What It’s Like Living with Colon Cancer

When patients at Regional Cancer Care Associates are initially diagnosed with colon cancer, it’s common for their thoughts to start running wild. What are my treatment options? How will this affect my life? What’s going to happen now? 5 years from now? 10 years from now?

Because no two cases are exactly alike, it can be scary going into cancer treatment without knowing what to expect. As treatment begins and continues, your new reality may start to look a little different than it did prior to receiving a diagnosis, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t enjoy a happy, fulfilling life.

Coping with Life Changes

Depending on what stage your colon cancer has progressed to, your treatment protocol will probably consist of some variation of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. During therapy, you’ll undergo periods of treatment intermingled with periods of rest.

During this time, you might also start experiencing some adverse side effects of both the cancer and the medication, including fatigue, pain, stress, hair loss and bowel changes, among others. While some patients feel too ill to keep up with normal activities, others are able to maintain their daily life and eventually continue working over the course of their treatment.

RCCA is Here to Help

No matter what you’re going through living with colon cancer, the doctors and staff at RCCA are here to offer support every step of the way. We’ll provide guidance, assistance, counseling, information and more to each patient who needs it. It is our goal to make you feel like you’re being taken care of and that you feel comfortable and informed. RCCA will also help with:

• Finding wigs and other cancer care products
• Contacting support groups
• Finding economic assistance
• Offering psychological and nutritional guidance
• Providing transportation assistance
• And more

Reach Out Today

Aside from more doctors’ appointments and hospital stays, colon cancer is just another part of your journey. Whatever you need along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor or the RCCA support staff, and be sure to rely on family and friends. There are also plenty of resources online where you can connect with others who are facing similar challenges.