Lainey's Log: A Bowel Cancer Diary

Picture taken 1st day after Chemo, Dec 2020 I’m not going to lie or beat about the bush on this post, spoiler alert, it was shit. Not a bit rubbish, or exaggerated for effect, and I’m certainly not going to roll it in glitter to make it seem better than it was. It was truly one of the worst experiences of my life. I have never felt more like I have cancer than when I was receiving that poisonous cocktail every three weeks, the one that was designed to save my life. After receiving my diagnosis at the end of September, I was scheduled to have my first round of chemotherapy at the very beginning of December. It may seem like a long time to wait, but I had to have various scans and the colonoscopy before I could have the treatment. Considering the lockdowns and restrictions for Covid, I felt blessed to be in the system at all.  I was scheduled to receive a combination known to all in the biz as Capox, a combination of Capecitabine and Oxypalitine. Given in 3 week cycles. An intravenou...

"Hey Elaine! Tell us about your colonoscopy" encouraged absolutely nobody. But I'm going to tell you about it any way, because I'm good at oversharing like that, plus it's one of the taboos surrounding bowel cancer that needs to be spoken about and demystified. I think the thought of having one of these beauties puts many people off getting checked out - it shouldn't. I mean, if i can get my act together to go and have one,  then anyone can. Honestly.  With a colonoscopy, one must start at the very beginning a couple of days before the procedure. You'll be sent a recipe card for a low residue diet with such delights as tinned pears and white bread for a day,  followed by clear broth and squash (not red) for another day. As a fantastic chaser to these culinary treats, you'll have 2 litres (1 the night before, 1 in the morning) of Industrial Strength Laxative which tastes like a Harpic Margarita. Well meaning advice from the forums will tell ...

Hello! I was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer in September 2020, aged 40, and I kept it to myself, close friends and family for a long while.  I have now reached a place where I can talk about it more openly and I felt like telling a wider audience on my social media. It was suggested I start a blog,  so that's what I'm doing! Here is that first post, written 7 June 2022. I've written this post a million times in my head, but now, with more media attention on Bowel Cancer, it seems to be the right time.  I want this post to raise awareness, and potentially help people spot symptoms sooner rather than later. I'm certainly jumping on the Never Too Young band wagon, and it is definitely not a 'woe is me' post, and I will thump anyone who gives me the cancer sad eyes - so be warned! I was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer in September 2020 - just to top off what was already a wonderful year for everyone. It was discovered by chance when I went for a scan to see if ...