Feeling lost after father’s stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis

Posted by nancyd823 @nancyd823, 3 days ago

Just got news yesterday that my 63 year old father has stage 4 colon cancer, after two and half months of pretty pedestrian digestive problems. This is such a shock because he’s been quite healthy.

So far, we’ve just been told that it’s stage 4, there’s some spread in the bowel and there is a mass in his lower colon. We are waiting on blood test to find out if he can tolerate chemo and a chest CT scan to check for spread.

I’m so new to this, no one in my family has had cancer. My parents are also immigrants, so it’s on me to make sure I advocate for them properly. I have so little information right now, just would appreciate any tips and guidance on how I should proceed.

Thank you all so much in advance.

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celia16 | @celia16 | 3 days ago

I don’t have any information about this condition, but I do wish you and father well as he begins treatment. It must be quite a shock. I hope you’ll get some options that will help.

nancyd823 | @nancyd823 | 3 days ago

I forgot to add, we live in Ontario, Canada.

frouke | @frouke | 3 days ago

In reply to @nancyd823 "I forgot to add, we live in Ontario, Canada." + (show)

@nancyd823 , I’m sorry that you’re going through this terrible time with your dad, it’s truly a scary time for anyone to get this disease , most certainly a loved one. In the early stages you have to go through many different tests and see different doctors, eventually it becomes more clear what needs to be done, then it becomes a pattern to follow. I noticed that you mentioned living in Canada, Toronto is a big city with excellent cancer centres like the Princess Margaret Centre, it’s hard to say where your father will get his care, this depends on your doctor who will refer you for cancer treatment. I sincerely hope that you will find everything without too much difficulty, best wishes to your dad and family.

joanmorrison | @joanmorrison | 2 days ago

I understand how you must feel at this time. I had a three days of severe constipation in last May (which cleared up on its own). I had already made an appointment to see my doctor and even though things had cleared up I kept the appointment. He booked me for a colonoscopy. The results showed a large growth I had surgery to remove it. The surgeon also removed 20 lymph nodes. Turned out that that the tumour and 5 lymph nodes were cancerous. I had 12 rounds of Folfix over 6 months. I am cancer free. I am being monitored with regular colonoscopies.

joanmorrison | @joanmorrison | 2 days ago

In reply to @joanmorrison "I understand how you must feel at this time. I had a three days of severe..." + (show)

@joanmorrison
I forgot to mention that I live in in Toronto and had my treatment at Princess Margaret. My doctor had set me up for treatment at a hospital closer to home but I requested to have treatment at Princess Margaret.

nycmusic | @nycmusic | 2 days ago

First, I am sorry for your father’s diagnosis….stage 4 means that the cancer has spread and is in the lymph nodes, and requires systemic treatment …your post doesn’t say what tests have been done that would clearly indicate stage 4….at the beginning of my cancer journey, i still had many tests and imaging ahead and they said I had a large aggressive tumor, T4—I wrongly assumed I was stage 4–only my tumor was a 4 ! The beginning is hard, when info is far from complete…. Your father is blessed to have you by his side….wishing you both the best.

josk | @josk | 2 days ago

In reply to @frouke "@nancyd823 , I’m sorry that you’re going through this terrible time with your dad, it’s truly..." + (show)

@frouke @nancyd823 Yes ... PMCC is a great hospital - I was treated with Stage IV - nasopharyngeal cancer in 2006. And up to now, I am still being seen and taken care of by the medical teams in PMCC - for late effects of cancer radiation, by the rehab clinic for speech, and referred to various clinics in UHN for help in my late effects of radiation.
My treatment is under HNC - but, am sure treatment and medical will be just as great for colon cancer.
All the best & take care!

frouke | @frouke | 2 days ago

In reply to @josk "@frouke @nancyd823 Yes ... PMCC is a great hospital - I was treated with Stage IV..." + (show)

@josk I’m a patient with the UHN for lung cancer since 2019, a very reputable hospital to be helped by, the Toronto General Hospital is third in the world, this surely offers some comfort, best wishes.

nancyd823 | @nancyd823 | 2 days ago

In reply to @frouke "@josk I’m a patient with the UHN for lung cancer since 2019, a very reputable hospital..." + (show)

@frouke Thank you very much for chiming in!

I will be sure to include Toronto General in the list of institutions that I try to get him seen at. How were you able to get seen there? Did you start from there or got referred there? My Dad is currently at a regional hospital and I'm trying to get him seen at a specialized one.

I wish you all the best in your journey.

nancyd823 | @nancyd823 | 2 days ago

In reply to @josk "@frouke @nancyd823 Yes ... PMCC is a great hospital - I was treated with Stage IV..." + (show)

@josk Thank you very much for chiming in! It's great to hear that you are being given great care at PMCC, even to someone who's new to this they are known as a top cancer hospital.

I'm wondering how you got to be seen at PMCC? Did you start your care there or got referred there by your care team/family doctor? My Dad is currently being seen at a regional hospital that is not well regarded for their cancer care and I'm desperately trying to line up getting him seen at specialized institutions.

I wish you all the best in your journey.