shovel09

Its back

2010-12-29T16:23:55Z

just got back from my dad's first year hospital check up with results of ct scan showing secondaries in the lungs. we are completely devestated and dad is broken. hate this dreaded disease and the destruction it brings to families. once it enters your life it is never the same again. sorry.

My Dad..... has it returned

2010-11-02T19:28:03Z

Hi, late last year my dad was diagnosed with urachal cancer and had an operation to remove his bladder but with no chemo or radio. I wanted to know what stage etc. the cancer was at however, mum and dad did not.

Dad is now having trouble with his stomach. Pains, reflux, upset stomach etc. and I am so afraid its returned. Dad only has to have sneeze and we all worry so much. I know, when looking at him, he is thinking the same as us and we are all slowly going mad. Does this ever get any better or is this down to the `newness` if that makes any sense) and we will all relax and learn to live again before cancer entered our lives.

I hope I don't sound too selfish but I have never experience anything that has affected a family as much as cancer has ours.

Many thanks.

Only just the beginning.....

2009-12-03T15:29:59Z

Hi , my dad has finally (we think) been diagnosed with urachal cancer after being told it was bladder, then bowel and now back to a `bladder` type cancer. Has anyone experienced this cancer? We were first told he had a tumour in August and we are still having test/scans/mri's etc. My Dad is convinced there is nothing wrong with him on some days as he feels well and is in denial. Then he has a bad day and is `not going to make it`. I don't know how to help him. I have become obsessed with reading anything I can about his condition (although very rare so not a lot on the net). I spend days crying and thinking about him not being here and think I am going mad. Yesterday was my Son's birthday and the thought of Dad not being here next year fills me with fear and dread. My focus is Dad, who when I am around I am completely together, but when I am not with him I am mush and I am beginning to get annoyed with myself for feeling sorry for me and my fear. Is this normal or am I going crazy.

Just diagnosed

2009-11-27T12:11:55Z

My lovely Dad was in pain when having a wee, so he went to the GP and was referred for tests. He underwent a camera procedure on Aug 22nd and we were all expecting to hear he had some age related illness (he is just 75 but looks 50!). To our horror we were told he had a tumour which looked to be bladder/bowel connected. We were in shock. Dad had an MRI scan which told us it was a bladder cancer and there was no bowel connection. We were relieved there was only one organ involved. In Oct Dad had an op to remove the tumour however when speaking to the surgeon post op he contridicted the MRI and said there was a definate bladder/bowel issue. Early Nov we meet with the Uroglogist who confirmed that Dad didn't have bladder cancer but bowel cancer. We were surprised and very confused as the MRI scan confirmed no bowel cancer. Yesterday they put a camera in the bowel only to confirm there is no cancer there. We were all totally confused and flustrated that the information we had received had been contridicatory and my Dad still hadn't started any treatment.

After the camera we met with the colorectal surgeon only to be told my Dad had cancer of his belly button!! We were shocked and thought the date was April 1st. The confusion has arisen as the cancer confuses as it `pretends` to be a bowel cancer when its not.

The surgeon then went on to advise us that this is a very rare cancer that occurs in the top of the urinary bladder. The urachus is a tube which joins the belly button to the top of the bladder. After birth, this tube gradually disappears and the amount remaining varies from person to person. This has not disappeared in my Dad's case and has turned nasty. They advised that this is a very serious condition and we are devastated.

We have now been referred back to the urgologist and are unsure what comes next. Mum and Dad don't ask what the future holds and I can't as they don't want to face the answer.

Has anyone come across this type of cancer before? I would really welcome any comments as we, the family, are totally devestated and wants whats best for my lovely Dad.