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Bowel cancer

Arwel1969
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My mother has bowel cancer which has gone to her liver and lungs also in the lining. She had an op 3 weeks ago to get a colestomy bag and she is coping well now , now the family is thinking has she got cancer cause she is walking round as if nothing is wrong. The doctor has said it is not curable and she starts her chemo on Wednesday. What can I expect while she goes through this chemo ? We think she has had cancer over 2 years as she went to doctors 4 or 5 times over that period being sent home with cream for piles till she saw a new doctor this year .

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    I don't know what you are going through or to offer any help about how she went to the doctors before but what I can say Is my mum is going through tests for the same thing and I'm petried. If you need anyoe to tLk go then please message me. X

     

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    Hi Arwel, 

    Unfortunately my mums story is very similar to your mums. I’m so sorry to hear. My mum has stage 4 bowel cancer, spread to appendix, peritoneum and liver. She was diagnosed nearly a year ago and they estimated it had been there for around 18 months. 

    My mum hasn’t had any surgery to date, though is having bowel problems at the moment and may need a stent or surgery to alleviate the pain and physical issues with the bowel she is having. She was told the cancer wasn’t operable and unlikely curable. She has completed 6 rounds of chemo, capcetabine and oxilaplatin (sorry for spelling). She found these progressively difficult but managed them all though was admitted to hospital several times throughout, apologies if that is not what you want to hear :( i too find it very difficult and frustrating, my mum went to her GP intermittently for around 3 months prior to eventually getting a colonoscopy (which she pushed for) to finally diagnose this. She additionally did a stool sample outside of the general age testing (3 months before diagnosis) and this showed nothing. 

    I 100% feel your fear, anger and a whole host of emotions that cannot even be put into words. But believe that your mum can get through chemo, strong, and take each day as it comes. Try not to look too far into the future though it’s much easier said than done and I wish I could take my own advice on board. My mum is 59 and, when not having a bad day, looks great and nobody would know a thing, which to your point, sometimes makes this so much harder. Sorry for the war and peace. 

    Thinking of you, your mum and family. Just be there for her however she needs you. 

    Rebecca xx

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    My mum has also been diagnosed with bowel cancer. She has had the tumour and part of bowel removed and recovering well. They found evidence of disease in lymph nodes so this week we meet oncology to discuss chemo. 

    Have you any suggestions to questions I should ask? 

    Hope all is ok with you 

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    Hi arwel

    So sorry about your mother, but welcome to the club nobody wants to join, i was working noticed it said no curable that means she can have treatment to stop it or even get rid of some of it, (C I'm talking about). I've been non curable over three years now I'm 67 i would still be working but I have to look after my disabled wife 24 /7 now (metal welding and fabrication) i hope to have a lot more years yet.

    Billy 

    P.s I've got prostate cancer which went to lymph nodes, spine, ribs and pelvis, and one lung. 

  • Offline in reply to Billygoat

    Hi 

    We found out about week ago that my dad 59 has stage 4 bowel cancer which has spread to lungs the type he has is rare. He has been told he will be put on palliative chemo I guess they cant answer what prognosis is one time she was saying something about months then years. She did say about 20% survival rate which I dont get if his on palliative chemo. I didnt want to ask questions was so much to take in not sure if he really understood. 

    I dont know what to say to him at all my grief I can deal with as it comes how do I comfort him with his, I cant offer reassurance it's all so final. This is all so awful.

  • Offline in reply to rebecca1988

    Thank you for your kind words and hope your mum improves and fights this awful cancer. My mother passed away on 30th of August 2019 she died at home from a blood clot, she was on her 6th and last chemo before a long break of it , we feel so let down by cancer Ward and GP. We phoned cancer Ward the day before she died saying she was extremely breathless had the runs and felt like a cold on her chest and told us to go down to see local GP, we took her down,she struggled walking and they just pulled her off some diabetes tablets she was taking which the chemo cancels them out , why weren't we told this at beginning of chemo , pulled her of some blood pressure tablets cause her blood pressure was 74/60 . Why didn't they send her up to hospital she might still be here. No communication between GP and cancer Ward , I should of overulled the GP and cancer Ward I cared for her right the way through her chemo feel cheated and devastated. She was my mother and best friend x

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