Hey everyone. New here. Got the call today, Stage 3C rectal cancer. Feels like the floor dropped out from under me. Plan is apparently neoadjuvant chemo/radiation, then surgery, then more chemo. Starts in 3 weeks. Honestly just numb and terrified. Don’t even know what questions to ask yet. How did you cope initially?
It changes. The raw shock fades into waves of anxiety, determination, fear, hope… it’s a rollercoaster. But you learn to ride it. Focus on the very next step: prepping for that first treatment. You’ll get through it.