Husband been told he has a malignant tumour in his colon 3 weeks ago, meeting with surgeon on Wednesday, just dont have any idea what's in store for us in the future.
Hi and welcome to the board. The waiting for scans, results, meetings is very stressful but once you have a treatment plan in place then things will honestly feel a little better. Bowel cancer is notoriously slow growing but very treatable especially if caught early. Stay away from google - it is out of date, inaccurate and downright scary in places - stay on here and the bowel cancer uk board.
Ive attached a link to a booklet that describes some of the treatment that your hubby might go through - it will depend on the size and position of the tumour and whether there is any spread to other organs but there are lots of different options available Hope the meeting goes well and please let us know how you get on?
I was diagnosed in Dec '17 and had an LAR in Jan '18. You are, in my opinion, in the worst days now, post diagnosis pre-treatment plan. DO NOT GOOGLE ANYTHING, there's some weird & not very wonderful stuff out there. I looked afterwards, my personal favourite was a woman who lived on the Arizona/Nevada border who advised giving up all food and sitting outside for at least 8hrs per day to 'drink in the nutrients of nature', she has clearly never wintered in Liverpool. Things became easier after the initial meeting with the surgeon, when it seemed things were at last happening and I had some accurate information. Don't bother trying to get any information from radiographers when your husband has scans, they usually don't know why scans are taking place and never interpret results.
Keep a pen & paper on hand and list any/every question you have, you don't need to ask them all. I am married to a Dr, so alot of my initial questions could be answered by her. I was diagnosed mid December, the radio kept telling me 'it was the most wonderful time of the year,' I didn't agree. Be prepared for the constant reminders, I was suddenly aware cancer adverts were everywhere, papers, radio, tv & in the street. I also got irked by people saying things like 'be brave,' as if cancer was a choice.
Go to all meetings armed with paper & pen, note down any numbers/letters relating to the diagnosis. Ask them to repeat anything if you don't understand anything. There will also be a colorectal nurse present, get their name, contact number & especially their email address, they're incredibly useful people.
I was operated on in late January. I walked in to hospital early Wednesday morning, op was mid morning and left Saturday afternoon. The physical reality of the treatment was not nearly as bad as I imagined it would be and I am firmly at the whimp end of any pain scale. You recover quickly, a month to the day of surgery, I drove, walked the 1klm with my wife & children and watched Liverpool destroy West Ham.
I wish it had never happened but it was not what I could ever imagined, i really think it gets easier after the period you're now experiencing. Here in Liverpool life is measured for many people in terms of football and so it is for my family. In Dec '17 my thoughts & fears were at times overwhelming, but it got better. By 2019 I was boiling alive in the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid with one of my sons watching Liverpool become champions of Europe. Last year we marvelled as a family as Jurgen led the boys into the promised land and we lifted the Prem.
YouTube two things:
Brian Henderson embracing his son after the Madrid win. He survived throat cancer but that night saw his lad list the European cup, it is a picture of pure joy.
The marvellous, marvellous Barcelona night at Anfield when miracles happened and remember Mo Salah's iconic Tshirt 'Never Give Up.'
I'm sorry you find yourself on here, but the people are genuinely fantastic. If you have any questions please don't be afraid to ask. All my best wishes
Agree with other comments I am fairly new at this cancer journey. I did a lot of Google worse thing I did. Joined this group and get straight forward answers to my different treatments as I go along. I found I take each step of the treatment step by step and thanks to this group I am a lot more positive for the future.
Hi, had meeting with surgeon today, such a lot to take in, but outcome is hubby has to have a permenant colectomy, should be within the next 3-4 weeks hopefully. Must admit though we do feel a bit less anxious after a long talk with macmillan nurse. Thankyou everyone for your reassuring words, I'm sure I will be back with s lot more questions. This site comes highly recommended by medical staff.
