Hi, I am new to this site. We have been told yesterday that my husband may have bowel cancer, he has a CT scan today to see if it has spread. He has had no symptoms at all so we are hoping that if it is cancer then they may have caught it early enough. I am so sorry about your dad and I fully understand how scared you must be, cause I am also terrified 

So sorry for what you are going through also. 

My dad had 1 day of bleeding and went straight to hospital where they referred him for testing etc. I was hopeful because his bloods were completely normal but a colonoscopy found a growth and they told us it looked to be cancerous.  Yesterday it was confirmed.  In the space of 3 weeks my world had been turned upside down and the scary thing is he had 1 days of bleeding and to this day, nothing else since. For it to be already T3 which is the one below the worst it's just crazy. 

I hope you have a positive outcome. 

Yes my husband had a colonoscopy yesterday and we were just expecting it to be a routine test but it wasn't. It has come as a massive shock. I have had terrible anxiety for years and I struggle with illness so I so scared that I won't be able to attend appointments with him for fear of bolting out of the room, like I did yesterday. He says he understands how it affects me but that just males it worse. I am so sorry about your dad. I am also shocked that after just 1 day bleeding as I thought there would have been so many symptoms for it. Have they given you any hope? I was looking at the doctor who gave us the results yesterday thinking, any minute now she is going to give us some good news but she didn't.

I have just replied to your message but I can't see the reply. I hope you have received it. 

I think the only hope we took for it was that it hasn't spread anywhere else. Given that it is already stage T3 they seem hopeful that they can get it under control at the right time. But they want to start the chemo and radio asap incase those lymph nodes have been affected to stop it spreading, up to now it hasnt. The doctor sounded hopeful that the testament would shrink it given my dad is in good health, and his age etc. But there is always a small possibility that it won't do anything so we have to hope and pray. 

A lot of colon cancer cases don't have symptoms unfortunately :( it really socks doesn't it. I am not dealing with this very well although my parents are remaining positive and taking hope from the fact it hasn't spread and that the doctor said that with his bloods been normal it was a good sign that the lymph nodes havnt been affected. 

Wishing you both all the best anyway xx

He has blood taken a few days ago and nothing was showing up in that, so I'm hopeful. I understand how devastating it is and I'm not coping very well either. Please don't hesitate if u need to talk, I'll be here if u need a shoulder to cry on. Lots of hugs xx

Hi Becky 2312, and thank you for your post,

I am sorry to learn that your dad has bowel cancer, this must be a difficult time for you all.

The treatment will aim to get rid of the cancer cells and reduce the risk of the cancer returning. Unfortunately, it is not until your dad has completed his treatment that you will know how effective the treatment has been, and this uncertainty is difficult to come to terms with.

It can be an anxious and worrying time seeing someone you love go through cancer treatment. It is important to know that your dad's cancer is treatable and it does not mean that this is going to cause your dad to die. It is best to just take one step at a time and try not to overthink things.

We have information about how to support someone with cancer and there is also information about looking after yourself on our website which you may find helpful.

Please feel free to get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Take care, all the best 

Jemma

Hello and thank you for your post,

I can appreciate that this must be a difficult time for you both.

I just wanted to say that waiting for investigations to be done and then for the results is never easy. So, I hope you are able to support each other and have other people around you to give support.

Please also know that you may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Take care,

Caroline

Thank you for your reply. It is a very difficult time, and made worse I think because it was completely out if the blue. Yes we are very close and support and love each other very much. Thank you for the helpline number I think this is going to be very helpful for us.