Waiting......

[PrudenceDear]

My DM has gone for a CT scan today to check for the spread of bowel cancer.
My DF said he would call when they were finished. He hasn't.
They said they would get results next week but I'm fearing the worst.
The whole process seems to be super fast.....
would they give really bad results on the day?

[fluffydogs]

Don't panic. I'm in this situation all the time as I have stage 4 cancer so have scans regularly. Quite often appointments run over in clinic. I've waited upto 3 hours in the past due to the consultant being called into emergency surgery. It could be as simple as that. I've never once gone in on time.
By in answer to your question yes they do give you all the news in your appointment but will normally have a treatment plan set up prior to your appointment as they would have discussed it at the MDT meeting.
Fingers crossed for you

[fluffydogs]

Sorry no I just re read that. No she will have to wait a week or so for the results. You don't get them on the day of the actual scan as they have to be read.

[MrsMozart]

I don't know how it works, but sending you a hand hold.

[PrudenceDear]

Thank you. There's a meeting scheduled for next week. I'm just scared that if it's too late for treatment they'll discuss palliative today.
No idea how any of it works, hundreds of miles away and no one to talk it through with.... anxious, nervous and trying to hold it together but failing!!

[BonApp]

Prudence I'm in a similar situation with my dad in that he's had scans/biopsy/camera etc and now we wait (3 weeks) for the diagnosis which is expected to be a nasty cancer and I live abroad (currently here on my own whilst DH and DC are back in the UK). Getting back to the UK is quick and easy from here but i must admit it's hard not to have anxious thoughts.

No real advice but I'm here if you want to chat.

[PrudenceDear]

Thank you, so sorry for your situation BonApp.

I've still heard nothing.

I think it's the speed that it's moving that's scaring me, colonoscopy after abnormal test a week ago.
They are talking surgery in next 2 weeks and that's best scenario.

[BonApp]

Oh I hope you hear from them soon. I suspect they've just been held up waiting for the appointment etc. I'm sure it's just normal hospital sitting around. (Assuming this is on the NHS)

It's good that they act quickly but scary nonetheless. Doesn't give you much time to take it all in.

My dad's stuff seems to be taking forever, it's been about 8 weeks from the initial x-ray when alarm bells started ringing, though only just over 2 weeks since he told us about it.

The initial immense panic has worn off though that's only because we have got ages to wait for the results (surgeon/consultant on holiday) and to be honest there is a small sense of ignorance is bliss for me as at the moment while we have nothing official so I can kind of pretend things are normal. I know they aren't normal but once the diagnosis takes place, this shit gets real and there's no ignorance and no bliss. No going back then

[PrudenceDear]

Yes, I heard from them. They just didn't want to catch me at a busy time.
No further news until next week now when they have a meeting scheduled.
I know what you mean, as bad as the waiting is, it's probably nothing compared to the reality.
I think it's hit me tonight.

[BonApp]

Everyone says that the not knowing is worse than knowing so I hope the outcome of the meeting can provide a 'plan' and way forward for you all, even if the news itself will take some getting used to.

Keep posting if it helps.

[youarenotkiddingme]

My mum has cancer of unknown primary.
Every time she has a scan she gets an appointment for the following week (although when she was having chemo she went often anyway) to discuss the results.
The scans need to be looked at by the oncologist and often by a multidisciplinary team (e.g. Surgeons etc) to decide what's the next course of action.

The scanning department is just that - it'll deal with all patients requiring a scan.