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.

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.