The Colon Club

Hi

I hope it’s ok for me to post here as I don’t really know where else I can go right now. Please forgive me if I use wrong terminology etc. I live very far from home and all of my info so far is second hand from my distraught mum

My dad has just been diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer which has spread to his liver, kidney (kidneys?), lung, leg and had “eaten away at his spine” so he’ll never walk. He got taken in to hospital with back pain and was told he probably had a slipped disc, so you can imagine what an utter shock this is for us all. We literally had no idea!

My mum has been told that chemo isn’t an option as he can’t sit up and they’ve done some radiotherapy, but I believe that’s to kill the nerve endings in his spine to stop the pain.

It’s not looking good is it...

I have so many questions going around in my head and I don’t really know what I want to ask. I guess I’d like to hear from anyone who has had a similar diagnosis and what the impact of not having chemo is on a life expectancy. I realise everyone is different and no one can tell me how long he has left but I’d just like to hear from people who know what we’re going through.

I’ve done what I shouldn’t and Googled but I can’t find anything about patients who don’t have chemo....

Thanks for reading if you got this far

So sorry to read about your father. I don't know what to say except that I saw your post and hope someone else with words of wisdom chimes in.

Frazzle wrote:


My mum has been told that chemo isn’t an option as he can’t sit up and they’ve done some radiotherapy, but I believe that’s to kill the nerve endings in his spine to stop the pain.

I've never heard about chemo not being an option because the person can't sit up. I know that at the chemo center I go to, some people are in beds receiving chemo. Maybe you can ask your mom about that again.

Best wishes.

Oh right. I did wonder! I don’t think she’s taking it all in to be honest. Perhaps they think it’s too late for chemo then?

Thanks for your replies

I'm so sorry your Dad is going through this!*hugs*

Is there any way you can talk to your dad's doctors. I agree with other comments, he should be able to get chemo whether he can sit or not.

So sorry you are dealing with this,

Lee

With such a serious diagnosis I would get a second opinion. No chemo does sound strange. Maybe it's too widespread for chemo to offer any benefits? Did they tell you how long hes expected to live with or without treatment? Or you can call a big cancer center like MD Anderson or Moffitt Cancer Center and see if they can offer any advice. Im so sorry you are going through this. Good luck to you and your dad.