Bowel cancer diagnosis?

My partner of 30 years has recently had a bowel cancer test after they found blood, during a recent routine test for something else (for the life of me I can't remember what she was originally being tested for).

Today the consultant called with an appointment for a consultation at the hospital in a week's time. Does this mean she likely has cancer? The reason I ask is I had a similar test a few months ago and they told me by phone that I was clear, so it seem unlikely to me that they would ask her to go to the hospital if nothing is wrong. She is 70 in a couple of weeks' time.

The reason I ask is I have to go to Germany two days before the appointment, to work for a few weeks, and we could really use the money. I'll lose a valuable contract I don't go which I really can't afford to do, but obviously if it is bad news I need to be with her at the time of the appointment, that's obviously far more important. No point me calling the hospital as they won't tell me anything.

  • Hello CVcity,

    l appreciate your question but no one on this site could possibly give you an answer.That will come with the consultation and could be a number of things that might need treatment. l hope it goes wellfor your wife,

    David

  • Hi,

    Thank you for your reply. I appreciate you taking the time and I know you're trying to help but I think you have misunderstood the question. Sorry if I didn't make it clear but I'm not asking anybody to try to pre-empt the results.

    I'm trying to establish, based on people's experience, if the hospital is likely to call you in if the diagnosis is clear. It seems unusual to me, unlikely even that they would (what would be the point?), as whenever I and other friends we have spoken to have had similar tests, they have always been notified by phone if the tests have come back clear. But it may be that in other areas of the UK they operate differently.

    So what I'm asking is, is it normal procedure to call you in if the results are clear? Don't be afraid of giving the "wrong" answer, as I said we're not asking for a definitive yes or no as far as the diagnosis is concerned and we're hoping for the best of course but preparing for the worst, but the circumstances with my work are a little unusual, but an extremely important factor.

  • Hello again,

                      My only suggestion then would be to call the consultants secretary and explain your issue and see if you could progress it that way,it may provoke a response to help you come to a conclusion over how to progress. l guess a rejection on their part to do so would give you a lead on the potential seriousness of any issue,

    Good luck

    David

  • Thank you, yes we've tried something along those lines but the consultant is off this week. I'm going to try to put back the start date for the job. I know how crass it sounds but I've been asked to take charge of a major building project and it's the biggest break I've had in my 45 year career. Of course, some things are more important but it;s going to be a disaster, for want of a better word, if I have to turn it down and then find out there's nothing wrong and I could have taken it up.