Mum diagnosed with tumour in the bowel today

Hi Andream

Sorry to hear about your mum and what you are going through. I don't think it's too early to reach out on this site as I am sure it will help you as it has me. My mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer 5 years ago. She is 74 now.  I remember how worrying the period was between being told the diagnosis and waiting to find out details of exactly what it was and what the treatment would be.   Once there was a treatment plan in place we found it easier to deal with. The waiting was the worst bit! Following the treatment (surgery and chemo in my mums case) my mum is cancer free. I hope our experience gives you some peace of mind and hope. On a practical level i would suggest that someone attends your mums appointments with her and takes notes and asks questions. Taking notes was really helpful as often my mum didn't take in the information she was given at the time or would only recall bits of it. She doesn't have memory problems, it was just too much to take in. I wish you and your mum and family all the best.

Good morning Andream7878 and welcome to the community. Sorry to hear about your mum and the position you find yourself in. It is understandable that you are worried for her. It is not nice knowing a loved one is ill. Bear in mind that many cancers are treatable and the earlier caught the better. The early days of not knowing and uncertainty can be the worst. Once your mum gets a true diagnosis and a treatment plan, things tend to get slightly easier as you know something positive is happening and there is something to focus on. Once you know the full story, there are people on here with experience of treatment and will be able to offer support. You can also use this forum to express your own feelings. Hope all goes well. Best wishes.

Thank you very much for your responses and apologies for delay in replying. 

It seems all we have had is delays.... pet / MRI/ ultra scans.... it's utterly exhausting for me....never mind mum. 

Since the bowel diagnosis, it has been numerous tests for everything else ..... we are currently waiting to find out if lung biopsy is linked to bowel. 

I swear, before all this, mum felt healthy... now, without any actual symptoms, she is destroyed.... waiting for death....as she puts it!! 

The pet scan showed......lung/ liver/ neck....plus original bowel....

We've been up and down so many times. Our consultant has been incredible. 

As it stands, we are waiting for final confirmation that cancer has spread....and it is not separate cancers!!  I understand that this is prob final waiting hurdle for most..... we have been waiting 3 months!!

From no symptoms to plenty# love you xx

My friend is just in the same place and I am waiting for details,  test results, prognosis  treatment and a plan.  Thank you for sharing your experience.   Reading it really calmed me.