • Being overweight - Nope, been 8st. for years now - UK size 8 and always stayed steady weight.

  • Lazy lifestyle - Nope, always on the go - walk to/from work/school/shops. Out and about at weekends on the common exploring woodlands etc.

  • Heavy on the junk food - Nope, have always eaten healthy food - lots of salad, vegetables, fruits have always been included in every meal.

  • Being between 60 and 70 yrs of age - Nope, 49 at diagnosis and they suspect it's been there for a couple of years at least.

  • IBS/Chronic bowel problems - Nope, never.

  • Family history of Colon Cancer/Genetics - Nope, no-one...I'm the first

  • Heavy smoking and excessive alcohol consumption - Nope - although I did used to be a smoker but was never a heavy smoker. Have only been an occasional drinker (odd glass of wine) for many years.

So....that left me saying 'Why?...Why did I get this cancer?'...and it seems that no-one can answer that for me.

That brings me back to the article in the Express last week.
Headline news is that taking a daily dose of Aspirin can reduce your risk considerably - when I checked the statistics they are saying if you take it for more than 5 years then your risk is reduced by something like 35% (apparently)....

So you may say, what's the point of this post then?

Well simple, it's because I've been taking a daily dose of Aspirin since 2004 when they diagnosed me with Lupus and 'sticky blood' (Hughes Syndrome) ..........so not only did I have 'no real markers; but I was also doing the medical stuff that they say "can reduce your risk by a large amount" - just all seems a bit ironic really :-(

That's it...just musing :-)


6 comments:

  1. I'm thinking of taking up chain-smoking.
    I shall eat red meat everyday.
    I will put on weight.
    And I shall eat junk food till my heart's content.

    And Aspirin...I shall not touch it!

    Seems every "research" project has flaws of a large magnitude. I remember reading about a woman who lived past a 100 through eating roast dinners constantly and washing it down with brandy (or something along those lines).

    Isn't it ironic!? Ha! It figures ;-)

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  2. Yes, but remember - cancer is an evil sod. I too was the fittest, healthiest (apart from a taste for beer and wine) little soul in Northumberland, and the bstrd got me too! Was it because of a bad sausage that I ate one day? Was it because I was so drunk one night as a student that I passed out in a doorway on Birmingham New Street? Was it because I pushed my friend William off his bike when we were 3 years old?...Who knows! What I do know though, is that because I was fit and healthy before cancer tried to nack me, I was strong enough to kick its sorry ass. Sounds to me like you will be too.
    Shents xxxx

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  3. sometimes life is just unfair :(
    hope everythign goes well for you these next few weeks carole, i will be thinking of you xx

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  4. Imagine the state you would be in otherwise !!
    I too had cancer even though I did the "right things"(except for a bottle of wine a week)Luck of the draw I guess.Good luck tomorrow.
    Rose xxxx

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  5. Well, to be fair, those are just factors which increase any underlying propensity to cancer. I was vegetarian (and later rarely red meat) for 5 years, grew organic veg, when the kids were babies. I did smoke and have a spell of drinking too much after I split with my husband but never more than 10 a day/sometimes a week. Walked or cycled everywhere until 8 years ago when I learned to drive, still gym goer/runner etc. Never been over a healthy BMI. The one thing that they don't mention is mental state - I've been depressed most of my life. I'm a "pleaser" and always feel like I'm not good enough - that's the one "cause" I've read about that fits very well with me. Alternatively of course - cancer, particularly coloRECTAL is a SHIT. :o) I can take some loo roll off your hands - going to accept chemo and ensuing diarrhoea without a rectum :(

    PS I'm also not old enough for it. Stay hopeful xx

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  6. Hiya Loopy,

    T-Shirts with "Rectal Cancer is a Real Shit" printed on the front sounds good to me....
    I may do my Cancer Research run next year wearing that :-)

    I've now decided there is NO rhyme or reason to this type of cancer, their 'markers' are irrelevant because they just don't fit for too many people.

    I think it's time for them to admit 'We don't actually KNOW what causes some people to get it whilst others can fit every single 'marker' and NOT get it'
    Stay well hun, thinking about you xx

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