New Diagnosis

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Michele400
Michele400 Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hello All - I am new to this board. I've read a few of the messages, but it seems most are to and from people who are much further along in the treatment. My Dad was diagnosed with colon cancer 1 week ago. He is to undergo surgery this Tuesday. He seems so frail, isn't eating much, mostly fluids and I'm really worried. He is 75 and I will be his primary caregiver. I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice. Thanks for your time.

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  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #2
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    Have the doctors been able to give you an idea of the extent of it? Prayers for you and your dad!
  • Michele400
    Michele400 Member Posts: 4
    #3
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    Tootsie - No, they have not given us any idea, however I believe it's advanced. The cancer was found thru colonoscopy after several weeks of abdominal pain and diarrhea. The surgeon told us he can't determine the extent of it until he can actually see it and have pathology test it.
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #4
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    Michele400 said:

    Tootsie - No, they have not given us any idea, however I believe it's advanced. The cancer was found thru colonoscopy after several weeks of abdominal pain and diarrhea. The surgeon told us he can't determine the extent of it until he can actually see it and have pathology test it.

    *hugs* I'm so sorry if that's the case. Let us know what they tell you, and I'm sure some of the group can give you an idea of what different meds and treatments might be like. I did not have chemo, so can't really speak to that, thankfully.
  • Michele400
    Michele400 Member Posts: 4
    #5
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    tootsie1 said:

    *hugs* I'm so sorry if that's the case. Let us know what they tell you, and I'm sure some of the group can give you an idea of what different meds and treatments might be like. I did not have chemo, so can't really speak to that, thankfully.

    Thanks for your thoughts. My Dad will not have chemo, he has already decided that. He was my step-mother's caregiver while she battled various cancers and he doesn't want to endure that treatment. I was just wondering if anyone could give me an idea of what to expect after the re-section surgery.
  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #6
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    Hi Michele,
    Welcome...There are many different kinds of people on this forum, young, old, newbies, and long term survivors. Sometimes the boards are more active than other times, usually pretty quiet on the weekends. I am sorry your father is going through this. After his surgery on Tuesday they will biopsy the tumor and surrounding lymph nodes and will be able to tell what stage he is. Hopefully he will only be Stage II or I. If there are lymph nodes involved he will be considered Stage III. What stage he is will determine his treatments from that point on.
    It isn't good that he is not eating, there could be any number of reasons for that. Hopefully he will perk up after the surgery and won't have to have chemo or anything else like that.
    Make sure he gets up and walks the halls as soon as possible after the surgery. The sooner he walks and his bowels start working again the better. It has got to be tough on an older person, but if he is in decent shape he sould be OK. Let us know how it goes, best wishes,
    Susan H.
  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #7
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    shmurciakova said:

    Hi Michele,
    Welcome...There are many different kinds of people on this forum, young, old, newbies, and long term survivors. Sometimes the boards are more active than other times, usually pretty quiet on the weekends. I am sorry your father is going through this. After his surgery on Tuesday they will biopsy the tumor and surrounding lymph nodes and will be able to tell what stage he is. Hopefully he will only be Stage II or I. If there are lymph nodes involved he will be considered Stage III. What stage he is will determine his treatments from that point on.
    It isn't good that he is not eating, there could be any number of reasons for that. Hopefully he will perk up after the surgery and won't have to have chemo or anything else like that.
    Make sure he gets up and walks the halls as soon as possible after the surgery. The sooner he walks and his bowels start working again the better. It has got to be tough on an older person, but if he is in decent shape he sould be OK. Let us know how it goes, best wishes,
    Susan H.

    While I was typing my niece called and by the time I posted you had given additional info. Hopfully, like I said your dad will not be at an advanced stage. I really don't think there is any way to know that until after the surgery is done, so there is no sense worrying about it yet. Even if he does, he may be able to have further surgery to deal with whatever is there. I can totally understand him not wanting to do chemo, who would! But like I said, no sense in even thinking about that now.
    Best wishes for an uneventful surgery!
  • jams67
    jams67 Member Posts: 925 Member
    #8
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    It may help you to know that many of us have had advance stages of colon cancer and have had no reoccurrences. My cancer was stage IV and also found with a colonoscopy. The oncologist and surgeon are your father's best friends right now. Trust in their judgement. If you don't feel comfortable about their judgement, get a second opinion.
    Jo Ann
  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #9
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    Hi Michele,
    I'm sorry about the diagnosis. Your Dad may be feeling defeated and/or depressed. Try to get him to understand that this is not something to deal with all at once. It's a series of steps that can be handled one at a time. As his caregiver (angel!) you should educate yourself thoroughly and don't be afraid to ask for second opinions! I'll be praying for you both.
    Kirsten
  • Michele400
    Michele400 Member Posts: 4
    #10
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    jams67 said:

    It may help you to know that many of us have had advance stages of colon cancer and have had no reoccurrences. My cancer was stage IV and also found with a colonoscopy. The oncologist and surgeon are your father's best friends right now. Trust in their judgement. If you don't feel comfortable about their judgement, get a second opinion.
    Jo Ann

    Thanks for sharing. As you know, this is an extremely worrisome time. Jams67 - may I ask your age?

    I am worried about my Dad, not just because of the cancer, but due to his age - 75. Plus he isn't in the greatest health anyway.
  • jerseysue
    jerseysue Member Posts: 624 Member
    #11
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    I'm 44 and dx Stage IV back in April 05. I'm considered NED at this point. I've had 3 different rounds of chemo since 05. I'm back to work and taking care of my family. It's a long fight and some days will be better then others.
  • gaylee
    gaylee Member Posts: 2
    #12
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    tootsie1 said:

    *hugs* I'm so sorry if that's the case. Let us know what they tell you, and I'm sure some of the group can give you an idea of what different meds and treatments might be like. I did not have chemo, so can't really speak to that, thankfully.

    I just found out I have stage 2 colon cancer.and decided not to get chemo can you tell me why you didn't get chemo either. I dont know if I made the right decision. gail
  • pink05
    pink05 Member Posts: 550
    #13
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    Hi,

    You remind me a lot of myself. My dad was first diagnosed two years ago at the age of 76. His cancer was very advanced. First, they told us it was stage III, but a CAT scan two months later revealed a spot on his liver. After about six months of chemo, my dad was cancer free. He goes for another CAT scan in a couple of weeks, so I hope and pray that it will be fine. My dad was about your dad's age when he was first diagnosed. If your dad will need chemo, maybe he could try it. If he can't tolerate, he could always stop. Over the past two years, I have become more spiritual. I believe my faith in God has gotten me and my family through this. If you have any questions, just e-mail me.

    God bless,

    -Lee-
  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #14
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    hi Michelle,

    so sorry to hear about your father. I have been on both sides of the cancer fence (sister had intestinal cancer and I had stage 3 colon cancer).

    I decided against the chemo too, but that doesn't mean that I didn't do anything....I did a lot. With the help of a Naturopathic doctor and a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, we put together a protocol for me that included (but not limited to) juicing fresh organic veggies (up to 3 quarts/day per Gerson Therapy), a simple vegan macrobiotic diet (steamed veggies and brown rice), acupuncture, massage, Essiac Tea, herbs and supplements, yoga etc etc.

    Oh, and don't forget the daily exercise and prayer.

    If I can pass on any advice for colon cancer patients it would be this:

    1) get off ALL sugars and whites (flours and grains)
    2) get off dairy

    3) get off alcohol (all sugar)

    4) INCREASE raw veggies and fruits in diet in whatever form you choose (smoothies and juicing is easy on the system)

    Live enzymes are so key to healing the body of cancer along with balancing one's pH--acid/alkaline balance is imperative.

    Dairy, meats, sugar, alcohol are all acid forming.

    I have been cancer free from Stage 3 colon cancer for 6 years 7 months by doing all these things and foregoing the chemo. (I too watched what the treatments did to my sister---and "Do No Harm" is not in chemo's vocab.

    I do not fear secondary cancer from the chemo nor do I fear permanent heart/kidney damage, peripheral neuropathy etc from any cyotoxic chemicals.

    So if your father is taking in fluids, trying to get those fluids to be freshly juiced organic veggies would be awesome.

    www.discountjuicers.com

    I am not selling anything and get no monetary benefits from this. Just passing along info of my past 6++ years of research and successful healing/curing of my personal cancer.

    peace, emily the juice chick

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