I was referred to a gastroenterologist by my GP for endoscopies (upper and lower) to find out why I had certain symptoms. After diagnosis I found out that I had early stage bowel cancer, caused by Lynch Syndrome (a hereditary genetic condition). Due to side effects caused by the biopsy I had to have emergency surgery to remove the cancer and was in hospital for a week, which at this time I had to adapt to new ways of doing things I normally took for granted, such as walking up and down stairs. Later during my hospital stay I was told I would have to undergo six months of chemo treatments. The chemo process was scheduled to begin straight after I was fully recovered from surgery.

 

From the first treatment cycle, continuing for the next few I would have side effects upon each new treatment cycle. This made me feel very anxious, because I was not prepared for this, mainly due to not asking enough questions and being blasé about the whole process after the first appointment with the oncologist and the subsequent treatment. This would send me to visit the emergency room a few times. However, soon afterwards the oncologist gave me a medication regime, which along with help from my medical support team (psychologist, physio, and dietitian) I was able to manage the side effects well and my anxiety, by half way through the chemo process reduced to a low level. From this time onwards the rest of the cycles went rather quickly.

After my last treatment cycle, some of my side effects did decrease, which meant I could stop taking some of the chemo medication. However, about a month afterwards I received permanent neuropathy in the fingers and toes, which I was told by the oncologist this was fairly common and caused by the chemo. This made activities that need fine movement (e.g. typing, tying shoe laces) very hard, as well as this I could not hold cold things (this continues to happen). To alleviate this and decrease the time the side effect would last, he recommended me to see my physio, which upon visiting gave me a number of exercises, however it will still be a long recovery process.

 

After my last appointment with the oncologist and CT scan, I was told that I was officially in remission and that night I was given a "remission day" party by my bible study group with an ice cream cake in my favourite flavour, which I was very delighted in receiving as I could not eat ice cream for about 4 months, which after having it every night for many years was quite a shock to the system. Although, I still have side effects, because I'm in remission this is the end of my chemo journey.