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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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BSky4 · 31/08/2025 16:34

Great to hear your dad is getting really good care. Sorry he’s in pain - I’m sure as you say it’s expected after an operation. But do ask the nurses if you need reassurance about his pain levels & advocate for him if you think he needs something more /else.

Hopefully his pre-op good health will lead to a smooth recovery. Take care @pinkchampagne1

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 01/09/2025 15:51

The Macmillan nurse spoke to Dad today and told him it was lucky they got him in quickly for the stoma or he would have died. Apparently he was getting quite blocked up.

They said that the liver lesion is quite a recent thing and should be able to be shrunk through treatment and that the PET scan didn’t show any further spread so that is a positive.
They did mention that he might have to go to a London hospital for the surgery to remove the tumour (we are in Kent) as the top surgeon is there.

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RoseInBloome7 · 07/09/2025 13:16

Just checking in and hope your dad is doing ok x@pinkchampagne1

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 07/09/2025 15:39

Thanks for checking in, RoseInBloome7. 🙂

My dad came home from hospital on Tuesday and is doing really well after his surgery. He is still getting a bit of discomfort occasionally but much better than he was and is just controlling it with paracetamol.

We haven’t heard when his treatment is starting yet but the surgeon seemed to think it would be around 4 weeks after surgery. I guess he needs time to heal properly first. Hoping to hear something soon.

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BSky4 · 07/09/2025 19:14

That sounds positive. Hope he continues to heal well & the pain subsides.

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 14/09/2025 09:41

My dad has an appointment with the oncologist on Thursday so we should finally find out his treatment plan next week

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BSky4 · 14/09/2025 12:19

Thinking of you @pinkchampagne1

RoseInBloome7 · 14/09/2025 18:47

Sending positive vibes @pinkchampagne1

BSky4 · 17/09/2025 09:25

I hope your dad continues with a good recovery & tomorrow’s meeting gives you the plan you need.

If you can it might be worth you & or your sister joining your parents for the appointment. You can listen digest & if you have a few questions write them down & take a note pad.
Your dad will be given a named CNS who they can contact for support/queries & questions.

Take care.

Timeforabitofpeace · 17/09/2025 09:59

Pubmed is not a journal. It is a database of most medical journals! Researchers use it all the time.

Timeforabitofpeace · 17/09/2025 10:00

@pinkchampagne1 Im glad your dad has an appointment soon. I hope his treatment goes well.

P00hsticks · 17/09/2025 18:08

@pinkchampagne1 I'll be thinking of you. I'm just back from my 1-year follow up colonoscopy after bowel cancer surgery and it all looked good, so just have faith that very often there is life after bowel cancer.

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 17/09/2025 20:10

P00hsticks · 17/09/2025 18:08

@pinkchampagne1 I'll be thinking of you. I'm just back from my 1-year follow up colonoscopy after bowel cancer surgery and it all looked good, so just have faith that very often there is life after bowel cancer.

I am so pleased to hear all looked good for your yearly check up, Poohsticks. Great news. 🙂

Thank you all for your well wishes. I am feeling anxious about Dad’s appointment tomorrow but at least we should hopefully have a plan.

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Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 18/09/2025 20:16

Dad had his appointment with the oncologist today. He has been told he needs chemotherapy to try to tackle both his bowel tumour and the small one on his liver. They are hoping the chemotherapy will shrink the liver lesion so that he doesn’t need surgery to remove it.
They are looking at a 12 week course of chemotherapy to hopefully shrink the tumour in his bowel before surgery. They have taken bloods to decide which chemo they will put him on.

My dad seems a bit down after the meeting. I think he has been in denial mode a bit - seems to be his way of coping. Hearing the cancer word so much today and talk of all the treatment has brought it all home to him. 🙁

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megacat · 18/09/2025 21:35

Poor guy. I’d be down knowing I was facing 12 weeks of that. Chemo starts off ok but after a few it will take a toll.
He's on the right path though. It’s a necessary evil to be able to put all this behind you.
How are you feeling? It’s tough being in your shoes.

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 18/09/2025 21:50

I wish he wasn’t facing this. I love my dad so much and I worry how the chemotherapy will affect him, but at the same time I know it needs to happen to give him the best chance.

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Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 25/09/2025 17:16

My dad has been for his new patient assessment today and his chemotherapy starts next Thursday

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BSky4 · 25/09/2025 17:24

I hope that went well & he felt looked after by the staff. It’s good he’s got a start date.

P00hsticks · 25/09/2025 19:09

Wishing him well for it

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 25/09/2025 19:57

Thank you.
The list of side effects is quite scary and I worry how the treatment is going to affect him, but I am pleased things are finally moving. Very mixed emotions.

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Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 02/10/2025 16:29

Dad has gone in for his first chemotherapy infusion today. I hope he is going to be okay.

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P00hsticks · 02/10/2025 18:44

Hope all goes well. Thinking of you and him - take care.

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 02/10/2025 19:43

Thank you.
He was over an hour late going in for his appointment so it was a long day for him and my mum. He seems okay at the moment but I know it is often the next day that the symptoms start to kick in.
At least his treatment has finally started but I know it is going to be a tough couple of months.

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P00hsticks · 02/10/2025 20:35

pinkchampagne1 · 02/10/2025 19:43

Thank you.
He was over an hour late going in for his appointment so it was a long day for him and my mum. He seems okay at the moment but I know it is often the next day that the symptoms start to kick in.
At least his treatment has finally started but I know it is going to be a tough couple of months.

How frequently is he going to have to go in ?
I've managed to avoid chemo so far, although I think it may come to it at some point in the future, but if I do I was told it would probably be around six cycles each consisting of a day in hospital followed by three weeks of taking tablets and then a week break before repeating....is that similar to his plan ?

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 02/10/2025 20:47

P00hsticks · 02/10/2025 20:35

How frequently is he going to have to go in ?
I've managed to avoid chemo so far, although I think it may come to it at some point in the future, but if I do I was told it would probably be around six cycles each consisting of a day in hospital followed by three weeks of taking tablets and then a week break before repeating....is that similar to his plan ?

Show quote history

He has a 12 week cycle. He goes in for an infusion which lasts around 3 hours, then he has 2 weeks of tablets followed by a week off, then the cycle starts again. I think he has 4 infusions in total.

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