Anyone have or had a relative with colon cancer who can't go through treatment?

Thank you for your question. I need some clarification. Is your father refusing a colonoscopy? If so, there is a blood test that can help diagnose colon cancer. From your description, it sounds like your dad does not want treatment, if cancer is detected. I believe that it is very important to determine the root cause of your dad's symptoms (diagnosis). A diagnosis will help a physician properly care for your dad. If your dad has cancer, he can make the final decision regarding the best treatment for him. There are alternatives to chemotherapy. There are care and comfort strategies to improve your dad's quality of life, while he is here. If your dad has a diagnosis of cancer, or a chronic condition, you can ask your dad's Dr. about Palliative care from a local Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, or Hospice, if appropriate. Your dad does not need to be on chemo, etc. to receive these services. Palliative care professionals can provide the kind of care that will help maximize your dad's comfort. Please encourage your dad to reach out for supports, and be proactive with his care, so he can have the best quality of life. All the best to you and your family during this challenging time.

Hi, this must be very hard on you, and you must be a very good daughter! What other tests have been done, and what diseases have been eliminated? best wishes for him and for you.

It just might be that he doesn't have cancer. The prep for the colonoscopy is worse than the procedure itself. There is more than one way to do a colonoscopy these days. Talk with the doctor about how a virtual colonoscopy might be an option. To learn more about this procedure, check this link out: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/diagnostic-tests/virtual-colonoscopy/Pages/diagnostic-test.aspx
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.

Blessings to you both. It's hard to watch your dad go downhill like this but the doctor is likely right.

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

Has the doctor ruled out other conditions such as a parasite? My son who has autism had a bout of diarrhea and vomiting that lasted 6 weeks. He lost over 20 pounds. It would have been very difficult to have him undergo a colonoscopy. The doctor did numerous stool cultures and the parasite dientameoba fragiilis was found. A week of antibiotics and my son was all better.

The prep for a virtual colonoscopy is similar to the regular kind because the gut has to be clean for abnormalities to be seen. The radiologist also has to pump air into the colon to expand it for a good view which can cause discomfort. The disadvantage being that biopsies can not be taken so if abnormalities have been seen the standard procedure has to be followed to obtain a definite diagnosis. the other option is a CT scan which has little prep. the patient drinks some barium the night before and immediately preceeding the procedure. The CT scan involves lying flat for a few minutes and being pushed into a large donut shaped machine which is big enough not to be restrictive. The patient must be able to follow simple instructions like being told when to hold their breath
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.

Hi My3, unless the GI who'd do the colonoscope doesn't feel he should have one, then I'd try and get him to go ahead with it. As GMA L said above, the prep is way worse than the procedure. At any rate, IMHO, the colonoscope and prep, a day and a half of "not fun" could lead to some valuable information to get his gut feeling better. They can remove polyps while there, (they did with me, before they turned cancerous), and grab biopsies too, get you a definitive answer about cancer or not. My worry, what if it is just a bad case of Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's? Both can be treated and made much less severe with just oral meds, avoiding certain foods, some B-12 injections, avoiding stress, a little exercise, etc. I was losing weight fast, running to the potty around the clock, as many as 50 times in 24 hours, bloody, ...by the time I agreed to the colonoscope, which, wasn't that bad after all. :-) Careful management by my Doc, and I've gone from 26 pills a day and 2 injections a week, blood draws every couple of weeks and very ill, to 6 pills a day one injection every 2 weeks, blood draw/office call once a year. I feel pretty good now. If I do begin to flare again, I know what's up, what to do, and catch it early and tamp it out before it gets out of hand.

My dad died of pneumonia from complications of colon cancer. He opted for treatment & I oversaw his care. He died with a little better than 1 year after beginning the treatment.
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.

My mother had colon cancer and had the surgery. She did not have to have a bag - thank God. But, she still died within 5 years. My mom refused any chemo or radiation and just died naturally. She did not want the years she had left to be filled with drugs and I respected her for that.

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

Why not a CAT scan to see if there are masses in the abdomen if no colonoscopy? It helps to know what you are up against, and it would help to have a diagnosis so Hospice could help when its time (the one we use has help for the family, a bathing aide for mthr, nurse visits once a week, and so much love!).

I have just learned from my GI doc that there is an age "cut-off" point for people getting a colonoscopy. The prep is too hard for elders to go through. I was surprised to learn that the cut off point was relatively young-78, I think.

also it might just be diverticulitis (?spelling), that also could cause terrible pain and losing weight. there is so much that could be wrong that might not be cancer but could be taken care of. so what if he has a colonoscopy and it is cancer, at least he knows and the course of action he may or may not want to take. but at least you know what you are dealing with. good luck.

Llamalover. I do not believe there is an age cut off for colonoscopy. Your GI might prefer not to do them after a certain age but people are far from finished at 78

My dad had a bout of diverticulosis last year and he underwent a colonoscopy at the age of 89. The prep was a little easier because he was already a patient in the hospital. The nurse set up a potty chair next to his bed for him to use so he did not have to walk with his cane very far.

Absolutely do not assume it is cancer and untreatable without any investigation. CT of the abdomen is a good idea, if he really can't do a colonoscopy - I agree, don't underestimate the prep, its not easy on the elderly, but not necessarily out of the question for all over any given age. But as it stands, for all you know he could have inflammatory bowel disease or any other possible reason for poor appetite like GERD or gastritis that would be highly treatable. Having "some of the symptoms" does not at all equate with having a diagnosis, no matter what Dr. Google seems to say. You need a different doctor if only a colonoscopy is being considered.

I lost my grandpa to colon cancer, for real - he had stomach pain and did not even give anyone a chance to make a correct diagnosis, because he diagnosed himself as "old malaria acting up again." I was just a teenager then - 40 years ago - can't even blame Dr. Google for that one. Be careful too that refusal of any given test is not taken as an automatic indication that all you want is palliative care...

Has your dad been on any antibiotics recently? My mom ended up with what is called C-Diff from a pharmacy error in giving her the wrong dosage of Cipro. (* it was too much). She lost over 70 pounds in less than a year.
She did end up getting a colonoscopy, where they found some "dark areas" and ended up having a third of her colon removed, which for some reason did the trick and made her well again. It was not cancer though, which was good.
Although 10 years later she ended up with breast and lung cancer. In which the treatments will kill you before the cancer will. It's been two years since the radiation and chemo and now all the nasty side effects are coming home to roost. It's not pretty and is very hard watching her deteriorate due to these so called cures.
So if your dad does not want any treatment, respect his wishes and do your best to keep him happy and comfortable.
Keeping you in my prayers.

My Mom had her last colonoscopy at 80, it was clear. Dr. said that he wouldn't do another at her age. As we get older the sides of the colon thin out. The risk o perferating it all more likely. Then u have the problem of a life threatning infection.

Correction: I just saw my gastroenterologist yesterday and he said that there is no age cut-off point for getting colonoscipies. Why? Because each individual's uinque set of genes dictate how well or ill they are.

Get the colonoscopy! These are life-saving tests. Two of my relatives (my 77 year old aunt, who was an RN and my uncle who sadly refused to get his colonoscopy (he also had a brother, my father-in-law who got colon cancer. Both my aunt and uncle died from colon cancer! Unnecessary deaths!

This is why u should get one because it runs in the family. My Aunt had her first at 85 to find out the cause of her pain.

Thank you for all your responses. Wow. I feel so much love from ya'll. Ok, to make it short as possible. Let me see. He was 178 pds. Working in his office but had money troubles. Started taking some pills a friend gave him. He said he fell, after the fall a year and a half ago. Nothing broken but he kept taking pills for a few weeks. His eating decling, not bathing, ect.. convinced him to go home w me. We went to hospital because he had infection in wound i felt which was MSRA. since then hes been with me. He lost his teeth, more weight loss. 2 trips to er for pnemonia. More weight loss. Hes had a CAT scan and results good, all kinds of blood work, always good. Just a little bit anemic. The doctor does not seem to know the cause. He just keeps saying there has to be a reason your losing weight like this. Dad says hes not eating. I say he IS eating. Does he like the food all the time, no but trust me, he does eat more than me i think. He gets bar b qie samdwiches, eats out all the time. I make him breakfast and dinner and hes been drinking protein for a year and a half non stop. He is not the person he was at all a year and a half ago. They dont seem to say its just old age. They cant believe he looks like this and has declined in front of them as well. So quickly. We are getting meds to stimilate appetite. But im like alot everyone else. What is the problem. He said he would discuss the colonoscopy in the next visit, which is 3 months away. Oh and we are doing a stool test but he says they are not accurate enough. I would like to know where we are at. But if it were me, or you. Would u rather live your last days w hope, even if its false than to be diagnosed. I dont know what to say. He refuses to think that it could be cancer at all anyway.

Ps he has not had access to any pain meds nor wants any pills for depression or anything.

Might try some high quality yogurt each day to get some good guy live cultures in the gut. That and 8 oz of gatoraide make me feel better when intestines are inflamed. Also keep an eye out for MSG in food, it's notorious for worsening inflamed intestines. There's a lot of items out there these days that say MSG free right on the label. Can't hurt anything anyway, while you wait for further testing. :-)

what KIND of pills did this friend of his give him? its possible that this might be the cause of all his issues. some people taking diet pills will actually destroy the liver but yet they keep taking them for the sake of "wanting to be thin".

I hope he wasn't on Ephedra/Ephedrine. That causes major weight loss AND addiction!

Hey guys, weird, but my insurance company just sent me a thing today that says: Adults between 50-75 are recommended to get tested for colorectal cancer. Get this, "The simplest one is a home test kit. It takes only a few minutes once a year, ask you doctor where to get one, needs no prescription of special steps, take it in the privacy of your own home". Hmmm. Never heard of such a thing, but was sent to me today by Humana. Too good to be true, or?

New2this. No not too good to be true it is probably just a test for occult (hidden) blood in the stool. it can be a good first step and better than nothing but there can be blood for many reasons other than cancer so further investigation will be needed if one is of an age and inclination for treatment. As far as the colonoscopy is concerned i finally had one this year to shut everyone up and the prep was pretty easy. i did five days of low residue diet,one day of liquids (any sort) half the prep that night,the next day clear liquids only and the rest of the prep that night. i just sat on the toilet for a couple of hours and drank the prep which really was not too bad with the flavoring. i chose to take mine a t room temperature with a straw and it went down just fine.

They were some kind of pain medication. Which was from hurting himself falling. But it also made him fall again and couldnt get up from the bathroom floor. But he realized he was having a issue w it. So he quit taking them. A friend came over today, who is actually a pastor. He hasnt seen him in a few months. He broke down crying at the door leaving.He said he doeant like the Spirit he felt. He made me feel as if daddy is really dying. The way he looks and feels. I dont know whats going to happen. Its like he wants to live, he even said today. To call the doctor for colonoscopy. Now i dont know what for. Im scared. My daddy cant go on like this he says. But theres not much left it seems. His body is wasting away. I can feel his skull and it seems shrunk, I could put my hands around his upper thigh im sure and i am small. I need to have faith but i dont.

This all happened in a time span of a year and a half. He went from over 170 pds, working, to this. Maybe age just caught up to him. Series of events and his body just cant get back. Or something else. Idk.

Thank you for all the support btw and suggestions