Would you refuse cancer treatment?

Daffydilly
Good Luck, what a scary time. Wishing you all the best?

I don't think I can say what I would do, unless or until I was diagnosed.

Who would refuse to have a basal cell carcinoma removed?

There are so many, many factors involved.

I had a colonoscopy a few years ago and when I went for my referral before it I was in tears. I found the colonoscopy painless, two polyps were found and removed- again painless. I was aware they could have been pre-cancerous so I was so glad it was done.

As others have said, the preparation the day before is the worst but I would repeat if necessary.

One cannot really decide until all of the facts are in hand.

Bluebellwould
I've had Diverticulitis for 40 years. In my last attack ( 2 yrs ago) I went unconscious and fell off the toilet. So you see I understand the condition.
Have you looked seriously at your diet? I found that tomato pips were my trigger. Dear OH who does all the cooking takes all the pips out of the toms.
He jokingly says he only does it as he doesn't want a repeat of the last attack, not pleasant ?

Hi Blue - you have been invited to have a diagnostic test . Wait for the results and then decide what to do. You have been mentally scarred by your poor husband’s experience, but it would be unlikely to mirror in you as you are of course not blood relatives.

I sincerely hope all goes well for you Daffydilly. What a heart stopping moment and understandably terrifying too upon hearing your diagnosis. I wish you all the very best.

My husband had 21 polyps removed during a colonoscopy some pre cancerous checked the year after and a couple more removed. He said it was no big deal. Worth the procedure at this stage. I know what you mean but ta not at this stage you need to make the decision.

Good wishes from me too, Daffylily. ?

The decision is entirely yours & I strongly urge you to make a well informed decision.

That is with the results of the Colonoscopy in front of you & a clinician with you to interpret what the results mean & if required the treatment options.

Clearly, you have been deeply affected by your husband’s suffering of disease.

But if something is found during your own Colonoscopy procedure, early procedures (e.g. removal of polyps) are done at that time, & the disease is far less likely to progress.

Your point about releasing a Colonoscopy appointment for someone else is a red herring - declining the test & any progression to serious disease entails far more time, cost, & resources from the NHS. Obviously far more suffering for you & your children.

I'm in a similar position at the moment, but with my lungs.

A recent ct scan for the inguenial hernia that is driving me crazy showed "something suspicious" at the bottom of my right lung. My GP asked me to go back and have another ct just of my chest and I was subsequently 'phoned by a chest specialist. He said that there is, indeed a shadow on the bottom of my right lung and asked me what I wanted to do about it? I said nothing at the moment, thank you.

If there is something there it is not bothering me whilst the hernia gives me constant pain. After waiting several years I have FINALLY got an appointment to see a surgeon so, until that is sorted, I am not willing to do anything about it. In the end we agreed that I will have another ct scan in 3 months to see if it has grown.

I am 74, have had some rotten health scares and never expected to get this far. If it is something serious, I am not sure I am willing to do anything drastic. I do know that I would not put myself through chemo etc. I've seen ths misery it causes and I know I could not cope.

What the hell! All the kids and the grandkids are grown and I only really have me to worry aout and I've always said that it is about quality not quantity.

The pre-procedure preparation is a bit of a pain in the bum ;-).

But it has to be done so that the colon is fully clear for the procedure.

It does help to eat lightly, move your bowels in the days coming up to the pre-procedure pack. Also make sure that you are close to the loo after taking the solution & tablets, Because when you need to go, you will really go.

If it were me I'd be pleased a GP was taking enough interest to do a referral and then to actually get an appointment. I agree with all those who say get it done and take it from there. One step at a time.

My lovely sister in laws dad was told over twenty years ago that he had cancer of the kidneys and that it cancer had gone into other parts of the body. He refused chemo and lived a year doing the things he wanted to do, gardening, decorating He was given morphine to help the pain.
When the end came he went peacefully. If there is no hope
I would not take chemo.

Please go ahead and have the colonoscopy, as others have said, it’s really not so bad. I've had 3 and the worst part is the lack of food for the days leading up to it.
Also, cancer treatments have improved considerably over the years. When I was diagnosed 6 years ago with incurable lung and lymph node cancer the prognosis wasn’t good. I was lucky enough to be put into the care of a wonderful (palliative) oncologist. She was determined to keep me going for as long as possible as I was only 60. I had chemo and contracted neutropenic sepsis and as I lay in hospital knowing I could die, it was the turning point because I realised it wasn’t so bad. I had radiotherapy and yes, the after effects were horrendous. Nobody tries to sugar coat the side effects but they do all they can to make you more comfortable.
I now have cancer in my spine, more radiotherapy and have just finished two years of immunotherapy. As bad as all this sounds, I am so happy to still be here. I was lucky enough to bake and decorate my son’s wedding cake, held my DIL's baby shower here and have now baked and iced 3 birthday cakes for my adorable granddaughter.
Some days are bad but every morning and night I thank God and my oncologist for these extra years.

I had the same problem Bluebellwood and had a colonoscopy when abroad several years ago. I was terrified of what might be found and the consequences and also of the procedure. This was done at a specialist endoscopy centre and I was given a full anaesthetic and slept throughout. Once awake again the doc told me he had removed several polyps which would be sent for testing but he was pretty sure they were all OK and he was proved correct. My diverticulitis improved dramatically after this although not too sure why. I was advised to repeat the colonoscopy every 3 yrs but admit I have not done so as now back in the UK and not sure I would be knocked out altogether for the procedure following tales from friends and relatives. Have the test and good luck!

If I may I’d like to tell you about my great Aunt Rose. She moved to live near us after her husband died. He had suffered greatly with stomach cancer. Some years later she started to have stomach problems. She refused to see a doctor as she was convinced it was cancer and treated herself with various indigestion remedies which didn’t really help. One day she fell and broke her hip and ended up in hospital. She was making a good recovery when she had an enormous haemorrhage and died. The problem all along had been an ulcer which could easily have been treated saving her years of anxiety and pain. Please find out what you’re dealing with before making any decisions.

Kalu I did mean Bluebellwould, but appreciate there is another poster with a similar name. I was also a nurse, and wouldn’t have reacted as you did.

Sending best wishes to you Daffylilly ?
Sorry your cancer as returned Ellet ?

This is obviously a genuine worry for Bluebelle
Toadinthehole Can I just say I m Bluebelle and as far as I know don’t have colon cancer

Yes, sorry BlueBelle, I have explained. I tried to abbreviate the OP’s name and ended up with yours. I still think people would know who I meant!

Sorry Kalu your post wasn’t showing up when I just posted

No problem toadinthehole Just needed to point the difference out

A colleague of mine had a colonoscopy because of unusual bowel symptoms. She was found to have a number of polyps which were benign and one that had turned cancerous. She had surgery to remove part of her bowel where the rogue polyp was, and made a full recovery without any radio or chemo therapy. If she hadn't had the colonoscopy she would probably be dead now. Do have the test and then make an informed decision.

That’s OK Bluebelle. Just thought clarification was needed on this thread.

Hi there Bluebellwould. I totally understand your dilemma and I know many people, including me, are very nervous about invasive procedures like colonoscopy. I have recently had some bowel trouble and as my father and brother both died of colon cancer I felt that it was wise to have things investigated. Unlike my husband, who is totally stoic and has had both colonoscopy and endoscopy several times on the same day, I am a total wimp. What to do?

I wonder if you know that there is another procedure ...a ct colonoscopy which is not as invasive as the usual colonoscopy? Like any procedure there are advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of this procedure are that the prep is not as bad and it is a great diagnostic tool for cancer and other issues. The disadvantage is that if polps have been discovered I will have to return for the other type of colonoscopy to have them removed.

Now I know that many will think I should have bit the bullet and had the colonoscopy in the first place. My husband is definitely of this opinion. However, as my symptoms were relatively mild, I would have kept putting off the other procedure, even though this would be very unwise. So I have had the ct colonoscopy and will have the results in about 10 days. Strangely I do not feel as nervous about undergoing the colonoscopy test now that I have had the cv procedure so it has been helpful in alleviating my fears about medical procedures which is helpful as most of us have to undergo more of these as we grow older.

As others have said, although this is your decision, perhaps it would be better to have some sort of diagnostic test for your peace of mind and before making any decision about any future treatment.

If it is the thought of the colonoscopy which is putting you off perhaps you could consider the other option. These decisions are very personal. Good luck with whatever you decide.