Nav Johal from London was diagnosed with bowel cancer in February 2019, at the age of 38. She shares her story of being diagnosed with the disease, coping with a stoma and undergoing a stoma reversal.
I lost my whole colon to cancer and had a J pouch created from my small intestine. My reversal was after 6 months and I was only in hospital 2 days. I have had a sometimes difficult time with my j pouch, experiencing frequency and leakage, but to be clear of the cancer puts any difficulties into perspective . St Marks Harrow and pouch nurse Zara are outstanding! I then was diagnosed with cervical cancer 5 years later, and the chemo and radiotherapy along with more surgery and adhesions hasn't helped my pouch, but I'm still living a good life 13 years after my first cancer diagnosis and have experienced the joy of becoming a grandma! I feel extremely blessed . I have been told I can revert to a stoma if the pouch life becomes too arduous for me- my diet is restricted so at some point I may do that .
You are very brave… 🤗 any sign of blood should be taken seriously with an immediate colonoscopy. There’s so many ppl in the UK that simply are not getting diagnosed early enough. Thank you for sharing your story and hope you in full recovery now.
It's helpful to hear how it has impacted Nav and how she got through it.I had IBS for years & so was ready to shrug it off when I started bleeding especially as I was always exhausted anyway from my job. It wasn't until the second doctor I saw ( who had bowel disease ) referred me for a colonoscopy that I took the illness seriously. I had no choice because I saw the tumour on the screen and later found out it was cancerous so I had to wake up and face facts. I didn't need a stoma or chemo and am very grateful for that as well as appreciating greatly that I am still alive for my son & my family. The piano music playing on Navs story is however quite unnecessary I feel. It goes on for almost 14 minutes. Apart from that it is a healing inspiration.
Our stories are nearly identical, including placement of tumor. I have additional lower back injury which I believe threw off Doctors being able to diagnose me before I ended up in emergency after no bowel movement for 9 days. I couldn’t sit down at all. I too have a stoma. I had radiation and chemo. I am living with it for a year now. It prolapsed almost immediately and now trying dilation to increase ability to evacuate so that I can try to reconnect. I’m very dubious about hooking up as I had so much constipation and diarrhea prior. It is hugely helpful to speak out about this disease as the medical community doesn’t catch it in routine care. I wish you the best of continued good health. I too have support and realize that without this surgery I would surely not be here. Feeling blessed 🙏🏻
Thanks for sharing your story with us. I was diagnosed with bowel cancer days ago. Yesterday I have my CT scanner and I wait for the rezult. The biopsy has confirmed my diagnostic. It is good to have more information and I really appreciate your help.
Thank you Nav, that was so helpful. They tell me that at some point I will have a stoma reversal, but I had an ultra low anterior resection, and have been wondering what that would mean for me day to day, so your experience was useful to know about. I am only in second week of living with a stoma, so. early days for me. Your honest and open video was moving and inspiring.
Dear Nav, watching your story you are such an inspirational woman. The manner in which you articulated everything with such intelligence and confidence was truly insightful and I’m sure you will be helping huge numbers of people. Thank you so much for sharing your story, you seem like such a kind person, I wish you the best in your road to continued recovery. You look lovely and please do keep up the good work you are doing in spreading your message The cancer community needs more people like you who just give it straight and are not afraid to talk about the details, this is the best way other people can learn and help save so many lives Much love xxxxxxx
What an important testimony by a very articulate woman; she probably saved lives by sharing her story. I have great respect for people who are so generous, it cannot be easy. I pray she will remain cancer free and lives a life free of the fear of cancer returning! ❤
Hello Nav thankyou hor sharing this story, i came across it as on the 26th i have to have a colonoscopy. In 57 and was told i have ibs.. only tiny bits of blood lots of mucus, drenching night sweats , feeling dizzy, leakage- using the toilet multiple times a day even during the night. Your story has given me hope God love and bless you x
Hi Nav, Thank you for sharing your story with us, I'm in a similar position as you same area been told 8cms. I'm having radiotherapy and chemotherapy at the moment before operation around 10 weeks time, been told I will have a stoma for a few week's not happy with that but it is what it is. I'm nervous and frightened what's coming in the next few weeks but thanks to your story I now have a rough idea what's in front of me. I wish you well in your recovery ❤️ Thank you.
Im 37 and i am bleeding pretty bad after pooping, have become anemic and i have dull stomach pain after eating. I was prescribed omeprazole for my stomach and it has helped a lot, but im scared to death. I have taken the FIT test for colorectal cancer and it came back negative so i guess thats a positive. I hace had tons of blood tests that all show anemia and i have a colonoscopy and endoscopy scheduled on the 16th of this month. I am so scared bc i have people that rely on me and need me.....
Any updates? Im anemic too with negative fecal occult blood test and all other tests fine. Have had a clear endoscopy but yet to have a colonoscopy. Never had blood but abdominal pain led me to see a GI specialist and anemia. I was also prescribed omeprazole which has kind of helped but the pain has since spread. I'm only 19 though. Hope you are well :)
Bowel cancer really covers the whole intestines and rectum.Stomach cancer is something else.I had rectal cancer but it is still classed as bowel cancer.
I lost my whole colon to cancer and had a J pouch created from my small intestine. My reversal was after 6 months and I was only in hospital 2 days.
I have had a sometimes difficult time with my j pouch, experiencing frequency and leakage, but to be clear of the cancer puts any difficulties into perspective . St Marks Harrow and pouch nurse Zara are outstanding!
I then was diagnosed with cervical cancer 5 years later, and the chemo and radiotherapy along with more surgery and adhesions hasn't helped my pouch, but I'm still living a good life 13 years after my first cancer diagnosis and have experienced the joy of becoming a grandma! I feel extremely blessed .
I have been told I can revert to a stoma if the pouch life becomes too arduous for me- my diet is restricted so at some point I may do that .
You are very brave… 🤗 any sign of blood should be taken seriously with an immediate colonoscopy. There’s so many ppl in the UK that simply are not getting diagnosed early enough. Thank you for sharing your story and hope you in full recovery now.
Yes…I did and fortunately was just fissure.
Such an articulate lady,well done on your recovery thank you for your honesty xx
Thank you for such an informative video. I'm stage 3 rectal so hearing your story is very helpful. Wishing you good health.
It's helpful to hear how it has impacted Nav and how she got through it.I had IBS for years & so was ready to shrug it off when I started bleeding especially as I was always exhausted anyway from my job. It wasn't until the second doctor I saw ( who had bowel disease ) referred me for a colonoscopy that I took the illness seriously. I had no choice because I saw the tumour on the screen and later found out it was cancerous so I had to wake up and face facts. I didn't need a stoma or chemo and am very grateful for that as well as appreciating greatly that I am still alive for my son & my family. The piano music playing on Navs story is however quite unnecessary I feel. It goes on for almost 14 minutes. Apart from that it is a healing inspiration.
Our stories are nearly identical, including placement of tumor. I have additional lower back injury which I believe threw off Doctors being able to diagnose me before I ended up in emergency after no bowel movement for 9 days. I couldn’t sit down at all. I too have a stoma. I had radiation and chemo. I am living with it for a year now. It prolapsed almost immediately and now trying dilation to increase ability to evacuate so that I can try to reconnect. I’m very dubious about hooking up as I had so much constipation and diarrhea prior. It is hugely helpful to speak out about this disease as the medical community doesn’t catch it in routine care. I wish you the best of continued good health. I too have support and realize that without this surgery I would surely not be here. Feeling blessed 🙏🏻
ruclips.net/video/F5zT4DATYcw/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/haZ2Vb4yNJg/видео.html
Thanks for sharing your story with us. I was diagnosed with bowel cancer days ago. Yesterday I have my CT scanner and I wait for the rezult. The biopsy has confirmed my diagnostic. It is good to have more information and I really appreciate your help.
Wishing you the best.
Thank you for such honesty! This really helps people.
Thank you Nav, that was so helpful. They tell me that at some point I will have a stoma reversal, but I had an ultra low anterior resection, and have been wondering what that would mean for me day to day, so your experience was useful to know about. I am only in second week of living with a stoma, so. early days for me. Your honest and open video was moving and inspiring.
Thanks,Nav,for sharing
Sorry for all you went through
Warm Hugs 🤗
Dear Nav, watching your story you are such an inspirational woman. The manner in which you articulated everything with such intelligence and confidence was truly insightful and I’m sure you will be helping huge numbers of people.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, you seem like such a kind person, I wish you the best in your road to continued recovery. You look lovely and please do keep up the good work you are doing in spreading your message
The cancer community needs more people like you who just give it straight and are not afraid to talk about the details, this is the best way other people can learn and help save so many lives
Much love xxxxxxx
I had bowel cancer 13 yearss ago and im ok anyone going through it dont worry you can have a good life still
What an important testimony by a very articulate woman; she probably saved lives by sharing her story. I have great respect for people who are so generous, it cannot be easy. I pray she will remain cancer free and lives a life free of the fear of cancer returning! ❤
You are a very strong woman, I hope if 1 person learns anything from you today, it will save their life. God Bless You
Nav your story os the proof that you are a strong soul.
Hello Nav thankyou hor sharing this story, i came across it as on the 26th i have to have a colonoscopy. In 57 and was told i have ibs.. only tiny bits of blood lots of mucus, drenching night sweats , feeling dizzy, leakage- using the toilet multiple times a day even during the night. Your story has given me hope God love and bless you x
Hi Nav, Thank you for sharing your story with us, I'm in a similar position as you same area been told 8cms.
I'm having radiotherapy and chemotherapy at the moment before operation around 10 weeks time, been told I will have a stoma for a few week's not happy with that but it is what it is.
I'm nervous and frightened what's coming in the next few weeks but thanks to your story I now have a rough idea what's in front of me.
I wish you well in your recovery ❤️
Thank you.
ruclips.net/video/F5zT4DATYcw/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/haZ2Vb4yNJg/видео.html
Scary!!God Bless you 🙏🙏🙏🙏 an good vibes your way❤❤From USA.
A great help to me thank you
We aren't awake in US for our colonoscopy. I'm very sorry you're going through this. This is helpful!!
god bless you
Thank you for the information how does the irrigation work
ruclips.net/video/F5zT4DATYcw/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/haZ2Vb4yNJg/видео.html
This vidio watch every patient giving help more to recovery
Does anyone know how this young woman is doing today?She's lovely.
Is she still alive . How is her health ?
Im 37 and i am bleeding pretty bad after pooping, have become anemic and i have dull stomach pain after eating. I was prescribed omeprazole for my stomach and it has helped a lot, but im scared to death. I have taken the FIT test for colorectal cancer and it came back negative so i guess thats a positive. I hace had tons of blood tests that all show anemia and i have a colonoscopy and endoscopy scheduled on the 16th of this month. I am so scared bc i have people that rely on me and need me.....
Hope all goes well buddy👍
How are you?
How's your test if you might want to share. Hope you're doing okay
Any updates? Im anemic too with negative fecal occult blood test and all other tests fine. Have had a clear endoscopy but yet to have a colonoscopy. Never had blood but abdominal pain led me to see a GI specialist and anemia. I was also prescribed omeprazole which has kind of helped but the pain has since spread. I'm only 19 though. Hope you are well :)
Thanks for all the kind words everyone. It turned out to be 4 huge hemmoroids. I have to go in later to have them banded and removed
🙏❤️
I wish you well for the future lovely lady
Now that's the way to do it........yeah team.....a win.
Wow no one talks about that whoa long road
What is irrigation?
It's basically pushing water in a tube up the back passage to flush out the poo.
any updates?
i definitely think i have bowl cancer. i just know. stool sample done and handed in and now just waiting for a colonoscopy to confirm.
when brits say bowl cancer do you mean colon or intestins , we never hear about bowl over here in N-America
Bowel cancer really covers the whole intestines and rectum.Stomach cancer is something else.I had rectal cancer but it is still classed as bowel cancer.
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
At first sight of blood in stool, please get a colonoscopy. Do not wait.