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Feeling lost after father’s stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis

Posted by nancyd823 @nancyd823, Sep 26 11:14am

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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nancyd823 | @nancyd823 | Oct 1 9:11am
In reply to @joanmorrison "@nancyd823 Once I was diagnosed I spoke to my oncologist and requested that I receive treatment..." + (show)
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@nancyd823
Once I was diagnosed I spoke to my oncologist and requested that I receive treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital.

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@joanmorrison Thank you! My dad is scheduled to start chemotherapy at our local hospital on October 8, and his family doctor has also initiated referrals to specialist cancer centres. We’re hoping to get their input without delaying his treatment.

Did you start or continue treatment at your local hospital while consulting with Princess Margaret, or did you transfer all your care there before treatment began?

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isamac | @isamac | Oct 2 8:38am

Hi sorry to hear this diagnosis.
I lost my dad to stage 4 colon cancer 28 years ago and know the feeling. He was 66 when he passed.
I will say today there are better treatments than 28 years ago where he received standard chemotherapy treatments. These extended his life only 9 months!
What I will advise you and any siblings you may have is to get colonoscopies if you haven’t already. My brother and I have been getting them since our father had this diagnosis.
Sloan Kettering advised us to start right away. I was 40 at the time.
Nowadays many are being diagnosed with this preventable cancer much younger.

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nancyd823 | @nancyd823 | Oct 2 9:32am
In reply to @isamac "Hi sorry to hear this diagnosis. I lost my dad to stage 4 colon cancer 28..." + (show)
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Hi sorry to hear this diagnosis.
I lost my dad to stage 4 colon cancer 28 years ago and know the feeling. He was 66 when he passed.
I will say today there are better treatments than 28 years ago where he received standard chemotherapy treatments. These extended his life only 9 months!
What I will advise you and any siblings you may have is to get colonoscopies if you haven’t already. My brother and I have been getting them since our father had this diagnosis.
Sloan Kettering advised us to start right away. I was 40 at the time.
Nowadays many are being diagnosed with this preventable cancer much younger.

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@isamac Thank you very much for sharing your experience. I’m sorry you lost your dad, and I appreciate you reaching out to support me.

Thank you also for the reminder about family screening, that's been big on my mind since the diagnosis. I’ll be sure to discuss it with my family doctor.

All the best!

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isamac | @isamac | Oct 2 2:40pm
In reply to @nancyd823 "@isamac Thank you very much for sharing your experience. I’m sorry you lost your dad, and..." + (show)
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@isamac Thank you very much for sharing your experience. I’m sorry you lost your dad, and I appreciate you reaching out to support me.

Thank you also for the reminder about family screening, that's been big on my mind since the diagnosis. I’ll be sure to discuss it with my family doctor.

All the best!

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@nancyd823 you are very welcome. 🙂

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