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Cancer

Find advice & support if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with cancer

Original poster

My dad has just had a colonoscopy and it looks like he has bowel cancer

332 replies

pinkchampagne1 · 13/07/2025 16:00

He has had symptoms for a while (mucus and rectal bleeding) but has put off getting checked out until recently. His FIT test was very high so he was fact tracked for a colonoscopy which he had today. Just phoned my mum and it looks like they have found a large growth which looks to be cancer. My dad is 83 and I adore him so I am so upset. 😢

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Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 19/07/2025 10:25

Allthebunsareinmyoven · 19/07/2025 10:15

Hi op,

My dad has had bowel cancer twice, mostly recently in 2024 at the age of 77. I was devastated but he pulled through the surgery as like your dad he was fit and healthy for his age.

Pls feel free to DM if you want to talk - I know how hard it can be

Sorry to hear you have been through this twice with your dad but I am so pleased to hear he pulled through.

Thanks for offering to chat to me - that would really help.

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BSky4 · 19/07/2025 10:29

It’s great you had a good night sleep that will help.

Don’t give yourself a hard time for how you’re coping. You’re doing all you can. There’s no right or wrong way to deal with these things. You’re obviously very worried and scared of what’s next but are being strong for your mum and dad and your family. You sound like you’re doing great even if it doesn’t feel like it inside.

You now have your sister closer at home to talk with and you have your DH and some friends who sound lovely and supportive.

I hope you can find some time to relax this weekend and switch off. I find cleaning quite therapeutic when I’m stressed. Weirdly! And a Netflix box set - something easy to watch that you can binge watch.

Take care

P00hsticks · 19/07/2025 12:05

I second the recommendation for the bowelcanceruk website and forum
Bowel Cancer | Bowel Cancer UK

Also Macmillan which have specific forums for bowel cancer and also for friends and family of those suffering. They also have optinos to have online or phone chats with support workers and nurses

Both are reliablee sources of up to date information and great for getting in touch with others who are or have been in similar situation to you.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 19/07/2025 12:23

Thank you - all of your support means a lot.

I have just been round to see my parents with my sister. My sister and I read the colonoscopy report and it looks like the tumour is large and in the rectum. They took 9x biopsies. That all sounds awful so I have come away feeling really worried.
It seems like my dad has been kind of in denial that it is definitely cancer, but hoping it was just a polyp. I worry it will hit him hard when he hears more.

Now I guess we just need to wait for the results of the CT scan to come back to see what the treatment plan is.

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Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 21/07/2025 17:11

My dad now has a date for his MRI which is 2 weeks away. I thought they would do it quicker than that seen as he has the CT scan on Friday

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Spindrifts · 21/07/2025 17:19

If it is of any comfort, my dad had cancer in his 70s and lived to his late 90s. Go onto the cancer research website and read up about it and what is involved. Your dad will need you to champion his corner for him and give him a hand hold at his age. I wish you all the very best with a very successful outcome.

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 21/07/2025 17:54

Spindrifts · 21/07/2025 17:19

If it is of any comfort, my dad had cancer in his 70s and lived to his late 90s. Go onto the cancer research website and read up about it and what is involved. Your dad will need you to champion his corner for him and give him a hand hold at his age. I wish you all the very best with a very successful outcome.

That is great to hear and these stories give me a bit of hope.

I got a bit tearful on Saturday after reading Dad’s colonoscopy report. I worry about what he might be facing and I am scared of what the CT scan could reveal. I have pulled myself together a bit now though.

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P00hsticks · 21/07/2025 18:09

pinkchampagne1 · 21/07/2025 17:11

My dad now has a date for his MRI which is 2 weeks away. I thought they would do it quicker than that seen as he has the CT scan on Friday

Sorry to hear that it is stil lni the data gathering stage with no definite plan as yet. Hang in there....

I believe MRI scans give more detailed images of soft tissues than CT scans, but they do take a lot longer (a Ct scan is typically around 5 minutes, an MRI scan can take up to 90 minutes) so presumably they can only fit so many in in a day

HarryVanderspeigle · 21/07/2025 21:45

With a rectal tumor, they will probably try to shrink it before surgery using chemo and / or radiotherapy. It's a relatively small area of the body, so less to play with than a colon tumor. He is now on the pathway, so will be progressed along. It is one of the better cancers to get if that helps.

ShrubRose · 22/07/2025 19:53

OP, I wanted to let you know that I just saw my neighbour, 84, who had bowel cancer surgery two weeks ago. He is tired, but up and about, and they were told that the cancer was entirely removed and he doesn't need chemotherapy.

Sending good wishes to you for your dad.

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 22/07/2025 22:48

ShrubRose · 22/07/2025 19:53

OP, I wanted to let you know that I just saw my neighbour, 84, who had bowel cancer surgery two weeks ago. He is tired, but up and about, and they were told that the cancer was entirely removed and he doesn't need chemotherapy.

Sending good wishes to you for your dad.

Wow, that’s great news that your neighbour has made such a good recovery. 🙂 Thank you for sharing.

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Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 24/07/2025 20:07

How long before we get the CT results? It has been nearly a week. Will they wait until they also have the MRI results? His MRI isn’t until next Saturday.

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P00hsticks · 24/07/2025 23:05

pinkchampagne1 · 24/07/2025 20:07

How long before we get the CT results? It has been nearly a week. Will they wait until they also have the MRI results? His MRI isn’t until next Saturday.

From my experience you (or rather your father) won't get the results directly. When all the relevant data (CT & MRI scans. colonoscopy photos, biopsy results etc) have been gathered they will be discussed by a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) who will decide the best course of action and you'll then be given an appointment with a consultant / surgeon / oncologist as appropriate to go through the proposed treatment plan and sign the relevant consents.

The MDT tends to meet once a week, so chances are his case will be discussed in the week following the MRI scan.

Has he had a CNS (Cancer Nurse Specialist) contact him yet ? This is the sort of question that they can probably help answer - at least to let you know what day of the week the colorectal MDT meetings are. .

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 25/07/2025 09:05

I wondered if that might be the case. I wish the MRI was a bit sooner as this waiting is hard. His mucus leaking seems to be getting worse according to my mum, and he worries about going out.

My mum said that a cancer nurse has phoned him but not sure he took in exactly what she said. She asked where he might like to go for treatment I think and whether he had family nearby. We live literally across the road from my parents.
I still don’t think my dad is taking it all in properly.

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Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 25/07/2025 09:35

I have taken a screenshot of your reply (without your username) to send to my sister as she is feeling inpatient that we haven’t had any results yet.

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Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 29/07/2025 17:00

We had a nice hotel stay with my parents at the weekend and everything felt so normal that it is hard to believe my dad has cancer. It feels like it isn’t really happening but of course it is. 😔
He has his MRI on Saturday so we will hopefully find out more next week. The not knowing is awful.

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caringcarer · 29/07/2025 17:25

pinkchampagne1 · 14/07/2025 07:16

That’s great news that you are now cancer free. 🙂

I am worried that my dad ignored his bowel symptoms for too long so it is reassuring to hear that bowel cancer tends to be slower growing. He still looks well and the consultant said he wouldn’t have any reservations in offering surgery if needed, whereas with some 83 year olds he wouldn’t consider it.

I haven’t had much sleep as it all keeps going round in my head.

Show quote history

His general fitness is very positive OPas is the reassurance that his consultant will operate if necessary. Try to focus on the positives.

P00hsticks · 29/07/2025 17:26

pinkchampagne1 · 29/07/2025 17:00

We had a nice hotel stay with my parents at the weekend and everything felt so normal that it is hard to believe my dad has cancer. It feels like it isn’t really happening but of course it is. 😔
He has his MRI on Saturday so we will hopefully find out more next week. The not knowing is awful.

Glad you had a good weekend. You are not alone in struggling with the 'not knowing'. It;s commonly said on the cancer forums that the 'not knowing' is the worst part of it. However good or bad it turns out to be, once you have a clear treatment plan in place then it's easier to deal with.

I hoep you get to hear something this week - will be thinknig of you.

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 31/07/2025 19:36

My dad had a phone call this morning to confirm that it is definitely cancer and that the CT has shown a spot on his liver that needs investigating so they want him to have another MRI of his upper body.

My Dad just seems so down and deflated. I think he has been in denial and was hoping deep down it would be a polyp. He seemed to have no energy and said he had to sit down as he saw me out. I haven’t seen him like that until today so it might just be the mental load.
I tried to stay positive around my parents but have come home and cried.

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Cattery · 31/07/2025 19:44

❤️ It’s so hard isn’t it. Do your crying but you’ll find once you’re with your parents you’ll become more upbeat and positive as you chivvy them along xx

P00hsticks · 31/07/2025 19:55

I'm so sorry to hear that it's not good news. As I recently posted on another thread on this board, once they start taking scans and the like, all sorts of things that would otherwise have passed by completely unnoticed start coming out of the woodwork. So while the liver spot might be related to the cancer it may equally well be benign.

I think you just need to put your trust in the medial profession at this point, I know that some people say the NHS is broken, but having had two separate cancers (including bowel cancer) in the last 18 months, I couldn't have asked for more from them - I've been treated quickly and with care and concern and hopefully now am cancer free.

Sending you a virtual hug...

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 31/07/2025 20:12

They did say to my dad that it could be cancer or could be something like a cluster of veins so they need to do the MRI to check it out.

I have been doing quite well keeping it all together this week, maybe almost in a denial mode, but I now feel so upset and scared.

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IesuGrist1975 · 31/07/2025 20:18

I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this. I was in a similar place with my mum this time last Dec/ Jan and I was and still am shocked at how much waiting is involved with cancer diagnosis, scans and results. You get this life changing news and then spend weeks waiting for tests, results and appointments even though you know that your loved one has this terrible diagnosis. While it’s still awful, time does make things less intense.

Thinking of you and your dad, I hope his prognosis is a positive one 🤞

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 31/07/2025 20:36

Thank you. I am sorry you have been through this.
The waiting is so hard. It has been nearly 3 weeks since his colonoscopy and this is the first bit of information we have received. As he now has to have a second MRI I am guessing it will be a longer wait to find out a treatment plan.

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Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 01/08/2025 08:46

Had a terrible nights sleep again with everything going through my mind. When I did manage a little sleep I was dreaming about all this. 😔

Today it is my parent’s 55th wedding anniversary so we are all going out for a family lunch and will try to focus on having a nice meal & avoid too much talk about what is going on with Dad.

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