Hi, I’m Angela from Ireland. I’m now retired, and I had stage 1 colorectal cancer. I’ve completed treatment and am in remission.

I have a family history of cancer. Specifically, my sister died at 47 and my mother at 78 from cancer. My nephew and niece also died from various cancers. Apart from my family history, I had blood in my stool too. After getting myself checked out, I was diagnosed with stage 1 rectal carcinoid in October 2023.

So many of my family members died from cancer, but I was optimistic when I first received news of my diagnosis because I felt it was early days for me.

I followed my doctor’s recommendations and opted for these treatment options:

• Polypectomy (Removal of polyps: abnormal growth of tissue)
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy

I took chemotherapy tablets and had radiation treatment 5 days a week for a total of 5 weeks. I was optimistic after finalizing this treatment plan, which I’ve since completed. I had every confidence in my doctors so I didn’t feel the need to seek a second opinion. In June 2024, I was declared cancer-free.

In terms of side effects, the ones that affected me the most were diarrhea, fatigue and hand and foot syndrome. Having to be near a toilet because of the diarrhea caused by radiation therapy affected my daily life. I also had blisters on my bottom and the soles of my feet.

To mitigate these side effects, I took prescribed medication, specifically pain relief and creams.

I was recommended medical advice related to exercise, but did not take it up. Instead, I got more rest and chose to live every day with joy. I won’t sweat the small things anymore or company I don't enjoy. For the next few years, I plan to enjoy every day as it's a blessing and be more patient with others.

Since being diagnosed with cancer, I had some challenges in my social life and relationships with my loved ones. More specifically, my husband found my diagnosis difficult to accept, but we overcame it with difficulty.

Another challenging aspect of being a cancer survivor is people’s reaction, but I was always very positive. It makes you a stronger person.

I had no fears throughout my cancer journey.

Today, I feel the same as I did before when I was first diagnosed with cancer. I’m so lucky to have been treated somewhere close to home, and the support I received throughout was particularly helpful during my cancer journey.

In terms of practical advice, give up smoking, exercise and eat well. Remember, there's such great care and support available out there. There's nothing to fear. Trust your doctors’ advice, they know best.❤️