Colorectal tumour found in DF

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DF had some bleeding a few weeks ago. Referred for endoscopy which he had this morning. I knew it was bad when they took us into a room
with comfy chairs and a box of tissues on the table...

He has a tumour in the sigmoid colon. He has ulcerative colitis in this part of the bowel many many years ago but unusually was cured or at least symptoms went. He was monitored for years but seemed to be cured.

They are doing a full colonoscopy next week and also CAT and MRI scans- to see if it is anywhere else- they took a biopsy this morning.

They mentioned doing chemo and radiotherapy to shrink the tumour before removing it.

He is well in himself- the doctor commented on how well he looked - hasn't lost weight- just a bit tired ( but he is 79 so perhaps to be expected?) Doctors said they don't know what grade of tumour yet until more tests.

Anyone with experience of this? Any advice?

I lost my mum to a horrid auto-immune disease 4 years ago. Don't want to have to see my dad suffer too.

Great news that it hasn't spread anywhere - although obviously still a terrifying diagnosis.

I am in my early 30s but have to have colonoscopies every 4 or 5 years as colon cancer is rife in my family - from what my specialist tells me, it's an extremely slow growing cancer, so that may be why they feel comfortable not starting treatment immediately. Obviously I'm not an expert and you should press your dad's consultant, but hopefully that might give you a little peace of mind if you do have to wait that long. Good luck!

Thanks Melting

So DF saw the surgeon today. It is curable but he needs to have major surgery to remove it (5 hour operation).

Three options were given:
-do nothing and let the condition take its course. ( some older folk choose this)
-resection of the tumour with temporary colostomy while it heals hopefully reversible in 3 months or up to a year depending on speed of recovery.

• total removal of bowel with permanent colostomy which holds a slightly better chance of no recurrence.

He chose option 2 but knows that it could become 3 if they can't reconnect the bowel. As it hasn't spread he shouldn't need chemo/ radio therapy. Surgeon had a full list through January so couldn't fit him in for this until 2nd Feb so he has another 7 weeks to wait.

This means there will have been a 13 week wait between initial urgent referral and treatment. Seems like a very long time especially as they had all the tests finished two weeks ago...

He is so fit and well at the moment- full of beans and very positive about it all. He will be laid low for many weeks after this operation and will need a lot of support as he lives on his own. However he is 79 so no spring chicken- I just hope he can cope with it all.

Sorry it wasn't better news. Dm ultimately had option 3, despite really not wanting it beforehand but it had returned after less invasive surgery, and has coped well for over 4 years. Will they also offer radio and/or chemo therapy?

I know it lots of ways this feels like bad news but my p.o.v is 1.it is treatable. 2. They have given him options 3. If he doesnt need chemo/radiotherapy that means he will avoid an even longer period of treatment/ hospital visits/ feeling rubbish.

It must be incredibly hard to deal with, but please consider the alternatives... whaf if it wasn't treatable, or he did need chemo?

This diagnosis is awful, but it could be so much worse. Your dad sounds like he has a lot of energy and his positive outlook
Is admirable.

Thanks- it's good to hear positive stories from others.

LIZS they don't think he will need any chemo/ radio therapy. Unless they see anything else after the op he shouldn't need it. No lymph nodes affected or spread anywhere from MRI and CAT scans.

I know if you have to have cancer it's one of the better one to get in terms of treat ability and long term prognosis but just hope he can avoid infection which is a real risk with major surgery etc. Which at 79 could polish him off fairly sharpish...

( Have name changed but am the original op)
Update:
DF had his surgery yesterday. All went well and surgeon fairly sure he got all the cancer out- was contained within the bowel but obviously will check that there are no nasty cells on the clean margins and if so will zap it with a short chemo/ radio therapy course.

Unfortunately he wasn't able to reconnect the bowel as it was too near the end so DF has a permanent colostomy but he knew that was a possibility.

Anyway he is sore and tired but fairly chipper. Just glad it's over and now can concentrate on recovering.

My dad had this surgery in 2003 when he was about the age your dad is now. He is now 93 and has had no further problems with bowel cancer. He managed his colostomy well from the start. No doubt the stoma nurse will work with your dad to enable him to get to grips with this. Best of luck to your dad and to you.

Thanks- that is encouraging news

Brigits I read your original post. So glad it worked out for your Dad. Wishing him a speedy recovery and many more years of happy life.