My mom was diagnosed with colorectal cancer on Monday, July 31. She had a cat scan on Tuesday, Aug. 1 and was told that she would find out how far along the cancer is and if it has spread on Tuesday, Aug.7 (tomorrow). To say the least, it has been very scary and stressful for her (and me) during this waiting period.
You and I are going through similar things. I felt like I saved my mom's life in a way and I feel like it's from my college education as I studied Human Diseases and Allied Health.
I believe that my mom had cancer since 5 years ago but it was her fault for not getting a colonoscopy like her doctor has suggested. She just let me know about a couple weeks ago that she was too scared to go or of course like most people procrastinate just like myself.
Anyhow, my mom got diagnosed this past May, 2017 by a GI. When the nurse called me to pick her up, she mentioned that the dr. wanted to talk to me and I didn't think anything of it. I picked her up from her colonoscopy and the nurse was asking me all these questions like 1. when was her last colonoscopy? 2. How old is your mom? Anyhow, it was like a dream or an echo of the exact words coming from the doctor. He showed me all the photos of the scan and they looked clean and clear. Then he showed me a real ugly photo with a lump and white stuff of her rectum and said "This is a 6cm tumor and it's cancer, and it doesn't look good" It was like a movie and I didn't understand what he said. I said "Are you trying to tell me that my mom has cancer?" And he said "Yes, and it doesn't look good and most likely she will have a colostomy bag" I started to immediately cry and rush to the bathroom and call my husband and then my best friend panicking. I also text my dad and called but he didn't pick up because we stopped talking a couple years ago. I asked him if he could come over so I could talk to him. My mom was still out from the procedure. Since she was on twilight sleep, she could hear in the background. She mentioned she heard me crying.
Long story short, within 15 days I switched my mom's insurance company to medi medi so she could receive tx at the best cancer clinic in our area. After much research, I found the BEST colorectal surgeon (you must find a colorectal surgeon, I would suggest) She ends her tx next Wed. It has been a lot of ups and downs. When your mother has cancer, you have cancer. I see my mom pretty much every single day cause she lives next next door lol. She relied so much on me, I am her care giver. You won't know until your scan what stage. My mom is Stage 3.low grade adenocarcinoma. Stage 3A Best of luck.
Caregiver/daughter to dear mother age 78, dx 5/09/17 because of me!!
Rectal CA Stage 3 low-grade adenocarcinoma- 6 cm
Neoadjuvant start 7/10/17 ended 08/16/17
3D Lap. surgery @ Keck USC, Dr. Sang Lee 10/17/17 temp ileostomy
11/1 hospitalized abscess/hernia - home 11/06/17 antibiotics
NO LYMPHS INVOLVED! NEAR PATHOLOGICAL RESPONSE! YAY!
Took her last chemo med 05/10/18! Ileo reversal 07/24/18
1st BM after reversal 07/25/18 Anal Fissure 8/15/18
Me:1st Colonoscopy age 38. 08/17 Benign polp.