Reluctant To Treat

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Hi, I’m very new here and really need some advice and help. My dad’s recently been diagnosed with bowel cancer but he still doesn’t know the severity of it despite being told that it’s over 30cm’s in size. He should finally know on Friday, but they seem extremely reluctant to offer him any treatment because he suffers from COPD. They appear to be ignoring NICE guidelines.

11-06-25-CT SURVEILLANCE SCAN, this was due to his anatomy being different, from surgery some 30 years ago

3wks 2d

04-07-25-CT SURVEILLANCE RESULTS

6wks 2d or 9wks 4d from original CT scan to colonoscopy

17-08-25-COLONOSCOPY

4wks 5d

14wks 2d is three and an half months from original CT scan

19-09-25-CONSULTANT COLORECTAL CLINIC

still waiting for an oncology appointment

RH123b5f700 1 hour ago

Waiting times between each step are never ideal but also not unusual. Everyone who has been through this knows the waiting can be the worst bit.

It is normal to be referred to the colorectal consultant as the primary manager of the treatment plan until surgery is complete or ruled out or they decide to do chemo first, then to be transferred to the oncology consultant. In the meantime they will be talking to each other as a Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT) to put together the treatment plan. You are unlikely to be dealing with both consultants in parallel.

COPD may be a complicating factor for possible treatments. The doctors have a "duty of candour" so you should be able to have an open & honest discussion about the pros & cons of each available option.

Good luck.