Morning all…I have recently been diagnosed with very early BC after positive FIT test and colonoscopy. However I am not keen to have the op as I am the primary carer for elderly parent, I live alone and work full time. I will not get paid for time off for treatment, so for all these reasons I’d like to delay treatment for 6months or so, but my oncology team are advising against this..obviously!
They have said they can ‘monitor’ me in the meantime..anyone know what that entails?
T1 N0 M0
Hi Tina
I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis of stage 1 bowel cancer.
My own cancer was endometrial but I have had experience of bowel cancer in a close relative.
I know through my own diagnosis that the actual diagnosis can be a bit of a shock and it can take a while to get your head around it. I do understand your concerns about taking time off work and also with your caring for a parent.
I remember being really concerned about not being able to work and what it would mean for my finances. I was entitled to SSP only and I knew it would not cover bills. I did actually speak with a Macmillan advisor and it may be an idea to do this yourself in case there is any help that may be available.
Although I can understand your reasons for wanting to delay treatment, for me, once I had my diagnosis I wanted the cancer removed asap. My actual surgery went well (I was early stage too) however my post op results showed unexpectedly that I had evidence of lymphatic and vascular invasion and also my grade of cancer was now grade 3. If I had not had the surgery when I had it is likely that my cancer would have continued to spread. The LVSI is where there are tiny cells that have escaped into the little vessels leading away from the cancer. They are too tiny to be seen on any scan. Without surgery I would not have known. I unexpectedly had to then go through chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
My advice would be to make sure that any choices that you make about delaying treatment are informed ones. Get as much information as you can to make sure it is the right decision for you.
If you delay for 6 months would that mean any difference in terms of your work for instance. Another thought is that if you did have some surgery whilst it is at an earlier stage then that would possibly mean that you did not need any further treatment? and then would overall be taking less time off work.
If it is monitored for the next 6 months with repeated colonoscopies/blood tests etc would this be just delaying the inevitable needed treatment? The treatment could well be straightforward at this stage. My family member left treatment until it had spread and needed chemotherapy and it became incurable. She spent a lot of time in hospital.
When I had my diagnosis I was given a Macmillan Support Worker at the hospital and I wonder whether there may be some support available with your caring responsibilities.
Only you can make the decision that is right for you but perhaps start to write a list of questions that you can put to your consultant so that you have all the information needed.
Perhaps ask about the grade of your cancer, how it may develop over the next 6 months and what that might mean for treatment. And perhaps perhaps find out what treatment you would be having now and about how your recovery may be- now vs in 6 months or so time.
Do give the Support Line a call if it would help to talk things through.
I wish you well whatever you decide.
Jane
