My Dad Has Colon Cancer

Hello Glasvegas!  Welcome to the forum. So sorry to hear about your dad. He sounds so much like my husband. He was officially diagnosed in 2021 his bowel cancer had been sitting there for 4 years! without showing any symptoms and it was the end of 2020 when symptoms began to surface with the need for him to constantly go to the toilet (poo). His colonoscopy was booked in for May 2021 which showed up as they called it `abnormalities` further CTs and MRIs finally confirmed it was cancer and the surgeon he spoke told us it was localised meaning it hadn't spread and had been dormant for those 4 years. My husband also has Type 2 Diabetes he was diagnosed with this in 2019. In July 2021 just after his diagnosis he went into hospital for a bowel resection operation for which he now wears a stoma bag Then last January (2022) he went in to have his tumour removed. Unfortunately, 5 months down the line his cancer had returned so this has meant more rounds of chemotherapy which unfortunately has had to be stopped due to recent kidney damage. I asked after his operation if he needed adjuvant chemotherapy as a precaution and they said no because they got it all and wasn't necessary but there some stray cells obviously got through that couldn't be picked up on a scan and formed again.  He is currently in hospital at present because he took a very bad kidney infection this week. He now has had a nephostromy operation meaning he needs to wear two bags and where his kidneys need to constantly keep draining. Please don't be alarmed by this however, you dad may not go through all this as everyone's diagnosis is different and sometimes it's just the luck of the draw if the cancer returns.   My husband is 68 had never been in a hospital in his life up until he retired in 2019 and since then has more or less never been out of one. Once you have seen your colorectal consultant, they will probably work out a treatment plan for your dad this will include an MDT (Multi-Disciplinary Team) and they will work out the next steps to take in regards to your dad's treatment. We never gave it a second thought of cancer coming back because they had got it all the first time- or thought they had.  Good Luck to you and hope everything turns out for the best.

Vicky

Hi there

I’m so sorry to hear about your father. Bless him he must be a strong character two total hips 

You must be anxious about it all 

Your dads medical team will discuss and decide on the best treatment plan for him. Hopefully they will be detailed and explain everything that you need to know. It’s really good that you’re there another pair of ears when having so much info is really important 
Bowel Cancers slow growing so try not to worry. 
If they want to operate then you could ask what type of surgery robot, keyhole or open. How long for recovery.
Theres other types of treatment too but I’m not sure 

Just listen and ask anything that you’re not sure about. 
He may have radiotherapy or chemo. I wasn’t offered that as mine was too low 

Once you have the plan pop it up here and there’ll be others that have experienced the same and have tips 

I hope that your dad recovers well from his hip operations 

Sending you a hug 

Hi Glasvegas. Gosh your poor dads had a tough few months hasnt he? No spread is good and hopefully he’s recovering well from the hip ops. Ann’s suggested a few questions and there’s also a few in the booklet below - I was given this at my first appointment and it’s quite good for a heads up, terminology, staging etc. It tends to be the lower/rectal tumours that are treated with chemoradiotherapy so your dad may go straight to surgery if he’s fit enough. 

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

Hopefully he’ll get an appointment through soon

Take care

Karen x

Thank you for the warm welcome to the forum Vicky and your reply to my post. 
I’m so sorry that your husband’s cancer has returned. It sounds like he has been through a very traumatic time and coping with diabetes all the while too. I hope his condition improves very soon. You must be so worried about him.
Sending you and your husband very best wishes.

Julie 

Thank you for that hug Ann. I needed that. 
I am making a note of the advice I am being given by you lovely ladies. Thank you for replying to my post. 

Thank you for replying  to my post Karen and the link you sent me. 
Very much appreciated. 
 Julie x 

Hi Glasvagas

How are you? 
Take time for yourself which will give you the energy to be there for your dad 

Hi Ann,

I’ve been too busy to sit down and let all this sink in to be honest.

It all started on the 5th November 2022 after my Dad had a fall in the garden and broke his hip. He was admitted to hospital the same day so I had to take over caring for my mum. Dad was mum’s primary carer but I helped out quite a lot as my husband & I only live a quarter of a mile away.

Whilst caring 24/7 for my mum I very quickly realised I needed help so I requested a care needs assessment. Social services attended within a week (14/11/22) and said mum would be entitled to 4 visits a day. We were told the wait for  carers would be several weeks but we understood how difficult it was in the care sector at the moment.

Whilst  Dad was in hospital  he was found to be suffering from anaemia, he had several infusions but not retaining iron for some reason. The doctor concluded that there was a bleed in either the stomach or colon. An endoscopy & colonoscopy were booked prior to discharge and dad was sent home. I managed to look after mum and dad with help from my husband and brother. It wasn’t easy but you just get on with it as I’m sure you know.

Dad had his colonoscopy on the 22nd December 2022 and a tumour in the higher colon was diagnosed. The endoscopy was clear. He has had a  CT scan & MRI scan in the meantime. 

On the 5th January 2023 the District Nurse called to take blood from mum, just a routine blood test I thought but later that day I received a telephone call asking me to take mum straight to A & E as she had been found to have high levels of potassium in her blood. She was admitted to hospital that evening and she’s been there ever since. Her kidneys weren’t functioning properly apparently but pleased to say the they’re fine now and mum is fit for discharge, currently awaiting her care package (she’s been waiting 11 weeks to date) before she can go home.

So, back to Dad. On 18th January 2023 Dad had another fall in the garden breaking his other hip. He was admitted to hospital and had to wait 8 days for his hip replacement operation. The doctors told dad they couldn’t decide whether to operate on his colon cancer first or his hip. This was the first time ‘cancer’ had been mentioned. Dad was shocked to say the least. No further information was given regarding the results of the CT Scan or MRI scan. Dad has now been transferred to the same hospital as mum so at least we’re not having to visit two hospitals on a daily basis. He finally had his hip replacement on Thursday. There are no plans to remove the cancerous tumour until dad has seen the Colorectal Consultant. 

Sorry for the long reply Ann. I feel better having got that off my chest. I bet you’re sorry you asked how I was now .

I thought our luck might change now but  I’ve just had a phone call from the hospital to say mum has tested positive for covid.

Thank you for your reply. It’s not too long I think it’s a really good way to off load some of the pressure here with people that understand

Oh my goodness you have been rushed off your feet and have managed to care for both parents so well. Now your Mum has Covid. 
Take a breather whilst they’re both being cared for 

Your dad has been through the mill.
The cancer is dealt with by a different team from the hip surgery, the results will go back to the colorectal team to decide on the very best treatment for him  they’re the experts in making a plan for individual patients 

I would imagine there’s not going to be a rush to perform open surgery whilst your father is recovering from his hips but I’m not a medic. 
Do you know when he’ll be allowed home ? 
Take care xx

Yes it was very cathartic typing out that last post Ann. 
I received a phone call from the Occupational Therapist this afternoon informing me that Dad was walking well on his new hip and would be assessed to see if he could make a cup of tea etc so my guess is that his discharge is not too far away.

Mum won’t be happy having to stay in hospital whilst dad is at home but at least I can take him to see her once she tests negative for for the covid.