30mm Stricturing Tumour in Distal Sigmoid Colon

Elsann 1 day ago

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Yesterday, was possibly the worst day of my life! My husband, after taking a routine screening sample for Bowel Cancer was asked to go to hospital for a Colonoscopy. Again, I thought, nothing to see here just being over-cautious. When I went to collect him, I was asked to wait and then taken into a side room with him to be told that he has a 30mm tumour which had been removed and sent for biopsy. We were then told that the hospital would be in touch to organise CT and MRI scans as it may have spread followed by talk of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy once they have all the information the various investigations can give. My mind was literally blown!

My husband is 58, has always gone to the gym and was literally showing no signs of being ill.

When we got home I read the report properly (not that I understood half of the language), and realised how little I know about all of this, and to say that I am scared is an understatement. I keep replaying the conversation with the Doctor over and over in mind and thinking why did he say that, what was he implying when he talked about this, what does he know? I barely slept last night and just want to cry all the time, which is useless when I need to be stepping up to the plate to support him.

I guess what I am looking for from this forum is positivity, as I need to function for my husband, my 17 year old son and crying is really not helping.

Kareno62 1 day ago

Hi Elsann and a warm welcome to the board. Yes it’s a shock isn’t it and a lot of information to take in when your minds already whirling.

It sounds like they’re pretty sure it’s a cancerous tumour but the biopsies that they’ve taken and sent off will confirm this. The CT and MRIs will check to see if there is any spread to other organs and once all the results are back then a team of specialists (the Multi Disciplinary Team) will meet and decide on a treatment plan for him. They will then discuss this with you both so pen and paper recommended. There’s a lot to take in and I was allocated a colorectal support nurse who chatted to me after my initial meeting to make sure I understood everything - I’ve attached a link to the booklet that she gave me which may help you with terminology, questions to ask etc.

bcuk.adidocdn.dev/.../Bowel_Cancer_UK_Your_Pathway_V10.1.pdf

Rectal tumours or those low down in the colon are often treated with chemoradiotherapy first as this can be very effective at shrinking the tumour before surgery. Your hubby may then have chemo or go straight to surgery,

I was diagnosed back in 2016 (if you click on my name then my profile page will show my timeline ) and didn’t know anyone else who’d had bowel cancer although it is a bit more well publicised now. It is a slow growing cancer but very treatable and I was told at my meeting that they were ‘treating me with a view to cure’ which was something reassuring to tell my family and friends.

Im still ‘no evidence of disease’ as are the 2 ladies that I became good friends with during my treatment and many others who have passed through the board and are now getting on with their lives.

This limbo time waiting for scans and results is very stressful but once there is a treatment plan in place then things will honestly feel a bit better.

Please keep posting and feel free to ask any questions and we’ll be happy to help and support you through this

Take care

Karen x

ps. There’s also an Ask the Nurse page if you need any help with any of the medical terminology

community.macmillan.org.uk/.../ask_a_nurse

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

Elsann 1 day ago in reply to Kareno62

Thanks so much Karen - these are all things I need to hear right now...Treatable, All-Clear 10 years later, cure. I will take a look at your timeline, as I literally am a person that has to control everything and I think this is why I am struggling so much as I can't control this. Your response has really helped :-)