my dad has cancer

MidasWhale · 2023-01-07T19:24:02+00:00

my dad isnt old, hes 56. two days ago had a colonoscopy and endoscopy. stomach was clear but colonoscopy showed growths. theyve told him it looks like cancer and he has to have a CT scan and biopsy sent to pathology. however his report from the procedure says diagnosis: colorectal cancer; malignant tumours in colon. for the past couple of years hes had issues with heartburn and reflux, past 8 months or so other stomach issues, eating certain foods made him vomit and had stomach cramps/ diarrohea after eating anything. he went to doctors in november and refered for scan wihch he had a couple of days ago, im so scared for him, hes active, healthy and young still. i dont really know what im posting for but just looking for some support while we wait for pathology and ct i suppose. praying its localised and not anywhere else. im so scared, he so strong and fit it just feels like a bad dream.

Wooltongirl · 07/01/2023 19:30

So sorry to hear this but now that your dad has been referred and undergoing tests, he should be fast-tracked for treatment. They can do so much nowadays, but it’s completely understandable how anxious a time this must be for you and your family. Sounds like he’s got a lot going for him in terms of his age and fitness. Fingers crossed he gets the care he needs asap 💐

Original poster

MidasWhale · 07/01/2023 19:39

Thank you. I worry because they seem to be quite confident it's cancer just from looking. He should be having ct within 2 weeks and the psychology result. My kids love him so much and I'm so close to him. I just hope it's not advanced. I know it sounds stupid/ awful but it's what happens to other people. He's also seen his mum die from cancer so it must be so scary for him too

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tootiredtospeak · 07/01/2023 19:46

My Dad told us December 2019 he had cancer prostate with they then had spread and was actually lung cancer. 3 years later he is still here and going strong. Had chemo radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Some tough times through covid but he is still working and living a normal life. Try to keep calm. He wont be here forever but the treatments they have nowadays are amazing

Original poster

MidasWhale · 07/01/2023 19:50

tootiredtospeak · 07/01/2023 19:46

My Dad told us December 2019 he had cancer prostate with they then had spread and was actually lung cancer. 3 years later he is still here and going strong. Had chemo radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Some tough times through covid but he is still working and living a normal life. Try to keep calm. He wont be here forever but the treatments they have nowadays are amazing

Glad to hear your dad is doing OK. I feel like we just need a plan at least,to know exactly where we are at and what they can do.

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bloodywhitecat · 07/01/2023 21:08

With DH they were as sure as they could be that he had cancer from the scans, the biopsies were messed up several times before they got the one that showed the growth they could see was cancer and we didn't know what type of cancer until he had surgery to remove the tumour itself. He was initially told he had pancreatic cancer but the biopsies taken during surgery showed cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer).

Having a plan and a firm diagnosis is definitely helpful, I hope the news is better than you fear.

MockneyReject · 07/01/2023 21:18

My dad was diagnosed with bowel/colon cancer, 16 years ago. He was advised to tell his family. I fell to pieces, at the time.
8 years ago, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He's had to retire, and has slowed down - he's 75, after all! But he still has a decent quality of life.
Cancer is no longer the 'death sentence' it used to be. It can be managed. I hope your dad is as lucky as mine has been.

Original poster

MidasWhale · 07/01/2023 21:41

Thank you I really appreciate this. Hopefully the news will be as good as it can be

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raspberrytart · 08/01/2023 07:48

Hi. I'm in the same situation as your dad. I've been diagnosed with colon cancer . Had colonoscopy, ct and mri scan. My worry was if it had spread beyond the bowel wall, which it hasn't.
I'm going for surgery in the next 3/4 weeks, will have a stoma bag while the bowel heals but this will be reversible.
I'm 51, run regularly, eat a veggie diet and don't smoke.
It's just bad luck. Your dad will be fine.
Take care op, I think it's worse for family close friends when the c word is mentioned. I still find it all surreal. My life will be different for a while and so will your dad's. Hospital appointments, check ups etc.
Dm me if you'd like x

Original poster

MidasWhale · 08/01/2023 08:44

raspberrytart · 08/01/2023 07:48

Hi. I'm in the same situation as your dad. I've been diagnosed with colon cancer . Had colonoscopy, ct and mri scan. My worry was if it had spread beyond the bowel wall, which it hasn't.
I'm going for surgery in the next 3/4 weeks, will have a stoma bag while the bowel heals but this will be reversible.
I'm 51, run regularly, eat a veggie diet and don't smoke.
It's just bad luck. Your dad will be fine.
Take care op, I think it's worse for family close friends when the c word is mentioned. I still find it all surreal. My life will be different for a while and so will your dad's. Hospital appointments, check ups etc.
Dm me if you'd like x

Thank you so much for sharing and I'm really happy for you that it hasn't spread

If you don't mind me asking, could they tell from the colonoscopy that it was cancer? And how long did you have symptoms before getting diagnosed?

All the best for your surgery I hope it goes well

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raspberrytart · 08/01/2023 15:15

From first symptoms about 4/5 weeks ago. Got appt for colonoscopy within 2 weeks. Cancer was confirmed at colonoscopy then had to wait cpl weeks for mri. Had ct on same day as colonoscopy.
My tumour is about 10 cm into the colon. They will take the tumour , some lymph nodes and join me back up.
Its major surgery with its risks but I'm confident I'll be OK. With regards to chemo, I'm not sure, I suppose it depends on what histology brings up from the op.

raspberrytart · 08/01/2023 15:18

To add, the surgeon said I'd probably had it about 2 years, grown from a polyp and just increased in size. So from that perspective, it's a slow growing tumour and reasonably easy to deal with.
Keep me updated. You'll be going through a lot of worry just now.
Thank you for kind words.

fancynancy123 · 06/05/2023 09:50

@raspberrytart - can I ask, from the colonoscopy did they diagnose colon cancer in the report? My dad has just had one and the report says 'malignant looking polypoid lesion'. They apparently said it was large (although report gives no size) and they were unable to remove it.

We're awaiting CT scan, biopsy results and a full colonoscopy to get the bigger picture but I'm unsure if the wording means this is a lesser diagnosis (eg contained to the polyp) or just a different way of them writing it, and it does in fact mean he has colon cancer

raspberrytart · 06/05/2023 13:21

From the colonoscopy they diagnosed cancer there and then. As you can imagine it was a very distressing time as i was on my own in having to deal with this life changing news.
The extra tests will help with your worries as they will give a clearer picture of growth size and location.
Do you have colonoscopy nurses you could call for confirmation?
Its such a worrying time all the waiting and im certain its worse for loved ones

fancynancy123 · 06/05/2023 13:50

Thank you for your reply. I'm not sure he's been given any information about nurses or anything, and I'm not sure he'd call anyway.

I wonder at what point they're able to give an actual diagnosis. I can imagine that must have been awful, and I really
Hope surgery goes well for you.
This is one of the big problems for dad, his body doesn't cope very well with surgery and anaesthetic and I'm worrying that even if we're lucky enough for it to be localised that they won't be able to operate.

raspberrytart · 06/05/2023 17:14

That sounds worrying. If he needs bowel surgery im fairly sure he will need a GA. Its major surgery but his consultant will explain the risks however small. Its hard work chasing things up but keep on at them. You shouldnt be left in the dark.
My surgery was fine im 2.5 months post surgery and recovering well. Im waiting for a reversal and a couple of other procedures but im thankfull im cancer free and thinking about a return to work

fancynancy123 · 06/05/2023 18:20

Yes, we're well practiced in bowel surgery. He had a perforated bowel, resection and ileostomy plus reversal in 2021. But he was very very unwell after both surgeries. Admittedly he wasn't at his strongest for either of them. I think this is partly why I'm so shocked. I would have thought a polyp would have been noticed during all of this, plus he definitely had a colonoscopy a year or so prior so I just don't understand how it can be cancer when the supposedly take 10 years to turn nasty...

I'm so glad you're doing well, do you have a colostomy or ileostomy ?