Daddys lost another 17 pds in about two months. Hes lost over 60 pds in a year and a half. All bones. Doctor says he cannot see what is going on without a colonoscopy but that he may have colon cancer. He has alot of the symptons and always has stomach pain. Diarreah, constipation. But were not going through a colonoscopy because we would not do the treatments. I read you could live 5 years. Any insight?
If you suspect cancer, then they can put him out for the colonscopy. I have to have one every 5 years due to my mom having colon cancer. I always am put out. I would not do it any other way I had a doctor at Kaiser in San Diego try to do the colonscopy without being put out and I grabbed his coat and said - you either put me out, or I am out of here. I got up, and walked out. I found a doctor who would do it the right way. I was clear. The problem I see with your dad having this done is the PreP.. It is horrible. God Bless and keep us informed
I, being a R.N., honored his decision.
Another friend of ours was diagnosed at the same time with the same thing & opted for no treatment & lived for another 18 years.
There is no fast, clear cut way through all of this.
Depending on his age, & from what you say about his weight loss. Why subject him to the colonoscopy? It is a difficult procedure to go through when you ok, let alone ill. We do have different way of diagnosing this today, other than a colonoscopy, which is a big a big $ maker.
My husband suffers from colon ca. also, among other things. I caught it right away & he will not die from colon ca. No one has to die from colon ca. today if caught in time.
Please feel free to contact me privately if you wish.
Once the diagnosis is made the decisions about treatment need to be made.
If a decision has been made ahead of time there is little point in putting the patient through investigations. The palliative and/or hospice care decisions will not change. The patient's quality of life is the primary consideration.
My mom showed symptoms of colon cancer but refused even a colonoscopy because she knew she couldn't undergo treatment even if they found cancer
. I went along with her wishes, telling her that I'd do whatever she wanted to do (or not do). She lived another 8 years though in the last years she needed substantial pain relief in a nursing home and she had hospice care for her last months.
Still, I believe she lived longer than she would have if she'd had surgery. I do think that surgery would have killed her or at least set her back cognitively much faster than the route she chose.
My sympathy to you. I know how hard this is.
Carol
My husband was diagnosed with colon cancer a year and a half ago. Once we had the diagnosis, he was given the option of treatment of the cancer or treatment of himself (non-chemo or radiation). Ultimately he chose the chemo/radiation route. But the doctor said that if he did not want to do that, he would make sure that my husband would be treated for pain and other side effects and would be made as comfortable as possible. Healthyaging has given some good advice, which we looked into before we decided on the chemo approach. Hope this helps you with this decision.