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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:
Jilllybean · 25/12/2025 18:56

"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."

Goodness, Meredusoleil, please don't wait to follow this up. You might decide to delay treatment, but it's important to get properly checked out quickly. (Sadly, I speak from experience).

P00hsticks · 25/12/2025 20:04

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?

For goodness sake, don't wait to get yourself checked out. It'd be really unfortunate if you both ended up having to be treated at the same time, but far worse if the delay meant that things were further progressed and required more treatment or were to ofar gone to be treated.......

wherecanifindteabags · 25/12/2025 20:07

@Meredusoleil Please, please continue with your investigations. My parents were in a similar situation - my mum found out she had cancer whilst my dad was in his final months before he passed away. She’d decided to keep it a secret until he died. Luckily, when I borrowed her laptop only a few days after she found out it opened on a webpage she’d searched about her cancer so I knew instantly something was wrong and demanded that she tell me. She then went and got treatment and was completely fine. If she hadn’t, and had waited to see what happened with my dad and delayed her own treatment, maybe they could have both ended up dying and leaving us with both parents gone. Please, please pursue answers for yourself too. Flowers

P00hsticks · 25/12/2025 20:09

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?

Was he conscious during the colonscopy ? When I had my first one and they saw the tumour, they gave me an internal tattoo at the time to make where it was as they were pretty confident that a) it was cancerous and b) that it would need surgery.

But a lot depends on the location of the tumour - in some cases they will use radiotherapy and/or chemotheray to reduce the size of the tumour first.

Meredusoleil · 25/12/2025 20:11

P00hsticks · 25/12/2025 20:09

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?

Was he conscious during the colonscopy ? When I had my first one and they saw the tumour, they gave me an internal tattoo at the time to make where it was as they were pretty confident that a) it was cancerous and b) that it would need surgery.

But a lot depends on the location of the tumour - in some cases they will use radiotherapy and/or chemotheray to reduce the size of the tumour first.

Yes. They apparently put 2 tattoos in. And he was sedated, but conscious.

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 31/12/2025 10:48

My dad had his MRI on Sunday and was in there about an hour and a half! I guess it was so long because they were looking at the bowel and the liver.
His oncology appointment is next week and I feel anxious about it.

OP posts:
P00hsticks · 31/12/2025 12:23

MRI's often do take a long time - much much longer than CT scans, although I think 90 minutes must be on the top end. I've only had one and I think I was in there about an hour.

Will be keeping my fingers crossed for you and your dad.

Meredusoleil · 31/12/2025 12:34

That's helpful re MRI....my dh is booked in for Friday and they told me it would take 45 mins!

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 31/12/2025 18:08

last time he had the lower body MRI and then they found the mark on his liver (found on his CT) so he had to go back for an upper body one. I guess this MRI may have been so long because they were doing both areas. They did come out after half an hour and tell my mum that he would be in at least another 45 minutes as it is a long scan.

I kind of pushed everything to the back of my mind over Christmas. It is hard to take it all in at times as my dad still seems quite well in himself. As we approach his appointment next week, I am suddenly feeling really anxious about his scan results.

OP posts:
Meredusoleil · 31/12/2025 18:41

pinkchampagne1 · 31/12/2025 18:08

last time he had the lower body MRI and then they found the mark on his liver (found on his CT) so he had to go back for an upper body one. I guess this MRI may have been so long because they were doing both areas. They did come out after half an hour and tell my mum that he would be in at least another 45 minutes as it is a long scan.

I kind of pushed everything to the back of my mind over Christmas. It is hard to take it all in at times as my dad still seems quite well in himself. As we approach his appointment next week, I am suddenly feeling really anxious about his scan results.

I am with you and feel your pain 😕

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 31/12/2025 19:43

Meredusoleil · 31/12/2025 18:41

I am with you and feel your pain 😕

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Thinking of you and your DH. The waiting is just the worse time.

OP posts:
Meredusoleil · 31/12/2025 19:46

Thank you. He had the CT scan today. It was super quick! Apparently, the MDT is meeting on Tuesday and he should hear from them for a possible F2F meeting after that.

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 01/01/2026 09:51

Meredusoleil · 31/12/2025 19:46

Thank you. He had the CT scan today. It was super quick! Apparently, the MDT is meeting on Tuesday and he should hear from them for a possible F2F meeting after that.

Wishing you lots of luck with the results.

OP posts:
BSky4 · 01/01/2026 10:56

Thinking of you both. The waiting is awful. Take care.

PlanBFertility · 01/01/2026 11:01

Sending love x

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 05/01/2026 16:36

My parents are in A&E at the moment. My dad had a fall last night and when he was checked out in minor injuries they found his heart was fluctuating so advised he went to A&E. They have been there a few hours now and are wearing masks as it is packed with people coughing etc. Never rains but it pours. 😔

OP posts:
wherecanifindteabags · 05/01/2026 16:58

Thinking of you OP x

P00hsticks · 05/01/2026 17:49

@pinkchampagne1 So sorry to hear that - will keep my fingers crossed for him in A&E today and for a good plan to come out of the MDT meeting tomorrow.

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 05/01/2026 18:23

He has been in there hours and they have been told it’s the busiest day they have had for a while. 😣 I am worried that this could mean he wouldn’t be fit enough for surgery. His heart has always come out ok in previous tests so wonder if this is an after effect of the chemo. I don’t know, I am just feeling really stressed.

OP posts:
Meredusoleil · 05/01/2026 18:23

pinkchampagne1 · 05/01/2026 16:36

My parents are in A&E at the moment. My dad had a fall last night and when he was checked out in minor injuries they found his heart was fluctuating so advised he went to A&E. They have been there a few hours now and are wearing masks as it is packed with people coughing etc. Never rains but it pours. 😔

So sorry to hear that 😢 Fingers crossed it turns out OK. My dh is expecting to know the outcome of his MDT tomorrow. And my mum has also been having some issues, so I know how you feel 💔

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 05/01/2026 18:24

Meredusoleil · 05/01/2026 18:23

So sorry to hear that 😢 Fingers crossed it turns out OK. My dh is expecting to know the outcome of his MDT tomorrow. And my mum has also been having some issues, so I know how you feel 💔

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I will be thinking of you both tomorrow and hoping for the best. X

OP posts:
BSky4 · 05/01/2026 21:45

Thinking of you both @pinkchampagne1 & @Meredusoleil

Original poster
pinkchampagne1 · 06/01/2026 07:35

My Dad’s ECG looked okay but they wanted to do further tests. He was having a neck X Ray at around 2am and my mum finally got home at around 5am. They have kept Dad in until this morning. What an ordeal for them 😔

OP posts:
wherecanifindteabags · 06/01/2026 08:02

Meredusoleil · 05/01/2026 18:23

So sorry to hear that 😢 Fingers crossed it turns out OK. My dh is expecting to know the outcome of his MDT tomorrow. And my mum has also been having some issues, so I know how you feel 💔

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Let us know how today goes @Meredusoleil - we are all here for you.

@pinkchampagne1 Hope your poor mum gets a few hours rest before your dad’s discharged. Love to all of you.

BSky4 · 06/01/2026 08:52

Oh that does sound an ordeal. Good his ECG was ok and they are doing more checks.
Hope further tests are ok & your mum gets some rest. Hope you do too. Seems like a rollercoaster of events and emotions.

🤞🤞for MDT outcome results @Meredusoleil