Bowel Cancer

Hi broccoli 

Sorry to hear how you are feeling but I think the nhs has a criteria that treats people more to their fitness level than their age . My mum

has just finished treatment at 81 and at every step of the way they have intervened as appropriate. She is gaining her strength back and has to be more realistic about her goals but she still makes them and engaged in the life .

As my sister says unless the Dr tells you that we focus on living and we have followed that advice to the letter .

I take it they have not suggested such to you ?

Sometimes my mum needs time to process the enormity of it all and find her feet and this is a lot to process . Maybe you just need another chat with your team to get a better feel for this .

Take care Court 

Hi Broccoli

I was diagnosed in 2019 with bowel cancer (with no spread,) aged 70 yrs. I remember the meeting with my young surgeon & colorectal nurse, after being told about the upcoming surgery. I recall saying that I was far too old to undergo the Op.....& he merely laughed at me - saying 'can you get up from that chair & walk to the door.? to which I replied yes.'

He went on to explain that any Op. was 'fitness' related, & nothing to do with age.

Despite a small spread to my lung a year later  - (which was also dealt with,} I am still here nearly five years later!

Yes, you feel despair at the time; however, once a treatment plan has been put in place for you - it will become far more easier.

Wishing you all the best.

Marianne

Thank you for such a positive post Marianne. I’m glad you had such good treatment and outcome. 

Sorry to hear your news. I'm recently diagnosed also and waiting for results of CT scan.

Lack of spread is a great news, and try and take reassurance from the positive stories from others who have already posted.

Stay strong - wishing you all the best.

Rich

Thank you for your reply I am just waiting for news tomorrow and get an op date then I think I will feel more positive about things

Hi broccoli

Like others, I believe that fitness for surgery is more important than your age when the NHS decides on treatment. My tumour was in the same place as yours and surgery was done keyhole, 30cm of bowel removed, I was 65. Recovery was remarkably quick, but the follow up chemo was rather nasty! You will be put through a number of tests to ensure fitness for surgery so you can have confidence that any risks are mitigated. i will be thinking of you,

Jane x

Many thanks Jane.  I now have a date for surgery - just over three weeks time.    A right helocolectomy which sounds very similar to  yours.   All still sounds very daunting and made worse by two heavy iron infusions which are doing nothing to settle my internal lower organs!   But getting a little more positive about it all.   I would be interested to know how your chemo was administered - and why.    My surgeon has told me I may have to have tablets but I assume a lot will depend on what they find in any lymph nodesthey remove?

Hi Broccoli

I also had two iron infusions before the surgery, I felt much better after them and managed circuit and HIIT classes before the surgery that I had been struggling with for several months. Chemo was advised as the tumour was graded T3 N2, there were cancer cells in four of the 21 lymph nodes that were removed. The consultant termed it a "belt and braces" approach to give me the best chance. I was assigned the Capox regime which was infusion in hospital on day one then tablets for 14 days then a week off. I was planned to have four rounds, but only managed two as I became very unwell at the end of the second round and was in hospital for ten days. It will only be after pathology have looked at your results following the surgery that you will know if chemo is advised. This stage is the most difficult for you, but you will find that once it is removed and you know exactly what further treatment, or not, is needed, it gets easier as you have more control. I recently read Julia Bradbury's book on her approach following her breast cancer diagnosis, and there is a lot of helpful stuff there, from getting outside every day as early as possible to get some light, to walking regularly, plenty of relaxation and self care, improving diet, plenty of good quality sleep. All these things help one to take some control back. I really wish you well. Let us know how things go. This forum is wonderful, they got me through absolute despair at the end of 2022 when I was at my lowest,

Jane xx

I have the same. Hepatic flexure. Junction between ascending and transverse colon. Did not bleed much so was missed on numerous stool screenings until one was positive. I am 67

 I have had symptoms but they were ignored. Could have been many other causes. But I knew I had cancer. So frustrating it could not be confirmed earlier. Now delays are causing me stress as I start to have pain. 

So I have had special blood tests, ct scan, colonoscopy and all I have been told is I have tumour. That's it. Trying to get an earlier appointment. Seems like weeks between each step then weeks to get results. 

I understand not having symptoms is a good sign, so you have that on your side. Wish you the best. 

Hi Broccoli,

I had an emergency right hemicolectomy on the 13/11/23 due to a tumour in the caecum causing appendicitis. The surgery was keyhole and I was able to leave hospital 4 days later. Before surgery I had a blood transfusion followed by two iron infusions post surgery. I’m currently receiving adjuvant CAPOX chemotherapy and finished the tablets for the first round today. If you click on my name you can read my full story. 

Rachael