Hello ...just diagnosed and shocked

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Hello, following routine FIT test, had colonoscopy they found 15mm tumour was removed but he wasn't sure had got it all!!!  I had the phone call yesterday confirming biopsy  is cancerous. Ive got to go for CT scan with contrast in 2 days time.  Unfortunately I have Googled lots. The tumour is located mid transverse colon.  Which is right in middle of top horizontal part of colon.  from what Ive read this is rare, 10% and can be difficult to treat.   Ive had polyps removed before and they have been benign.  Last colonoscopy was 2 years ago and there was nothing, was clear so this has grown quickly.  Ive also had quite a few CT scans recently for other investigations and they all came back clear. I was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer 5 years ago.  Non invasive but grade 3, was removed and BCG treatment over 5 years kept me cancer free.  I know that now I have to wait for results of CT scan was told the MDT are likely to review me 10 days afterwards.  Ive just come out of hospital after emergency procedure from complications of the Colonoscopy I had when they removed the polyp.  He put 2 clips in to cauterise but after a week I suddenly started bleeding heavily from rectum. rushed to hospital and it turned out he had nicked an artery. clip must have come out.  It was touch and go had to have blood transfusions and rushed to vascular surgery alternative was removal of whole colon...to stop bleeding!  . Thankfully they fixed the bleeding artery and I came home on Wednesday. Feeling weak anaemic but so relieved that I was home and safe. 2 days later I get the Bowel Cancer diagnosis.  So not really recovered from the hospital trauma etc this has come as a real blow, I almost forgotten that I was waiting result of biopsy. Now Im just not sure when to tell my family they have been through so much worry during past week. I have grown up daughters and 5 grandchildren.  Should I try to wait until I have full diagnosis and treatment option from MDT or do I tell them now?????  We are very close family.  I was due to go to family gathering today at my sisters, just small one for children Halloween...but have pulled out as couldn't face them.  

  • Hi Wendy,

    You have been through so much! You're one tough lady. If I were you, I'd only tell my family what I was comfortable sharing.  I often found that I needed to sit with new information for a while before I was comfortable sharing. In the end, I always shared but I took my time doing it. I hope that helps.

  • sounds horrendous. I hope you now can have a quiet few days.

    Just anecdotal but my partner had a cancerous tumour in the transverse colon, which sounds similar to yourself. No obvious bleeding (she was too young, then, for the regular FIT test at that time) but became severely anaemic and quite weak. However she was then referred and had the colonoscopy, they found the cancer and then she had an op to remove the tumour, and half her large bowel (hemicolectomy). There was spread into 2 of her lymph nodes so she also needed chemotherapy.

    The good news is she survived and is still knocking around and seemingly cancer free 15 year later.

    I'm just recovered from cancer myself, and yes we always shared what was happening with the family, but then our respective kids were adult by the time any of this happened.

  • Hi WendySeahorse 

    I wanted to send you a hug.

    Reading your post made me remember telling my family. I’m okay however at the time I wasn’t sure what to tell my grown family. 
    I was told off not reporting every detail by my youngest so I now I am honest with her questions but try to be positive with her. 
    Shes an intelligent sensitive soul. 
    My sons in the medical profession and knows before we do so he’s easier 

    Good luck with whatever you decide. 

    Ann
     ‍Art