Doctors 95% sure mum has bowel cancer - any help please?

[whojamaflip]

Just spoken to Mum - she has been to see her consultant today for results of a colonoscopy which found a major narrowing in her colon. He is 95% sure it is cancer (in his words he has never known any other reason for narrowing other than cancer) and has referred her for another colonoscopy and biopsy.

I've done a bit of googling (I know!) and it looks like she will be stage 2 at least if not stage 3

Hs anyone any experiance of this - what happens next if it is confirmed? Whats the prognosis like. What can I do to help?

I know her next appointment will be in days not weeks and that in its self suggests its serious....

I just want to jump on a plane and go and give her a hug.....

bump - anyone?

So sorry whoj, I don't have personal experience but I know of an excellent charity called Beating Bowel Cancer who can give you all sorts of practical advice. There are some leaflets on the site which go through everything you might want/need to know.

The prognosis will depend on a lot of things, and until she's had the tests even an expert doctor wouldn't be able to tell you much. But on the positive side, in many cases it can be treated successfully and you shouldn't fear the worst. Easier for me to say than you to do of course!

If there's serious narrowing of her colon, then I'd guess she'll be offered surgery quite soon - they would take out the section which is affected, and join the two ends back up. She might be given some other treatment before the surgery to knock it back first, or the surgery might be the first step. After surgery she'd most likely have either radiotherapy or chemotherapy to hit anything left in her system.

How you can help will vary - if she does have surgery and/or other treatments then having someone around to visit and to help her once she's home might be useful. Are you far away? Is there other close family nearby to help out?

No experience, but just wanted to say I'm thinking of you and your mum.

My dad had that, he got surgery, that was a few years ago and all seems fine.

Ok, quick post as I need to put the dc's to bed. But I was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year.
I had surgery to remove the affected part of my bowel, tumor was stage 4 so then had 8 sessions of chemo which was brutal to kill any remaining tumour cells although they had got all the tumour out.
Besting bowel cance were fantastic support and their forums are great for supporting relatives and patients.
If you want any more info please ask

Hi Op,
My uncle has just finished treatment for bowel cancer, the doctors move quite fast after they found it, he had surgery to remove a large part of his bowel and a bag was fitted whilst his bowel repared (this has now been removed), he had a low dose of chemo although all the cancer was removed with surgery, he finished chemo last week and is doing well.

I hope all goes well for your mum xx

Thanks for the replies

Its been really helpful to have info and links for further reading - its just what I was looking for.

And to all of you who have been through this either personally or via a relative - thankyou for sharing and giving me some positive hope that we may get through this.

The biggest problem is that Mum is in N. Ireland and I am in central England so its not as if I can just pop over to see how she is. Add that to the fact that I have 4 dcs under 10 and a dh who farms so is just hitting his busiest time of the year and tbh life couldn't get any more complicated

Still positive thinking and prayers will get us though

Hallo , just wanted to wish you and your Mum lots of best wishes .
I sadly lost my Mum to this awful disease 11 years ago , treatment has moved on , and I know there are now many more happy outcomes .
For you , on a more selfish level , go to your GP and ask about screening , this has a tendency to run in families , Mum made us all ( I have 2 sisters ) go to the GP and we now all have colonoscopies every 3 years or so .
I know you'll be thinking about your Mum ( and rightly so ,) but get yourself checked too

sorry to hear this whojamaflip......I went through this fairly recently. please pm me if you think I can help.

Hi whojam i was going through something similar myself last week. Mum had a colonoscopy, becasue they thought it was cancer, and yes it was a cancerous polyp, but it was 4mm and they took it out whilst doing the colonoscopy. I was absoulately worried and upset last week, so i can imagine what you must be feeling like. Try not to worry to much eventhough i know you will. Sending you and your mum hugs and love.

Doilook - my brother is also going through something similar - they think he has Ceoliacs (sp?) disease and had a biopsy last week so waiting for results . I was hoping that it might only be coincidence...

I never thought it might be genetic so when we know exactly what is happening with mum and db I will give my gp a shout.

.....and though initially things looked pretty bad I am fine now!!!!

Over - have pm'd you

I don't think it's hereditary but it has tendency to run in families .
Pedants corner for me next !

Doilook

Just wanted to say we are thinking of you.

Both my parents had bowel cancer, both got treatment and both are still alive with no long term effects.

Regarding whether it is hereditary or not I always thought I would get bowel cancer but I got cancer of the blood instead!

Whoj - how are things?

Only just seen this but I was dx with bowel cancer last year - stage 3 had already spread to lymph nodes. Had surgery to remove a section of the bowel, though luckily didn't have to have a bag. Then had chemo, which was worse than the surgery.

Each stage of the process was really quick and they follow up regularly. It is scary but surprisingly seems to be worse hearing about a relative having it than having it yourself.

Things seem to be at a standstill here - still waiting for word when she has to go back for the colonoscopy and biopsy

Mum is bearing up really well but I am falling apart inside - just wish we knew what and when - I'm much better at practicalities

Anyway have managed to persuade MIL to look after the dcs and let me go back home to look after mum - just need dates so I can book flights etc.

Thank you so much for the positive stories - it really helps

:( at no news but :) that MIL is stepping up to help. Hope you hear soon.

whojamaflip so sorry you and your family are going through this.

I know of a family friend who had this and is fine 3 years later and a close family member also had this 6 years ago and he is also going strong.

Bowel cancer is highly treatable, family member was stage 3 and needed radiotherapy to shrink the tumour before it could be operated on. After the surgery he had chemotherapy medication and a stoma fitted for a year which was uncomfortable but he is now fully functioning and had the 5 year all clear last year.

It's a long road but many have travelled it successfully.

((( hugs to you all )))

Often think it is worse for family to watch and wait than for the sufferer because they are taking action whilst observers have to be patient and passive.

(I am so not patient OR passive )