Do I get a say?

Hi Sheila welcome to the online community no one wants to come and meet with us but unfortunately, like yourself, many people join us and whilst we are sorry to see you here we are pleased that you felt you could come on and reach out to us and ask questions and we will always do what we can to answer any questions provided they are not medical ones as we have no medical training anything else we'll do our best to help, support and advise you, you only have to ask

A big well done to the bowel cancer nurse for her announcement although you've not had the results of the MRI and CT scans yet and don't know the level of the disease and now you both have the extra worry whilst you await for the consultants meeting next week and unfortunately at the beginning the waiting can be the worst thing and you'll be tempted to seek out information but please can I implore you not to reach out to Dr Google you'll only be faced with a lot of information that could be out of date or even worse misleading, if you've got a question just pop on here and ask us anything.

I will get to your question shortly but before I do can I invite you to be prepared and join with us over in the Bowel (colon and rectal) cancer forum Group and introduce yourself to the members all of them have a vast amount of knowledge and experience and will willingly share with you, and if I know the members they have read your post here but because it's solely for carers they can't answer you but they are waiting for you to join which you can do by clicking on the green text above and bowel groups homepage will open up for you, just click on Join this Group then click on Start a Discussion and you're good to go to start asking questions or joining in with the current discussions, once you introduce yourself my friend court will be along to support you.

At last your question "Can I have a say and be involved" the answer in reality is Yes providing your husband gives his verbal consent you can be totally involved in the treatment plan and ask questions, but do have it noted in your husbands notes that he has given his consent to this, I would also prepare a letter for your husband to sign agreeing to the fact that he has consented to you being involved and asking questions, if you have a few copies you can hand them out as necessary.

One of the things we always recommend is that you both have a list of questions you want to ask and jot down the answers as you receive them (take extra paper and a few pens with you) it's  amazing people get home or sit in the car and ask each other the same thing "What did he say about" or "What happens now: but you'll have your notes. During the appointment if at anytime you don't understand something, don't be afraid to say "Sorry I don't understand can you explain that again in a language I could understand.

Macmillans have a book you can sent away for called ask about your cancer treatment

https://macmillan.funnelback.co.uk/s/redirect?collection=be-macmillan-meta&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbe.macmillan.org.uk%2Fbe%2Fp-24548-ask-about-your-cancer-treatment.aspx&auth=WckLlWDMhPK%2BpXdk7BI%2BBA&profile=_default&rank=3&query=Questions+to+ask

I would suggest that you click on the green text above and when the page opens up click on add to cart and the book will be posted to you for free.

At any time you need to chat or ask questions we are always here in the Carers only forum group and the Bowel (colon and rectal) cancer forum group at anytime you need to know something.

If I don't speak with you before next week I hope that the appointment goes well. Please in touch.

Iàn

You maybe interested in this as well you can send away for your own copy of the Ma millan Organiser by following the same instructions above

https://macmillan.funnelback.co.uk/s/redirect?collection=be-macmillan-meta&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbe.macmillan.org.uk%2Fbe%2Fp-24726-macmillan-organiser.aspx&auth=ycDz79EIr8OAdq1RNY3kDw&profile=_default&rank=1&query=Organiser