Dad and bowel cancer

[MumofSpud]

My dad (81) has just been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
He has been told that they will operate before Christmas- which is a good sign isn't it?
He has reached 81 with hardly any issues and only this week has not done his daily walk into town.
I can see the difference in him - now he looks old and frail.
He is not used to being ill and this has knocked him for 6.
ANY advice gratefully received!

Dm had two bc ops at similar age about 10 years ago and is still with us. She became quite frail before the first one. Fingers crossed with his op.

Sorry to hear this OP. Have the doctors given any indication of what stage it is? Though I imagine if they are operating then they are hoping they can prolong his life.

Unfortunately I think it is hard to get more information on the individual's situation until they have been in to have a look.

Take care.

My dad had bowel cancer about five years ago, at the age of 83. He had an operation to remove it and has had no recurrence, with no changes to his lifestyle.
The only downside was that his stomach muscles were damaged during the op and he ended up with a large and painful hernia. He had to have a further op to resolve it.
I believe that the success rate depends on the location of the tumour (ascending or descending colon), the stage it's at, and whether it has metasized.

My dad had bowel cancer.

They operated to remove it and he got a temporary stoma bag as his bowel was disconnected in the operation,

He was given the choice of chemo or no chemo as well and he chose chemo which made him sick as a dog and lost a hell of a lot of weight.

The operation to reconnect his bowel was not successful, reason unknown. So he had a permanent stoma bag for the rest of his life.

Managing it was a bit of a pain but as he used to say, better than the alternative!

My Dad had part of his bowel removed with cancer when he was in his early 80's. They took 20 lymph node samples and it had spread in just one. They put him on tablet chemo but he didn't complete the course - its a long story.
However he had the 5 year all clear and was discharged- he recovered amazingly quickly. Just 5 days after surgery he was marching down the corridor to go and sit in the hospital grounds as it was a lovely day.

He died last year, but no connection to the bowel cancer
Best of luck to you and your Dad

@MumofSpud start building him up now OP! as much food and as stodgy as you can get! he will lose a lot post op when he isnt eating and that is when he will become weak!!