Morning, oh my I can relate to how you are feeling so much on the 18th of April my husband was diagnosed with rectal cancer his was also 8cm in and I felt my whole world fall apart, we were told we had a hard few months ahead of us ,  so the mri was first , followed by cat scan , blood tests, Geoff was taken in for surgery 24 th of may, because of previous surgery Geoffs wasn't as straight forward as it should of been ( also he is 67 though an exceptionally fit 67 who neither smokes drinks exercising most days and still working full time)

that part of the bowel was removed and an ileostomy in place to allow the surgery area time to heal, we then had 3 weeks to wait to hear the histology reports, which showed a stage T2 cancer , Geoffs still recovering from his operation, hates is stoma with a passion, but yesterday was told the Cea blood test was Normal, we have a long road to go but I'm trying to Learn to live each day , I truly hope your news is as positive, speak to people that understand what's going on, I just kept googling and terrified myself, please keep us updated, there are happy endings out there , 

much love Tracey 

Tracey can i ask how long your husband had symptoms? and what were they? My husbands seem to have got worse and worse, and some days he is attached to the toilet with constant diarhoea. i`m worried that the worsening means that it is getting more serious?! 

Also after his colonoscopy and since we have been diagnosed he seems to have little appetitie, looks more frail and grey. Is this due to it getting worse or due to worry?! 

I wish i had a magic wand, or could wake up and this whole thing had been a nightmare, and he is perfectly fine and healthy. 

Hi, he hadn't mentioned any symptoms to me , but a month before we had been on holiday and he became very concerned about his bowels I stupidly thought it was a holiday tummy!!! But we were told at the colonoscopy they had found cancer as it was very clear, Geoff then told them he had been going more often and never feeling like he had emptied his bowel for around 3 months, which I hadn't realised, I had noticed he was exceptionally tired and he wasn't eating so much from the  beginning of the year and was picking up cold after cold , but had been reassured when they did bloods in January, but I didn't realise that most cancers wouldn't show unless your were  anemic,  it's the worst feeling ever being told the man you love is ill , I'm not sure if any of the above will help , but my heart went out to you when I read your story,  I hope all the professionals involved are able to talk to you both and explain everything, I didn't have a clue and still worry every single moment asking him how he is , what's wrong , I've even laid awake watching him breath!! ( I'm not potty really) just the worry is  overwhelming,  Please keep us updated,   Xx

sounds very similar. Charlie is a very proud man, didn`t tell me the extent of his symptoms, till he was going 10-15 times a day and losing weight. Luckily the GP didn`t dismiss it as IBS, which he could easily of, as no other symptoms, and no blood in stool. 

I dropped him off for his colonoscopy, thinking nothing of it. Actually thinking this is a bit OTT, and they will tell us its a food intolerance. But as soon as i went in to collect him i knew something was wrong. Everyone was hovering around, and there just seemed to be this air about the nurses. They had a look, esp when they saw me with the two little boys. 

The consultant was nice, stood between us and just said look there is a tumour, and you will be seeing some of my collegues. Charlie didn`t register it, i just said what are you saying. And he said i think its a cancer. I cried and hugged my little boy, Charlie just said oh wow, really. I cried a lot! Charlie didn`t, not till he was by himself at home.

I`ve cried a lot since, every day to be honest, not in front of him. In front of Charlie i am strong and positive. I have to be. But by myself i fall apart. This limbo of unknown is so scary. Is it low grade and treatable, or are we dealing with a rare aggressive form. We just do not know! Charlie fell apart last night, he`d been on the internet and read stories of it going into bone, or having to have chemo and hair falling out. Hes such a strong positive man, but this is slowly breaking him. 

MRI is today, so we all as a family will head over to the hospital at 5pm, not ideal wih two little boys, but my family are not local. Next week is virtual colonoscopy and then consultant appoint fri after.

I`m not a religious person, but i am praying and have been every day. Please if there is a god, don`t take this special strong man from me or my little boys. We need him. 

Charlotte, just dropping by to wish you all the luck in the world for the MRI and future test results. Almost all of us here know what absolute hell this process is. And yes, googling Charlie's cancer will probably throw up some really scary stuff. But there's some good stuff there too. Colorectal cancer is serious, no denying that, but a lot of people make a full recovery and die much later of old age, for completely different reasons. But, as you point out, you are in limbo because so much is unknown for you and your consultants, and will remain so until your Friday appointment. Abolutely horrible. All of us on this site understand what you are going through and share your agony.

I am in follow up for penile cancer after treatment and, like you and Charlie, was terrified at diagnosis. And yes, I googled everything, which is something I do not regret. I like to be as well informed as possible. And among the horror stories (and there are always horror stories on the internet, even if your go to the doctors for a chipped toenail) there are good, positive, stories as well. And it makes you realize how much becomes pure luck, when waiting for test results. I got lucky, in a way that I hardly dared to hope at the moment of diagnosis. You Charlie and your little boys can be lucky as well. And even if, God forbid, you are not, then you will still receive fantastic treatment with a very good chance of being cured.  

 I was sat in the waiting room , when they rang me to come back to hospital, I too knew instantly there was a problem, like you I'm not religious but I walked to my local church that was locked in the evening sat outside and prayed and have continued every day since , wish I was closer so I could of helped ( my children all grown up but I have grandchildren the same age as your boys) will be thinking of you today for the Mri and all your forthcoming tests, I've said before there are good news stories out there and amazing treatment plans , up to now we have been lucky, I know we are a long way from relaxing, but I am Trying to learn to live for today and tackle tomorrow when it comes ,  if that makes sense 

much love to you all 

hopefully hear from you soon 

Tracey x

Thanks Tracey just chatting to someone that understands helps x

Likewise, good luck again this afternoon xx

MRI was fine, took longer than expected, not sure if that means anything. Took nearly 50mins. So annoying that you don`t get your results straight away!!

But on a positive note, Charlie has his appetite back, and had less toilet trips today, so that has made him and me feel better.

On a side note, it seems every tv chanel we watch has some reference to cancer! We are watching a tv programme now, and there has been two references to cancer!!! We can`t get away from it!!!

Just watched eastenders!!!! Yep cancer mentioned,  couldn't believe it! I guess it's always been that way , but we hadn't noticed it , glad hubby has had a better day , let's hope tomorrow is either the same or better :)

, first time today Geoffs read any literature and has been very emotional:( , but part of our pathway,) I'm pretty sure Geoffs mri was about that time aswell,, same as you I wanted to go and ask the nurse what she thought!!! Obviously Geoffs stopped me , keep us updated, get some rest ,

here if you need to offload 

Tracey xx