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Original poster

Dad's been diagnosed with Bowel Cancer

66 replies

Dinoswearunderpants · 25/05/2023 22:12

My Dad, aged nearly 71, has been diagnosed with bowel cancer.

He has surgery booked for 08/06/2023. He needs to have a hernia repaired then the cancer part removed and then areas stitched up.

He has a lunge disease called COPD. I'm petrified about the surgery. They've already said he'll likely be in ICU on a ventilator for a while afterwards.

I wondered if anyone has any experience of this type of surgery please?

To add more complications, we're due to fly out on holiday on 10/06/23. I said I was going to cancel but my Dad has said no way.

He has this superstition that because he's been in hospital before when we've been on holiday, that I need to go so he will come out of hospital.

There's no way we'll enjoy the trip if we go but I want him thinking we're going away still so when he goes into surgery, he has that mindset that he must wake up.

I'm such an emotional wreck.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 02/06/2023 12:20

Fraaahnces · 01/06/2023 23:38

@Dinoswearunderpants It sounds like his COPD is quite advanced. I think you need to be told that his biggest risk is probably not the surgery but the anaesthetic required to remove the cancer. COPD destroys the tissue inside the lungs friable (prone to tearing). He is going to need to be 100% honest and up-front with his anaesthetist about his health issues, and make sure that they have a list of all of his meds and the medication schedule.

They fully know his COPD history so I'm hoping they take extra care of him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 02/06/2023 12:26

Greybeardy · 02/06/2023 00:23

If his COPD os advanced enough, giving him supplemental oxygen can be quite dangerous, so I hope that he is having this surgery before the COPD has progressed to this stage

this is not terribly helpful. A proportion of patients with bad COPD depend on their hypoxic drive to breathe and may run into trouble if given too much oxygen in an uncontrolled setting, but by no means all. It's also not going to be particularly relevant perioperatively or on an HDU/ICU post-operatively because it's literally their job to manage this.

I think you need to be told that his biggest risk is probably not the surgery but the anaesthetic required to remove the cancer

this is also flipping rubbish. You cannot separate the surgery from the anaesthetic.

OP, looking after patients with severe COPD is bread-and-butter stuff for anaesthetists. By virtue of the fact that a lot of cancers are smoking related and COPD is also largely smoking related we anaesthetise an awful lot of customers with properly knackered lungs. Routine preassessment for major general surgery will flag up any massive alarm bells and give him chance to talk to them about the risks/benefits as well as make a plan for his post-op care if he does proceed. I'd probably listen more to what his actual team are telling him rather than take to much notice of the medicine you see on MN.

Thank you so so much. You've explained it in laymen's and also very kindly. I appreciate it.

I fully trust the professionals know what they are doing :-)

OP posts:
Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 02/06/2023 12:43

Please be kind to each other. I honestly appreciate everyone's input.

OP posts:
fancynancy123 · 02/06/2023 19:15

@Dinoswearunderpants how are you doing?

I can't believe how similar our dads situations are.
With your dad was there any talk of them not operating due to COPD?
My dad has a different problem, but he seems to think they definitely said about not doing the op because of it which seems strange to me before they've even had the stress test.

fancynancy123 · 08/06/2023 08:03

@Dinoswearunderpants thinking of you today

Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 08/06/2023 15:21

Thank you @fancynancy123

Trying my hardest to keep busy but it's not easy. He started the surgery at 12:51 and they think it's at least a 6 hour operation :-(

OP posts:
KnottyKnitting · 08/06/2023 16:27

The waiting is the worst. I remember the long long day I had when my dad had his surgery. Take care. X

Loopyloo159 · 08/06/2023 16:33

Fingers crossed OP for your Dad today.X

fancynancy123 · 08/06/2023 17:22

Oh wow, 6 hours. At least you know not to expect a call sooner. Hopefully it's nearing the end now.

My dad had an emergency bowel resection during covid and we obviously couldn't be there and hours and hours went past before we heard anything.

My dad got cleared by the anaesthetists today as a candidate for surgery, however we need to find out from his other consultant for an existing condition whether he thinks all will be ok.

DixiePeach · 08/06/2023 17:35

Hope you’re doing ok.
my dh had bc 6 years ago. Younger than your dad but was in surgery for 8 hours. He had a stoma and discharged himself 24 hours later. Stoma has now been reversed. I’m sure everything will go well.

worktired · 09/06/2023 08:48

Thinking of you and your dad OP.

Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 09/06/2023 11:40

Hi all,

My Dad absolutely smashed surgery. Done in under 3 hours. He's already up and walking around. I am so proud of him :-)

OP posts:
worktired · 09/06/2023 13:39

Fabulous news!

KnottyKnitting · 09/06/2023 14:03

Oh wow! That's so quick! You must be so relieved!

fancynancy123 · 09/06/2023 14:56

@Dinoswearunderpants that's just the absolute best news! Well done your dad.

Has he ended up with a stoma?

fancynancy123 · 14/06/2023 21:01

@Dinoswearunderpants are you u still on holiday? Just wondered how your dad is doing?

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