Awaiting diagnosis for my Dad

Hi Emmaj1983 and a warm welcome to the board although I’m sorry to hear about your dad. The first few weeks after the colonoscopy are very stressful but once the scans are back then the MDT will be able to discuss the best treatment plan for him. 
Bowel cancer is notoriously slow growing but very treatable and tumour size is not an indication of severity. The scan will check to see if the tumour is contained within the bowel or whether there has been spread to other organs. 

The main concern at the immediate time will be to make sure that the tumour does not completely block the bowel so he may go to surgery quite quickly or they may fit him with a temporary stoma while undergoing treatment to shrink the tumour - this is often the case for rectal tumours.

For the time being please try not to let your thoughts run away with you and stay away from google - there is lots of treatment available for bowel cancer but once there is a treatment plan in place then things will honestly feel a bit better.

Ive attached a link to a booklet that I was given at my first meeting which may help and the support desk is there if you want to chat to someone in person?

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

We’re all at different stages of treatment and recovery on here and happy to support you and your dad through this 

Take care

Karen x

Thank you so, so much. I just cried. I just need some hope & my friend mentioned these forums. I am really trying to be positive. You are all so brave. Sending you lots of positive wishes xx

The next few months/year will be tough but it’s a case of taking a deep breath and crossing each bridge as you get to it. If you click on peoples names then their profile page may show their treatment to date. I was diagnosed in 2016 and I’m still NED (no evidence of disease) as are the 2 ladies that I went through my treatment with. There’s lots of success stories but people often leave the board once their treatment is over.

Keep posting and sending you lots of positive wishes back x

Hello Emma,

The same happened to me when I was 69 and my daughters were in a similar position as you. The only way I found to prepare was to keep fully occupied 7 days a week.

May I suggest you click on my name and read the summary there? It is an honest account and hopefully gives an insight into what your Dad might experience. On these pages he is not alone!

Any queries just ask.

Dulac

So pleased to hear you are NED, that’s wonderful. There’s strength in numbers there really is. I will keep you updated. Thank you so much for giving me hope. It’s so good to have something like thisAll of you such an inspiration & telling your story to help others. I can’t tell you how much my family & myself will appreciate this over the coming months xx

Hiya Dulac, I just read your story crying again. I am so pleased for you & this provides hope. My Dad is a positive person, doesn’t dwell on things too much & I think that will help. It sounds like a journey you have been on, I know it will be tough no one wants to see their loved one suffer but 1 step at a time. Thank you so much I will keep posting. I never knew chemoradiotherapy was a thing! Sending positive wishes to you. What an inspiration xx

All of us worry and are nervous of consultation appointments; it's natural. The medics have seen it all before - trust them.

That your Dad is receiving prompt treatment is a good thing and demonstrates that they want to relieve him of this problem. It can be done. These things take time and I learnt how to wait between key stages of treatment. With Cancer there seems to be a wide range of variables which affect different people in different ways. As we know, not all outcomes are successful but I sense that bowel cancer is one of those aspects that - if contained - can be treated successfully. I never knew that at the beginning of the journey and thought the game would be up in six months. Not so and life is pretty good at the moment.

Best Wishes to your Dad

Hi Emma, This time last year went through the same thing, and am still here.  They found a polyp and also a lump, which unfortunately was a cancer, it is not the end of the world, they gave me chemo/radiotherapy and then an operation,  I thought at that time I was going to die as I felt so ill, but I got through it as I am sure your Dad will.  I also have a lovely daughter (like you) that supported me the throughout, so try and stay strong and try and stay positive xxx

Thank you for replying. The replies I have received have kept me going the last few days, they have provided some much needed hope. I have shared all of your stories with my Mum & my sister (not my Dad the moment as he doesn’t want to talk about it). I cannot express enough how much it has helped us to remain positive as we await the tests & diagnosis. I am so pleased to hear you got through it . Sending positive wishes to you xxx

Just adding my best wishes to everyone elses for you and your family going forward..

Do read my story to see how the last 4 yrs have worked out for me to show you can get through this and come out the other side

Kath