I have been diagnosed with stage 1 rectal cancer.The mass is large and low and both the oncologist and surgeon I have seen suggest having a bag afterwards is inevitable. They differ on whether to do surgery or chemo/radiation first to shrink the tumor. I am hoping the radiation oncologist that I will see tomorrow can help with that decision. In the meantime I have an appointment at a cancer center in Buffalo, NY next week for a second opinion. I am as frightened about the possibility of having this bag as I am about having cancer. I have always been very active and exercised regularly. I feel like life as I knew it is over for me.View Thread