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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. 😢

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 03/10/2025 08:40

He has very sore and swollen glands this morning 🙁

OP posts:
wherecanifindteabags · 04/10/2025 07:45

Is he feeling okay today OP?

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 04/10/2025 09:37

He seems to be doing okay so far, thankfully. I saw him yesterday and he said his glands hurt a bit and when he first swallows food it is uncomfortable, but it eases after.
He has tingling of his fingers but other than that he doesn’t seem to be suffering too badly at the moment.

OP posts:
BSky4 · 04/10/2025 11:24

Glad treatment has started for your dad. Hope the side effects are minimal and you /your dad can talk to the cancer team to support him with any issues that do crop up.

Have they given some advice & information on common side effects and how to manage them?

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 04/10/2025 11:51

They have warned him that when it is cold that he will have to wrap up and wear gloves or his side effects could get worse. Not sure why that is. 🤔 He has some paperwork with a long list of potential side effects.
I know that the effects of the Chemotherapy can hit you harder as time goes on but I am hoping he isn’t too badly affected.
He has anti sickness tablets but they have told him to only take them if he actually feels sick.

OP posts:
P00hsticks · 04/10/2025 14:07

pinkchampagne1 · 04/10/2025 09:37

He seems to be doing okay so far, thankfully. I saw him yesterday and he said his glands hurt a bit and when he first swallows food it is uncomfortable, but it eases after.
He has tingling of his fingers but other than that he doesn’t seem to be suffering too badly at the moment.

The tingling in the fingers is a sign of potential peripheral neuropathy whcih can be a side effect of the chemo drugs - the cancer team will be keeping an eye on this.
more info here
Peripheral neuropathy and cancer: symptoms and support | Macmillan Cancer Support.

saraclara · 04/10/2025 15:17

pinkchampagne1 · 04/10/2025 11:51

They have warned him that when it is cold that he will have to wrap up and wear gloves or his side effects could get worse. Not sure why that is. 🤔 He has some paperwork with a long list of potential side effects.
I know that the effects of the Chemotherapy can hit you harder as time goes on but I am hoping he isn’t too badly affected.
He has anti sickness tablets but they have told him to only take them if he actually feels sick.

The problem with the cold is particularly straight after the chemo infusions. My husband wasn't allowed to leave the chemo suite until they saw that he had a scarf wrapped over his nose and mouth (his chemo began in December).

And yes, the neuropathy is the main side-effect of the treatment. My husband didn't really have any issues other than that and tiredness, until about the fifth treatment when he had bad diarrhoea, and they decided to stop as most of the 'work' is done by the first three infusions, apparently.

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 05/10/2025 10:04

P00hsticks · 04/10/2025 14:07

The tingling in the fingers is a sign of potential peripheral neuropathy whcih can be a side effect of the chemo drugs - the cancer team will be keeping an eye on this.
more info here
Peripheral neuropathy and cancer: symptoms and support | Macmillan Cancer Support.

Show quote history

Thank you for that information. It seems a common side effect of the chemotherapy. They have told him not to get things out of the freezer etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 05/10/2025 10:06

saraclara · 04/10/2025 15:17

The problem with the cold is particularly straight after the chemo infusions. My husband wasn't allowed to leave the chemo suite until they saw that he had a scarf wrapped over his nose and mouth (his chemo began in December).

And yes, the neuropathy is the main side-effect of the treatment. My husband didn't really have any issues other than that and tiredness, until about the fifth treatment when he had bad diarrhoea, and they decided to stop as most of the 'work' is done by the first three infusions, apparently.

Edited
Show quote history

Ah ok, I will pass that information onto my parents.

It is reassuring to read that your husband didn’t have too many horrible side effects after his chemotherapy. The tingly fingers seem to be the main issue with my dad at the moment, and other than that he seems to be coping pretty well so far. I realise it’s early days though.

OP posts:
BSky4 · 26/11/2025 11:42

How are things @pinkchampagne1?

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 27/11/2025 07:42

BSky4 · 26/11/2025 11:42

How are things @pinkchampagne1?

Thanks for asking, BSky4. 😊
My dad is due to have his final round of chemotherapy (hopefully) next week. He seems to be tolerating it well with no major side effects other than the tingly fingers and he is even more forgetful than normal.
He is booked in for a CT scan on the 8th December to check to see if the chemotherapy has shrunk the tumour on his bowel and the lesion on his liver. Really hoping it has, but if not then they might have to try him on a stronger chemo.

No date for surgery until after the scans. He saw an oncologist a few weeks ago and was told that Kings might want to also operate on the liver lesion for fear of it spreading. We had previously been told that they would hopefully just zap it with chemo.

OP posts:
BSky4 · 27/11/2025 12:33

That’s good to hear your dad is tolerating the chemo ok. I hope it is zapping all the areas it needs to enable your dad to progress to the next stage with as minimal intervention as possible 🤞🤞🙏🙏

Hope he is keeping well & you are all managing to keep spirits up as much as is possible 🧘 💪

Jilllybean · 09/12/2025 17:05

Thanks for the update, pinkchampagne. Your dad's cancer sounds very similar to mine, although I had radiotherapy rather than chemo. I'm currently recovering from last week's operation to remove the tumour. My brilliant consultant was able to perform keyhole surgery, so I should be "back to normal" much quicker.

Best wishes to your dad! 💐

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 09/12/2025 23:05

Jilllybean · 09/12/2025 17:05

Thanks for the update, pinkchampagne. Your dad's cancer sounds very similar to mine, although I had radiotherapy rather than chemo. I'm currently recovering from last week's operation to remove the tumour. My brilliant consultant was able to perform keyhole surgery, so I should be "back to normal" much quicker.

Best wishes to your dad! 💐

Sorry to hear you are going through this, Jillybean. Wishing you a speedy recovery from your surgery. 💐

My dad had a CT scan yesterday so we are anxiously awaiting the results from that. I really hope the tumours have shrunk.
He had to have the chemotherapy because of a lesion on his liver. They are hoping the chemotherapy will shrink that as well as the tumour in his bowel.
He is booked in for an MRI on the 28th December and then has an appointment with the oncologist early January.

OP posts:
P00hsticks · 09/12/2025 23:30

@pinkchampagne1 Thanks for the update. Hope you all manage to have a good Christmas

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 10/12/2025 07:19

Thank you POOhsticks. I hope you are well.
We are joining my parents for Christmas so looking forward to that.
Hope you have a lovely Christmas. Thank you all for all your support this year.

OP posts:
GreenGodiva · 10/12/2025 08:17

Wishing you luck today. My dad had a night of Peru’s so cancer that resulted in a stoma in his mid 70s, but refused chemo etc and stuck with an ultra low carb diet. He’s a very stubborn old man and nothing wet could say would dissuade him. He also had a spot on his liver the size of a finger nail that they believed to be secondary to the cancer. The drs monitored it and it barely grew. Last year they smashed him and he had 3. From finger nail size to thumb sized. I can’t believe I’m going to write this next bit and please don’t take this as gospel but.

my dad went in for his ablation and was told that his tumour spots were no longer there. He basically got febendazole and from panacur wormer from Indian doctors and took one every morning and night for 10 weeks and now they are gone. Apparently it prevents the tumours from uptatake glucose and they die. I know this as I used to breed reptiles and have briefly studied virology . But honestly, you could have knocked me over with a feather when they sent him with a huge smile on his face. He’s a right character my dad, but this really shook all of us. He’s looking forward to his 85th birthday now and this is the 3rd times he’s survived cancer and he’s honestly fit as a fiddle.

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 11/12/2025 22:46

GreenGodiva · 10/12/2025 08:17

Wishing you luck today. My dad had a night of Peru’s so cancer that resulted in a stoma in his mid 70s, but refused chemo etc and stuck with an ultra low carb diet. He’s a very stubborn old man and nothing wet could say would dissuade him. He also had a spot on his liver the size of a finger nail that they believed to be secondary to the cancer. The drs monitored it and it barely grew. Last year they smashed him and he had 3. From finger nail size to thumb sized. I can’t believe I’m going to write this next bit and please don’t take this as gospel but.

my dad went in for his ablation and was told that his tumour spots were no longer there. He basically got febendazole and from panacur wormer from Indian doctors and took one every morning and night for 10 weeks and now they are gone. Apparently it prevents the tumours from uptatake glucose and they die. I know this as I used to breed reptiles and have briefly studied virology . But honestly, you could have knocked me over with a feather when they sent him with a huge smile on his face. He’s a right character my dad, but this really shook all of us. He’s looking forward to his 85th birthday now and this is the 3rd times he’s survived cancer and he’s honestly fit as a fiddle.

Wow, that’s amazing! 😃

OP posts:
sickofbeingjudged · 18/12/2025 07:28

How is your dad @pinkchampagne1?

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 18/12/2025 09:10

He doesn’t seem too bad about in himself. He has very dry cracked hands and feet from the chemotherapy, gets very tired and definitely has chemo brain. His memory wasn’t the best before being 83 (now just turned 84) but it has definitely got worse since starting chemo.
He has just had what we hope to be his last infusion and has had a CT scan. We haven’t had the results yet. His MRI is on the 28th December. I am just hoping the chemotherapy has shrunk the tumours so they can soon get on with the surgery. 🤞
Thanks for asking after him. 😊

OP posts:
Meredusoleil · 24/12/2025 22:22

Sorry to jump on this thread, but I don't want to start a new one as that would make it all too real! Just need a hand hold and some hope tbh.

In short, as I'm trying hard not to panic: 52 yo dh had a positive FIT and then a colonscopy today and they found a 25mm growth that they did a biopsy on. He is being referred for a CT and MRI. I am in absolute bits as there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him 😕

What's worse is that I had a positive FIT last year and was referred for a colonscopy which I refused to have (just had CT with dye) as I was sure my rectal bleeding was due to some kind of food intolerance.

Unfortunately, just as my bleeding seemed to have stopped, it has come back this last week as I have been worried for my dh.

Now I'm really stressing I might have something even more serious as my symptoms are much worse/more frequent than dh.

We have 2 dd aged 17 and 13 and I am panicking they may have both parents be ill at the same time 😫

wherecanifindteabags · 25/12/2025 13:18

Meredusoleil · 24/12/2025 22:22

Sorry to jump on this thread, but I don't want to start a new one as that would make it all too real! Just need a hand hold and some hope tbh.

In short, as I'm trying hard not to panic: 52 yo dh had a positive FIT and then a colonscopy today and they found a 25mm growth that they did a biopsy on. He is being referred for a CT and MRI. I am in absolute bits as there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him 😕

What's worse is that I had a positive FIT last year and was referred for a colonscopy which I refused to have (just had CT with dye) as I was sure my rectal bleeding was due to some kind of food intolerance.

Unfortunately, just as my bleeding seemed to have stopped, it has come back this last week as I have been worried for my dh.

Now I'm really stressing I might have something even more serious as my symptoms are much worse/more frequent than dh.

We have 2 dd aged 17 and 13 and I am panicking they may have both parents be ill at the same time 😫

Edited

So sorry to hear about the very difficult time you are going through. We are here for you! Hopefully you both get some concrete answers very soon. Hoping you can enjoy your Christmas day as much as possible.

Milkbloo · 25/12/2025 13:32

GreenGodiva · 10/12/2025 08:17

Wishing you luck today. My dad had a night of Peru’s so cancer that resulted in a stoma in his mid 70s, but refused chemo etc and stuck with an ultra low carb diet. He’s a very stubborn old man and nothing wet could say would dissuade him. He also had a spot on his liver the size of a finger nail that they believed to be secondary to the cancer. The drs monitored it and it barely grew. Last year they smashed him and he had 3. From finger nail size to thumb sized. I can’t believe I’m going to write this next bit and please don’t take this as gospel but.

my dad went in for his ablation and was told that his tumour spots were no longer there. He basically got febendazole and from panacur wormer from Indian doctors and took one every morning and night for 10 weeks and now they are gone. Apparently it prevents the tumours from uptatake glucose and they die. I know this as I used to breed reptiles and have briefly studied virology . But honestly, you could have knocked me over with a feather when they sent him with a huge smile on his face. He’s a right character my dad, but this really shook all of us. He’s looking forward to his 85th birthday now and this is the 3rd times he’s survived cancer and he’s honestly fit as a fiddle.

@GreenGodiva this is kind of amazing, also fantastic! Props to your dad! Are you able to say where he got the fenben etc from, Exactly? My Nan says it can be used prophylactically, but doesn’t know where to get it!

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 25/12/2025 17:49

Meredusoleil · 24/12/2025 22:22

Sorry to jump on this thread, but I don't want to start a new one as that would make it all too real! Just need a hand hold and some hope tbh.

In short, as I'm trying hard not to panic: 52 yo dh had a positive FIT and then a colonscopy today and they found a 25mm growth that they did a biopsy on. He is being referred for a CT and MRI. I am in absolute bits as there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him 😕

What's worse is that I had a positive FIT last year and was referred for a colonscopy which I refused to have (just had CT with dye) as I was sure my rectal bleeding was due to some kind of food intolerance.

Unfortunately, just as my bleeding seemed to have stopped, it has come back this last week as I have been worried for my dh.

Now I'm really stressing I might have something even more serious as my symptoms are much worse/more frequent than dh.

We have 2 dd aged 17 and 13 and I am panicking they may have both parents be ill at the same time 😫

Edited

Really sorry to hear you are going through all this worry. 😔
I hope you get some answers soon. The waiting is the worse bit. We are all here for you and hoping you get some reassuring news.

OP posts:
Meredusoleil · 25/12/2025 18:01

Thanks to all those who commented on my post. I have decided there is no way I can risk being referred and possibly being diagnosed with something whilst dh is still going through the process. I can't imagine the impact of that on the children.

So despite having quite a bad bout of rectal bleeding these past few days, I have decided to wait and see what the outcome of dh's colonscopy is.

From what I can gather, given the size of his growth, he will definitely need surgery of some sort. Even if it's not malignant. Is that correct?