Hi Econ2022 and thank you for posting,

I am sorry to learn that your mum has been diagnosed with squamous cell rectal cancer, this must be such a difficult time for you all.

This period of uncertainty and not knowing the stage of the cancer (how far it has spread) can be a stressful and anxious time.

The type of cancer depends on what type of cell it starts in. Squamous cells are the skin cells that make up the bowel lining, together with the gland cells. As you may be aware Squamous cell cancer (SCC) is a rare type of rectal cancer. It is usually treated in the same way as cancer of the anus.

Now further tests are needed to find out the stage of the cancer so the doctors can plan what the best treatment option will be for your mum. When all the tests have been done your mum's situation will be discussed at a multidisciplinary meeting (MDT) where her treatment will be planned.

I am afraid there may be a lot of times during this period when your mum might not hear anything from the hospital whilst waiting for tests and test results and it can feel unsettling.

Hopefully, your mum has been introduced to a nurse specialist (CNS) for support who she can call if she has any concerns.

It's easier said than done, try not to overthink things, and perhaps just take one step at a time. You might find it easier once you have all the information.

In the meantime, if you would like to talk things through with one of the nurses on the helpline we are available between 9 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday and the freephone number to call is 0808 800 4040. You may also find it helpful to post on one of the other threads where more people may see your post and can share their experiences.

Take care,

Jemma