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skin cancer in the bowel?

Sarah2
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Hi,

I'm a new user, sorry haven't done anything like this before. A month and a half ago my Grandad got diagnosed with cancer....they said the cells they took were from in the bowl and they came back as melenoma. They were sent off to a specialist team to look at as they had never seen thsi before. 2 weeks ago we found out the cancer has spread and is at stage 4....he has weeks left with us. They still don't know what the cancer actually is....just wondering if anybody had experienced anything like this before?or heard of anything?

Thank you

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    Hello Sarah,

    I noticed you hadn't received a reply yet to your question and while waiting for someone to respond, I thought I would welcome you to this friendly forum. It does sound like there is still a lot of mystery surrounding your grandad's diagnosis and I do hope you get some answers soon.

    It must be a very difficult time for you and your family. Don't hesitate to come back here any time you need to talk. Many others on this forum have been in the same situation as you and looked after a loved one who is dying with cancer.

    If you want to talk to our nurses and ask them anything, they do know a lot about cancer and you can reach them on freephone 0808 800 4040 Monday to Friday 9am to 5 pm.

    Best wishes,

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

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    Poor Grandad and you all = you all must devastated!! My mum in law was like that - she was as right as rain then for about a month of constipation and stomach pain = they said it was a cancer in the bowel area - but they were not sure at all. I think tests were inconclusive if this was the primary or a secondary. Either way mum peacefully passed way shortly afterwards to our great shock and loss.

    I am so sorry to hear you are having to walk the same path as we had to - its horrid!! Please give Grandad our wishes and a big hug = and then another for you and everyone xx steven 

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    Hi Sarah2,

    Lucie, one of the moderators, has asked the nurses to reply to your post.

    I am sorry to hear about your granddad, this must be an upsetting time for all your family.

    It is possible to get melanoma which starts in the bowel but this is very rare. It is also possible that it is a melanoma which started on the skin and has spread to the bowel. As Brighteyes says sometimes the doctors may never find out exactly where it started.

    Unfortunately cancer is sometimes found when it has already spread and it is very difficult to treat. This means that the prognosis (outlook) is sometimes as short as a few weeks or months. The doctors and the nurses at the hospital can help make sure your granddad is comfortable and doesn’t have pain or other symptoms. If your granddad is at home this can be done by the GP and district nurses and community palliative care nurses.

    I hope you find some support and comfort from this forum. If you want to talk to us you can call on freephone 0808 800 4040. We are here Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm.

    Kind Regards

    Deborah

     

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