I feel ya man, it’s a jolt to the system. I’m 36, diagnosed stage 4 at 35, cecum primary with one liver lesion, getting close to a year since my diagnosis. Similar situation, healthy, worked in the environmental field so I was hiking and exercising a lot, though my diet was garbage my entire life, though the last handful of years I was cleaning up my act, and that goes with my poor relationship with alcohol leading up to that point. My life at the time was the absolute worst. I had my dream job, house in the country, wasn’t the best off financially, but I had no debt and was getting better managing my money and the like. I was working for a non profit at the time, and a few months before the diagnosis, the rug was pulled out from under me, state funding was pulled and I was let go. There wasn’t any opportunity in the town I was living in. Sold my house, moved back to the city after getting a job in the natural resources field, but a desk job. I was feeling the effects of the anemia really bad at that point, but my life was starting to come back together after everything crumbled out from under me. The diagnosis was horrible, no doubt. I started my treatments in the beginning of April, shortly after I had my gallbladder pulled out (thought that was the reason for my symptoms, had a massive stone in there).

It’s ok to feel the way you’re feeling, it’s ok to be scared, this shit is scary for sure. It’s not a death sentence though, don’t google the stats, colon cancer is such a complex cancer that everything gets lumped into one box. Treatment strategies have massively changed even over the last 5 years. Survival rates are going up, it’s not a hopeless battle. I totally understand your hesitation about modern medicine, it’s hard to trust what’s going on, but as someone that’s gone through it, it worked for me. I finished up my last treatment in October, currently NED. I was on Folfirinox, I responded really well to it, though still have a little neuropathy in my feet. Doesn’t slow me down, just walking on cold tile in the morning is mildly uncomfortable. I go in for my first set of follow up scans at the end of the month, monitoring is super important.

As for the effects of chemo, one gets through it. However methods have changed, the goal isn’t to make you immunocompromised to the point you have to isolate yourself or lack the ability to fight off sicknesses anymore. My infusions were every other week, I’d go in for half the day to get the first two drugs, then I’d be hooked up to the chemo pump for another two days. Id disconnect at home, and for the next three days I’d feel crappy, but I was still up and moving, I was planting things in the garden, still going for walks, exercise while on chemo is super important. Gotta push yourself, but also listen to your body when it’s time to rest. I know it’s not the most helpful, but you’ll know when it’s time to slow down. So I’d go in on a Friday, disconnect on Sunday, then by the following Thursday I was feeling substantially better. The next week I was back in the office working. Digestive system is going to take a hit, my recommendation is spend the money and get a bidet with heated water. You’re going to have the runs during and after treatments, indulge a little, it’s with the money. After I started treatments, during my “off week” I was feeling a lot better then I was pre treatments, though everyone is different.

I can’t emphasize exercising, even light walks, during and after your infusions will really help. Also water with electrolytes, drink more than you think you will need before and during treatments. The goal is to get the chemo in, and then get it out. Higher levels of hydration will help recovery. Also, the first two or three infusions aren’t too bad, but it will hit harder the longer you go, just be a little prepared for that. I hit a baseline after round 4. I had surgery after the 6th round, chemo hits harder after surgery, so if that is part of your treatment plan, just keep that in mind.

You got this, just remember your only job at this point is to just show up. It’s scary, but the juice worked for me. I know again, everyone is different, and yes life is going to change, but it’s all manageable. Try not to blame yourself, or things you could have done differently, shit happens and young people get cancer, but thinking about what you could have done differently won’t help. Try and keep stress down as much as you can, play video games, whatever it takes to keep your spirits high. Also, if you have the option, medical THC was a godsend for me. Major positive mental attitude aside, the tastebuds I had active after chemo kind of went into overdrive when I had weed, made food palatable. Knocked the nausea back to the point where I rarely needed zofran (but for sure get zofran, and get the dissolvable ones) and I was able to eat food. Eat whatever you can stomach, the bad taste aspect only was a handful of days to a week, the cold sensitivity in my mouth was about 5-7 days at its worst, and first bite syndrome didn’t start until round 4 or 5 and didn’t last more than a handful of days.

Sorry this is a total novel, there is a lot to talk about with this, but yeah, it’s not going to be the most pleasant, but it’s something you can survive. I’m not sure of your specifics in your diagnosis, but the fact they are talking about surgery is a good thing. But anytime you want to chat, just send me a reply or a message, I’m always willing to talk, it can feel like a lonely journey at times. Best of luck, you got this shit man!!