MS AND COLORECTAL CANCER

Hi Sparra and a warm welcome to the board. Have they mentioned maybe giving her chemoradiotherapy? This is often used for rectal cancer to shrink the tumour but some patients have had a complete response ie. no sign of the tumour after treatment. Was she allocated a colorectal support nurse at the meeting? If not you could contact the hospital and ask to be put through to the colorectal support team or maybe her GP  could help chase things up?

Supportwise there is the support desk on here which is open every day from 8-8 and there are nurses available to speak to too. Does your local hospital have a Maggies Centre? There may also be local support groups like at a leisure centre?

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/living-with-and-beyond-bowel-cancer/emotional-wellbeing/supporting-someone-with-bowel-cancer/

Last but not least there’s us - please keep posting and we’ll send virtual hugs to you both and help wherever we can

Take care

Karen x

Hi Sparra 

I can totally understand why you feel out your depth to support your daughter on this issue given she is already dealing with a neurological condition .

Your daughter should have a specialist nurse given to her who she can contact to ask any questions or if you have power of attorney . If that has not happened you could email the surgeon and ask who to contact . They should have a secretary and it’s sometimes helpful to leave an email trail .

She could ask who she is being referred to and who is taking the clinical lead in her care ? Oncologist or surgeon ?

If she is unhappy with the clinical decisions , bowel cancer is slow growing but it’s hard on the internet to know what stage she is at . She might like to ask if they would stent the tumour if blocking was an issue . But she is entitled to a second opinion. One of the benefits to this you can ask all the questions that remain unanswered . You can also ask for another face to face appointment with her current consultant.

If the system becomes difficult to negotiate there is a department called Pals who can advocate on her behalf .

The helpline staff would be more than happy to speak these issues through with you and could look into local supports .

0808 808 0000

Take care ,

court 

We have crossed over Kareno62