Our story

[PaulaS]

My dad was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer in April last year, and went through treatment of Radiation and Chemo and then surgery, he now has a colostomy bag and initially the results were that they had " got everything " and we were so relieved !! He just had a scan 2 weeks ago and something is showing in his stomach.. after an endoscopy they have now told him that there is a tumor that needs to come out, so there will be more surgery and possibly more treatment. We are all so scared for him... and there's nothing we can say that can take the fear away of not knowing what will happen next. I'm sure he's tired of hearing " stay positive " " you will get through " etc... but what else can you say ?? No-one really knows what lies ahead, but i would give anything to have him healthy again and not have to go through any more. He gets his results of the Biopsy this coming Monday to see if it has spread and just the thought of walking into that room must scare the daylights out of him, I feel so helpless !! I wish i could take it all away for him...... or at least make him feel better. I have everything crossed for my dad on Monday and for anyone else who is going through the same thing, my heart goes out to you. Good luck everyone and all the best.:)

[louie3754]

Oh Paula, what a nightmare. Good news can soon become not so good. Everything crossed for the results on Monday, I can,t imagine how you will all be feeling, probably will get to know in the months ahead for Geoff. It,s funny(not in a comical sense of course) how we were all so focused on the cancer, but Geoff has had some heart problems since Friday night, his heartbeat was too high, so off he went to coronary care, only came back to the ward today, and although his rate is better, it still goes up when he moves around. Poor old cancer is now taking second place, who,d have thought. He sounds so much happier today, was very flat last night, the staff back on South ward are so nice, some coronary care staff not all that good. We are now waiting for the results of the "other thing" they found, but will be shocked if it,s not cancer. He might get to come home tomorrow or Friday(well, he,s hoping). Good luck again for Monday, will be thinking of you and looking forward to seeing good news Linda

[Robyn]

Hi Paula So sorry to hear of your father's setback after all was well after his surgery and treatment. My hubby had bowel cancer 3 years ago which spread into his bladder and 6 lymph nodes and he has a colostomy bag as well so I know what you have been through. So far he is going ok but there is always the thought it will come back somewhere and it is an anxious wait until his test results and CT Scans come through each time . Will be thinking of you all on monday when your father gets his results of the biopsy. I hope it all goes well for him. We just have to take each day at a time. I was also diagnosed with cancer in October last year and had surgery and now going through chemo and then will have radiation. It is a hard road to follow but we just have to deal with what comes our way in life unfortunately. Best of Luck with your father. Regards Robyn

[louie3754]

Fingers crossed for tomorrow

[PaulaS]

Thanks Robyn, Yes, it absolutely is one of the hardest roads to go down. The waiting is so frustrating.... it takes years off of your life and makes the grey hairs multiply !!! My dads results came back better than expected, the tumor in his stomach definitely has to come out, so he will be having surgery in the next few weeks, but they are confident they can get it all, and then we wait for results.. again.. !! Your right, the wait each time is so nerveracking... but there's nothing you can do about it, just roll with it. How are you going with your treatment ?? Is it knocking you around a bit ?? I bet you are counting down the days until the last one !! I'm sorry to hear both you and your husband have gone through it, that is so unfair. Enough is enough.... We will get there though, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel for all of us, we just have to wait it out. Let me know how you are doing, and thanks so much for your email, it meant a lot. Thinking of you. Paula.

[Robyn]

Hi Paula I am coping ok with the chemo apart from a few side affects but once the first week is over I feel ok. I have to have a PET scan after the last lot of chemo then will start radiation. I am more worried about the affects radiation will have on my bowels etc as others with gynaecological cancers have had problems with their bowels after radiation. I belong to 2 other groups in the cancer connections as I have 3 types of cells being Neuroendocrine, endometrial and serous. My father had bowel cancer also but when they operated it was everywhere in his body and sadly he died 2 weeks later. I hope your father's surgery goes well when he has it and he can feel well again and enjoy life. Regard Robyn