Take a minute to read this

[jjjnettie]

Bowel Cancer Awareness Week has just started today.

Bowel cancer (also know as colorectal cancer) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in Australia, yet it is highly curable if found early.
In Australia, you have a 1 in 21 chance of contracting this disease in your lifetime.
In the IceInSpace forum, that means that about 100 of us will be affected.

People with any of the following symptoms should see their doctor:
1. bleeding from the back passage or any sign of blood in a bowel motion
2. an unexplained and persistent change in bowel actions. For example, looser or more frequent bowel motions or becoming severely constipated
3. unexplained tiredness
4. lower abdominal pain or a persistent feeling of fullness.

This is not the time to indulge in self diagnoses, " I'm lactose intolerant and always get the runs, I've got hemorrhoids and always get a bit of blood on the tissue" You don't know for sure, you're not a doctor. Don't put this off, GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR.
Bowel cancer is the most curable of the cancers, so long as you get an EARLY DIAGNOSIS.

The slogan "Don't Die of Embarrassment" is indicative to the feelings everyone has. No-one likes the idea of being prodded and probed down there, it's uncomfortable and very undignified. Good humour is essential.

Another fact to be faced is that this disease does not discriminate by age or sex. While it is more common in older people, it can happen to ANYONE at ANY AGE.

For more information, please click on the link in my signature.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.



Why am I an advocate for Bowel Cancer Awareness?
I was diagnosed just before Easter with Colorectal cancer.
I believe that if I had known about the symptoms I would not have put off going to the doctor for so long.
I don't want anyone here to wait as long as I did.

[[1ponders]]

Good luck Jeanette. You know my thoughts are with you.

[matt]

All the best, Jeanette.:thumbsup:

[Dennis]

Hello, Jeanette

Thank you for bringing this to our attention and for providing some education on the nature and symptoms of bowel cancer. I am so sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I am also humbled and in awe of your courage, strength and openness in describing your personal circumstances.

Jeanette, you have reached out to help others whilst at a particularly difficult time in your own life – you are an angel.

Best wishes and our loving thoughts are with you and yours.

Dennis

[erick]

My thoughts are with you Jeanette. Hope that your treatment is going well.

Sadly, I just learnt on Saturday of an acquaintance just diagnosed with advanced rectal cancer. Anyone of IIS membership could be in that "100" - be careful.

[venus]

Hope you have a speedy and complete recovery. You are a brave woman Jeanette.
Thank you for the medical information.

Lydia

[astro_nutt]

Get well real soon Jeanette..your efforts of awareness will have saved lives..
Many thanks..
Norm.

[wavelandscott]

Thanks for posting this important information...

I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis and wish you all the best in your fight and recovery!

[janoskiss]

Thank you for your thoughtful post Jjj. I have or have had all those symptoms, but wrote them off as due to bad eating habits and xs alcohol. Most of the symptoms are gone most of the time but not all the time, since I've changed my eating and drinking habits last year. I will heed the advice and get myself off to the doctor's. Best wishes!

[ballaratdragons]

Jeanette, thanks for the jolt into reality. Yep, we gotta look after ourselves.

All my best wishes and prayers for you beating this horrid cancer. :thumbsup:

I only found out 2 weeks ago my Dad has cancer (doesn't smoke or drink). That brought the caution to me as well!

[Outbackmanyep]

Hope things go well for you Jeanette! :)
Take care!

[danielsun]

My thoughts are with you Jeanette. Thanks for sharing with us what must be a difficult time for you and those close to you.
All the best in your recovery and stay positive.

[GrahamL]

So very well put Dennis .

[Ric]

Thankyou for your post Jeanette, it is a timely reminder for all of us. It saddens me to hear of your diagnosis and I wish you a speedy recovery, from all your posts I know you are a very positive person and my thoughts are with you all the way.

[Garyh]

Remember to Stay positive and take care and get pasted this hurdle to enjoy the future..

[norm]

Thanks for the reminder Jeanette. Wishing you a speedy and complete recovery. Our thoughts are with you. Norm

[acropolite]

That's terrible news Jeanette, my thoughts also are with you, look after yourself, take it easy and get well.

[xelasnave]

Good luck Jeanette think positive and count the blessing that you have.
Best wishes
alex

[ispom]

I send you my best wishes for your recovery, Jeanette !

[dugnsuz]

Hi Jeanette,
My mum was diagnosed with Rectal Ca a while back. It was the early detection of the disease that saved her life and I'm proud of her for having the courage to go to her doctor to seek help. That is something that has stuck in the back of my mind as I'm obviously at risk too.
All the best for the future, my thoughts are with you.
Cheers
Doug

[Dujon]

Oh, heck, 'Nettie, I'm sorry to hear of your situation.

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee..."

John Donne - 1624


That might sound somewhat maudlin, 'Nettie, but it's not meant to be. Even if we cannot be with you through this trial the members here have expressed their thoughts to YOU. Please think of them when you are feeling depressed about your lot. In other words you are NOT alone even though the connection is as tenuous as the cyberworld. I suppose that given your original post that's self evident anyway so I'm probably waffling on about something of which you are already aware.

[astroron]

:hi: JJJ thinking of you, look forward to seeing you on the 16th all things and weather permitting:thumbsup: Ron

[RB]

Our thoughts and prayers for a full and speedy recovery are with you Jeanette.
Thank you for the info, may we all take heed.

[beren]

Thoughts and prayers are with you Jeanette, beat wishes for a full recovery and thank you for sharing with us and the timely information provided.

Stuart

[cahullian]

Hi Jeanette
All my household wish you well and you may be assured that you are in our prayers.

Gazz

[xstream]

You are in Anna and my thoughts and prayers Jeanette, the strength and courage you have shown will surely pull you through.

[jjjnettie]

Thanks everyone for your kind words and support.
It really helps.
But I didn't post this to gain sympathy ( though it is nice ), I just wanted to spread the message of early detection and hopefully push a few people into taking a step in the right direction.


My operation, an abdominoperineal resection, is on the 27th of this month. Only about 3 weeks away.:scared: I will really need all your positive vibes sent out to me on that day.
Thanks to an early diagnoses I don't need Radiation treatment and I may not even have to have Chemotherapy. What a bonus!!

An adendum to my original post.
I've just realized that my doom and gloom prediction was wrong. Due to my attrocious maths I realise that it isn't 100 of us that will be affected, unfortunately it is more like 400 of us that will be touched.
All the more reason to be aware of down there.

[spacezebra]

Thinking of you JJJ.

Cheers Petra

[iceman]

+++ vibes coming your way, Jeanette.

All the best for your operation.

[33South]

Here's some more positive vibes on account

+++++++ vibes


All the best for 3 weeks time and a speedy recovery.