It was in April 2024 that I learned I had colorectal cancer. Since then, I’ve undergone surgery and chemotherapy and taken pain medication for my condition.
I’m Snezana and this is my experience with cancer.
What led to my diagnosis of colon adenocarcinoma was undergoing a national bowel screening test.
I recall feeling surprised, but optimistic. I was fit and healthy and had no clear symptoms prior to diagnosis.
Treatment-wise, I opted for a partial colectomy (removal of a part of colon), lymphadenectomy (removal of lymph nodes), liver resection, chemotherapy and pain medication. I had researched similar cases and their outcomes, and followed my doctor’s recommendation since they are more qualified.
July 2024: Surgery of sigmoid colon and resection of liver
August 2024:
- Chemo FOLFOX program began with complications, such as neutrophilia and neuropathy, so it was reduced to 80%.
- Chest infection and bilateral blood clots on lungs at round 8.
- Clexane injections for 90 days.
End March 2025: Chemo completed
In total, I had 12 rounds of chemo over 8 months. I was taking pain medication for that same duration. My treatment is government funded through public services.
The most severe side effect I had was peripheral neuropathy. It affected me, being unable to touch or consume anything cold. The numbness and tingling made it difficult to walk and do daily tasks without difficulty. Dealing with fatigue, nausea and vomiting was a struggle too. The waves of fatigue and nausea can go from mild to extreme very quickly. Eat as best as you can but enjoy food if you can. I lost my taste buds and everything was very bland.
To cope, I focused on tasks I could do, like short and frequent exercises. I was also using snow gloves for fridge/freezer items and gloves for everything else.
My plans for the future revolve around:
- Healing and recovery
- Enjoying life and travelling
- Staying cancer free
I stopped working after my cancer diagnosis. I’m on permanent sick leave.
Being unable to work affected me, but dealing with the difficulty in day-to-day tasks was the most challenging. I was focused on getting through each day, knowing that treatment will finish and focusing on the positives each day and what I can accomplish.
After finding out I had cancer, what scared me the most were:
- Fear of losing independence or ability to care for myself
- Fear of changes in appearance or body image
To get over these fears, I was:
- Focusing on physical recovery and staying active
- Educating myself about the cancer and treatment process
- Focusing on positive thinking or gratitude
Today I’m optimistic. It’s the end of prescribed treatment and currently, there is no evidence of disease. But I’m also shocked as it went from possibly stage 1 to stage 4.
Reach out if you feel overwhelmed, scared or unsure of anything! Be grateful and thankful for what you can achieve rather than what you can’t do. Take it one day at a time. Life is what you make of it no matter the circumstance.
Really listen to your body. Some days you will feel great; do what makes you happy and brings you joy. On the bad days, be kind to yourself and rest.
This patient's story is published and shared with their full consent. Any personal data that can be used to identify the patient has been omitted.
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