Colon cancer

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Hello, I’m new on here - my partner has been diagnosed a possible stage 4 colon cancer 2 days before Xmas, it was all sudden as he had pains beginning of Dec and had a colonoscopy then next day they asked him to come back urgently and next thing we know he had 30cm large bowel removed and a mass of tumour same size as snooker ball and sent off it came back as cancer. He had MRI and PETScan in January, results was quite positive cancer hasn’t spread to his liver or lungs which was a relief but did spread to one of lymph nodes. Starting 3 months of chemo in a couple of weeks time then possibly an op to remove his lymph node. He’s 39 and quite fit. I’m so worried for him as I got my 13 year old son and 2 week old newborn and was wondering if any one of you has gone through or experienced what my partner has got? Is there anything I need to expect? As he is terrified, so am I. so I thought I’d message on here. Thanks in advance.

court over 4 years ago

Hi Twinkles07

Welcome to the forum . I am really pleased you signed up and joined in the forum. A large part of what we do here apart from offering support and information is to reduce the fear and isolation surrounding a difficult diagnosis. We will do our best to support you and help with the stress ,

Chemo can be I very powerful at working on any existing spread or stray cells and shrinking the lymph node is a good plan to achieve better surgical margins .

The chemo is normally similar to other stages of colon cancer . My mum had it over two years and was much older than your husband. They are there to assist him with side effects and monitor him closely throughout chemo . The staff are very helpful . It’s a step along the pathway to getting the surgery he needs .

You can also come here to get tips and advice . My mum stayed with me as my dad had a stroke two weeks before and needed support . I had two kids but no babies . Congratulations on the birth of your baby . A lot of work and responsibilities on your shoulders just now so we are very much here for you .
Hope your new born is settling well into your family.

Take care ,

Court

Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

Twinkles07 over 4 years ago in reply to court

Hi Court

thank you for your message, I’ve had a difficult year with losing my mum, Nan and Grandad all within a year and half. Still grieving then got pregnant unexpectedly and with my partner’s shock cancer news at Xmas. Had to postpone our wedding to this July. It is a lot on my shoulders - I’m absolutely terrified for him, what if I’m going to lose him too - but trying to stay strong for everyone in this family and got kids to worry about. Trying to understand into cancer world and the stages of cancer. Too much info on internet. Does stage 4 mean the final? He is having his picc line inserted this Thursday.
hope chemo will be successful for him - they said it is moderate type of chemo... not aggressive type, so I’m trying to take this as a positive way.
how is your mum getting on? What stage is she at?

what’s your view on his situation?

thank you

court over 4 years ago in reply to Twinkles07

Hi Twinkles07

What a terrible time for sure . Even understanding all the language that comes with cancer is complex .
Whilst stage 4 does mean it has spread there is a big clinical difference between a small spread and the other end of that spectrum so often referred to as stage 4a and stage 4 b .

Obviously it is more desirable to be caught earlier however some people are just extremely responsive to treatment and we are fortunate in bowel cancer to have lots of treatment options . From what you are saying his treatment team have already hinted at surgery after chemo so that’s really positive in itself .

Amazingly enough my mum had a stage 4 diagnosis back in 2009 . If you click on my user name you can read her story . It gives you a feel for how the treatment team approaches these matters .

So many changes and treatment options have come through the pipeline since my mum’s diagnosis I find it very encouraging .

Do you know which lymph nodes are involved ? Also watch what you Google . Lots of it is pertaining to other cancer primaries or out of date . Stage 4 cancer is a work in progress . Pushing the boundaries and living a good life in spite of them .

Keep your eyes on your wedding . Something to push forward for us very powerful . Just think his chemo will probably be behind him then ,

Take care ,

Court

Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

Kareno62 over 4 years ago

Hi Twinkles07 and a warm welcome to the board from me too. What an awful 18 months you’ve had but I’m glad you’ve found us here and we’ll help and support you through this.

As @Court says please stay away from google - it is misleading, out of date and downright scary in places - stay on here and the Bowel cancer uk Board and ask anything you like - there is nothing too daft or embarrassing.

Suddenly finding yourself in the Bowel cancer world is a bit scary - I didn’t know anyone else that had had it and there was a lot of information to take in. Stage 4 means that the tumour has grown through the Bowel wall but the fact that it hadn’t spread to his liver or lungs is good.

I’ve attached a copy of a couple of booklets that might help you with what potentially lies ahead and also talks about staging

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/YourPathway_BowelCancerUK.pdf

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/YoungPersonsGuide_BowelCancerUK.pdf

Take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm