To think this is definitely going to be bowel cancer

[Covidfears]

My lovely dad has been losing weight for the last 6 months. It’s noticeably a few stone now. At first we thought it was because he’s been isolating since March so hasn’t been able to buy the rubbish he normally buys when he’s out and about, just has what mum gives him now. My mum also noticed he was seeing a lot so diabetes crossed her mind as he has always been overweight. Mum sent off for some different tests.

The first test she made him do was a FIT ‘poo stick’ test which came back as nearly 300. Normal value is less than 10. Dad then confesses that’s he’s had diarrhoea after he eats for the last 6 months! And hasn’t told anyone.

We are all in bits. Obviously we are now convinced that he has bowel cancer and that it will be very advanced or untreatable as he left it so long.

The doctor is going to try and arrange a colonoscopy for him on Monday under the 2 week wait thing but said it will probably be longer due to Covid.

So now he has to go through all this alone as he can’t have anyone with him for hospital appointments due to Covid and I imagine he has a high chance of catching it now he has to have lots of medical appointments and probably surgery.

I had a desperate night last night and don’t have the emotional energy to even get up today.

Is this definitely going to be very bad news?

OP, did you post about this yesterday? What happened to that thread?

It may be, but it may not be. Bowel symptoms can be the result of lots of things, some more serious than others. He might have Crohns / IBS / a serious intolerance / etc.

I wouldn’t assume the worst just yet, but of course be prepared that it may come to that. Bowel cancer has a decent survival rate, so even if that is his diagnosis he may still fully recover with treatment.

I’m so sorry you’re all going through this, and I will hope for the best possible outcome

Is Crohns / IBS / a serious intolerance likely to just come on at the age of 75 though?

Has he had any other symptoms other than the diarrhoea after eating and weight loss?

It could be so many things. Please try not to panic - even if it is bowel cancer then the stats are relatively good in the grand scheme of things.

Sending love!

What is this???

The first test she made him do was a FIT ‘poo stick’ test which came back as nearly 300

I think you're catastrophising. Take a breath. Slow down.

I had exactly the same symptoms. Absolutely nothing wrong with me after urgent investigations. He will be losing weight if he has an upset tummy constantly .

Diverticulitis presents similar to bowel cancer and very common in older people. But even if it the worst my Grandad was diagnosed at a similar age to your dad and even though it was quite advanced and he had a permanent stoma, he ended up living for another 20 years and died of something completely unrelated.

No other symptoms. He seems fit and well. They have a small holding so he’s always out working on there and hasn’t seemed tired or anything. Hence why it’s come as a bit of a shock.

Firstly, deep breaths and calm down

Any test you take over the internet must be taken with a pinch of a salt. The weight loss is most likely linked to the diarrhoea, which could be caused by anything - IBS related to to the stress of lockdown, anxiety, IBS, Chrons disease and yes, potentially bowel cancer, but you don't know that.

My granddad was diagnosed with bowel cancer at a similar age - he recovered just fine and lived another 20+ years before dying in his sleep less than 24h after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Bowel cancer isn't automatically a death sentence even in the over 70's so please don't worry yourself unnecessarily.

He's getting help now and he's under the right care with his GP and the two week pathway. Unfortunately all you can do now is wait.

my sisters parnter has colitis always in the toilet very slim it could be that dont jump to anything as bad as cancer yet

In short... No... Absolutely not. Range of possibilities
We're you given a leaflet like this to read...
www.nbt.nhs.uk/severn-pathology/pathology-services/clinical-biochemistry/fit-testing/fit-testing-patients

As per PP Diverticulitis is very similar symptoms and not uncommon in this age group.
Fully get you are worried but you need to stop taking yourself to worse case scenerio as guaranteed

I'm in a similar position myself. I'm not 75. o think for me it may be bile absorption issues. I've lost 2 stone since July and have Diarrhea after I eat
don't panic there could be lost of reasons
if it is C then it is about the easiest to treat

Voted YABU as you are just thinking the worse when it could be nothing.

I definitely wouldn't be jumping to bowel cancer here op. The symptoms coincided with him completely changing his diet and lifestyle and undergoing severe stress. So actually yes, it could be an alternative bowel condition.

The fact it has been going on so long with out worsening or other symptoms presenting is reassuring.

Try not to jump to worse case scenarios, hopefully he will get testing very quickly.

I have been there and understand the upset and worry. In my father's case, it turned out to be a much less serious condition that initially presumed. Hopefully that will be the same for your father.

OP as previous posters have said it could be many things. Even if it is cancer, bowel cancer is very treatable. Let me tell you a positive story:

My dad (mid 70s) was diagnosed with bowel cancer earlier this year. Unbeknownst to me he did the ‘poo stick’ test 2 years ago and it came back abnormal, but he stuck his head in the sand and ignored it. His tumour grew until it completely blocked his bowel and he finally went to the doctors in April this year.

He had an operation and has a temporary stoma for the next year (although apparently many patients decide not to have it reversed). His cancer was only stage 2 despite being untreated for 2+ years. He didn’t even need chemotherapy as the tumour was localised and could be cut out.

I was in full panic mode when he was diagnosed. He was in hospital for a week at the height of the pandemic and has been back regularly for checks and tests. They are meticulous about keeping the Covid patients separate.

IME, friends and family are never allowed to be present while the patient has a colonoscopy. I've usually had a nurse sitting
beside me to hold my hand and make reassuring noises. It doesn't take long and one is lightly sedated. I don't find it painful. Anyway I like watching it on the screen :-) (optional).

The preparation for it takes place at home and  is a couple of days of restricted diet and one day of a special liquid laxative ,  to totally empty and cleanse the colon so that  the camera gets a really clear view  inside it.  It is really, really important to follow the instructions to the letter, to get the best  result; on laxative day he won't want to be more than a few yards from a toilet, all day long; lots of liquid squittering.  The best way for the family to support him, is  during that preparation. Make sure he sticks to  the instructions and has a quiet day at home,  no visitors, uninterrupted/easy access to the toilet.  Dehydration is tiring  so he won't feel like doing much other than lying on a sofa  watching DVDs  
     He must drink ALL the stuff so gently  encourage him to keep at it.     The better and more complete  the preparation, the better the procedure and the more accurate the results. 
       Good luck and don't panic.  It might not be BC,and if it is, BC   treatments have a very good success rate these days.

My gran had these symptoms in her 70s, she was really worried about it because of course she thought it was cancer. She had a colonoscopy and the diagnosis was diverticulitis. She was given fybogel sachets which helped to control symptoms. She lived to be 93.

Thank you so much for those positive stories. It has stopped me from spiralling this evening.

Mine came back at 18,000 last time. No, not a misprint. I do have ulcerative colitis. Came on out of the blue about ten years ago. It’s far more likely to be something simple.
💐

Waiting for these tests is so stressful and worrying, it at least he is being seen and attended to and isn't having to wait.

Hope it goes well for you and your Dad.

Well, he want for his first visit to the consultant today and he could feel a mass when he did a rectal exam. He told dad it will be cancerous. Got to wait a week now for further tests. This is torture. I’m so scared I’m going to lose him.

I dont know of this is the thing that will take your dad from you, but please try and take things (worry about things) as they come. It seems very likely that this is cancer but until it definitely is, and until you know the next steps try to limit the "what ifs" because the chances are you have a long road ahead of you and you need to pace yourself.

Dfil was picked up by the bowel cancer screening in August and had surgery in September. In his case the prognosis is better than we originally feared, although COVID is of course always a worry when he goes to the hospital.

Are younsure he was told it was cancerous so categorically, with no biopsy results etc. Dm had polyps long before developing bc. She has had 2 ops, radiotherapy and is still here 5+ years on. As for catching covid, having spent a lot of time around hospitals recently it is very carefully managed so not an inevitability.

I know it's hard but try not to worry too much until you know spread etc everything is still moving quickly at our hospital fir cancer