Husband just diagnosed with Bowel Cancer

Hi All,

My lovely husband has just been diagnosed in the last 3 days with bowel cancer.  We are just waiting to see how far developed it is as to what treatment he is going to receive.  He is incredibly fit and healthy and if he hadn't done the screening test sent to him we would have known no different.  My problem is that although he is fit and well AND incredibly positive I, on the other hand, am really struggling with it.  I am trying to be strong for him but I keep having relapses and I'm terrified of losing the only person in my life.

He has no symptoms whatsoever and has actually just started a sponsored walk for prostate cancer with our dog.  I think what I'm asking is how do people cope in my position and try and stay strong.  I wish so much I had my husbands outlook on life.  He's a pure bred optimist and I'm the original pessimist.

Thanks everyone x

Parents
  • Thats the scary thing like your husband i had no symptoms whatsoever until the tumour had grown to 5 cm even then i felt ok other than some mucus and a small amount blood in my stools which prompted me to go to the GP , i even had a fit test a year before which was negative, i have since had the tumour removed and i am now on chemotherapy, hopefully your husbands will be in the early stages, as your husband says i felt as fit as a fiddle too 

  • Awwww no.  I’m sorry to hear that.  How do you feel now?  Are you on the mend?  It’s just awful and heartbreaking.  I feel for you.  I really hope you’re ok x x x 

Reply Children
  • it was 5 cm before i knew anything about it , it was found during a colonoscopy because of a high fit score , it was only because i saw some mucus and very small amount of blood on my stool’s that i realised there was a problem and went to my GP and hence where i am now , i went to the GP on dec 21 and after tests i had an operation on march 11th , it ended up being a six hour operation which was done by keyhole ,i also have a stoma bag which is reversible ,  i have never experienced any pain whatsoever from the operation i was in hospital about a week, obviously the operation drains you a bit but i am recovered from that and now on chemotherapy for three months unfortunately every day seems like a week , at the moment it hasn’t been too bad it has its moments and the situation itself can get you down at times because i was active and i think you have to take extra precautions if you are in chemotherapy , hopefully they might have found your husband early ? But like i said mine was 5 cm before i even knew anything about it  and had a negative fit test the year before, this is my experience ,  good luck , let us know how you get on 

    what i would say is in my case the NHS was excellent 

  • That’s great news that you’re having something done to get rid of this.  I can imagine you’re tired with chemo.  The NHS have been absolutely amazing.  From his diagnosis last week he’s already had his CT and MRI, bloods……everything and will be discussed this Thursday at an MDT.  The nurses are on n the phone regularly and have even told me to call them if it gets too much. 

    Thanks for your kind messages they are really helpful.  I’ll let you know as soon as we know what the next step is x

  • Hi,  so Mick, husband, is seeing the consultant on Friday as there was a cancellation and the nurses wanted to get him in.  He is then having his pre ops done on Monday with a view to having an operation Tuesday onwards.  I hoping this is a good thing that he is being seen and dealt with so soon.  But I'm also scared that its bad news they are wanting to get him in asap.  Am I being irrational?

  • Well he isn’t having chemo before the operation which is a good sign so they may think they have caught it early, they are certainly moving fast which is a bonus, i wish him good luck because its very scary time 

  • Hi Alit.

    So my husband also was rushed through . From diagnosis to surgery was 4 weeks.

    Like you were were thinking the same . A mixture of wether it's a good thing or bad. It's  it's t's being dealt with so promptly. 

    He is now 6 weeks post op. 

    I do hope things go well