My father in law was diagnosed with rectum cancer in may had all the tests done and has has a colostomy bag fitted, also had to have the anus sown up and rectum removed. He is 74 a keen cricketer and is VERY fit for his age. The op was a success so he was told had a set back in hospitail as the bowel had stopped working and he was very ill for a few days anyway he got over that and is now resting at home well trying, oh op was about 6 weeks ago he is also driving again now and is off to the allotments tomorrow!! He has had his checkup today and has been told they couldnt get all the cancer out and so he has now got to have chemo? this is a big shock to us is this normal?? we were under the impression they had got all the cancer out.... his wounds are healing perfectly he was told no scans were offered i feel very upset tonight well we all are he was told to get on normally with his life and wait for thye appoinment to come throught for the chemo, would love to hear from anyone that is or has gone through the same. xx
FormerMember
Hi Sweetsarah, sorry to hear about your dad, i have had the same as your dad, was diagnosed in february, had five weeks of chemo & radiotherapy followed by surgery to remove the tumour, also had a resection and fitted with a permanant stoma.
A week later i got a phone call from the hospital to say that some of the biopsys that were sent away after the op had come back positive and i had to have further chemo, i go tomorrow for my third session of oxy and to be honest i dont look forward to it one bit, i am on a three weekly cycle, i have the oxy tomorrow followed by the tablets for 2 weeks followed by a week off. The first few days following the oxy are the worst, my arm is very painfull, i get sort of lockjaw when i first put food in my mouth and get pins & needles in my fingers, however this gets better each day and by the end of the first week after treatment things are much better, and by the middle of the second week the side effects are virtually gone and i can look forward to a week and a half of doing what i want, my passion is motorbikes and i can get in the shed and work on my bike and i go out for a ride if the weather is good.
Tell your dad not to worry to much, he sounds like he is more than capable of going through the next stage, it is hard but with the support of his family i am sure he will be okay, i have a very supportive wife and family and it is a great help, i think that they are struggling to come to terms with my cancer more than i am, or am i just putting on a brave face?
How is he managing with his stoma? i had my op on june 12th and apart from a couple of isues mine has been fine, my "movements" have settled down and i normally change my bag in the morning and then i am fine for the rest of the day, i dont stick to any diet, just eat what i fancy, including an indian takeaway now and then.
Best regards to you both, i know you will be there for your dad, and keep positive.
