I had a single mastectomy in December, recovered well and as it was in 6/17 nodes I had a CT scan. This showed thickening on my bowel. Following a colonoscopy they confirmed it was cancer. After a long 2 week wait I’ve been told it’s bowel cancer. So rather than just dealing with breast cancer, I now have bowel cancer to deal with as well.
I see my oncologist on Monday but so far I know it’s chemo for the stage 3 breast cancer then surgery for the bowel cancer. Radiotherapy is planned for breast cancer but I’m not sure if that’ll be before or after the surgery.
Fortunately the cancer is contained in the bowel so they feel comfortable leaving it until my breast cancer is dealt with.
I know it’s incredibly rare to have 2 synchronous primaries, but I also feel blessed it’s bowel cancer & not a spread of the breast cancer.
I was thinking about you today @2kittens thank you for updating us. What an absolutely unimaginable situation you find yourself in!
And then just like that, the positivity you can bring. I think it is the hardest kind to have but gratitude for finding these things is essential. Now they know exactly what they need to do for you to move past all this
I’m really glad you can continue your breast cancer treatment, that must feel like a relief and also that they are happy to leave the rest for after. I wonder if the chemotherapy will find some of the bowel cancer and sort some of it out for you? I guess its not as easy as that but I will hold on to hope that it will.
Sending you the biggest hugs. Dont forget to use us here, if you need to rant or moan or even just for some distraction
Hi 2kittens, I feel for you but take heart there is usually light at the end of the tunnel. I had a mastectomy, auxiliary node clearance, chemo, then radiotheraphy, Zolendronic acid infusions every 6 months for 3 years and Letrozole for 10 years ( which I am currently still taking). I got pneumonia and while in hospital the CT scan I had showed up a thickening in the bowel which was very unexpected. Yes it was bowel cancer. I had an operation to remove my sigmoid colon and part of my rectum but I am still here. I look back and I am eternally grateful to the radiographer who found the bowel cancer, whilst actually looking for reasons for my pneumonia. You are stronger than you think. I am thinking of you and sending virtual hugs. Please let me know how you get on. Take care.
