scared but strong - secondary liver cancer after bowel cancer
1 minute read time.
FormerMember
I have a 3 year old daughter and as a working Mum I have been lucky enough have relied on my 66 year old Mum to care for her since she was 3 months old and they have such a wonderful connection I need to do all I can to ensure my daughter doesn't lose the experience of having the most wonderful and loving Nana at such a young age. Please help!!
We have a history of cancer in my family and as a result aged 65 my Mum insisted her GP arranged a full colonoscopy in Sept 08 but all biopsys came back clear. In May 09 she was diagnosed with a gallstone which as a result of following a low fat diet to avoid the associated pain if she ate anything with fat in led to her losing weight. On morning of her gallstone op end of July 09 the consultant cancelled as she had low haemoglobin count (7) and this indicated a tumour but she had had no symptoms such as rectal bleeding. Over a rollercoaster of the past 4 weeks since, she has had a CT scan which showed a mass in her abdomen plus shadows on her liver & lungs plus enlarged lymph nodes. Had an laparoscomy exploratory then a week later a right hemi colectomy to remove the mass which I believe was on outside of bowel wall which may explain why previous checks did not highlight it sooner but her consultant has confirmed yesterday that in his opinion it is cancer and has spread to her liver and possibly a lesion on her lung. Not quite sure how many tumours on liver but I think there are multiple. We are waiting for test results on whats been removed in about 2 to 3 weeks time but in meantime I need to know anything and everything regarding secondary liver cancer as will fight and push til my last breathe. Please please any help or advice would be greatly appreciated x x Louise
FormerMember
Hi Mandy,
Thank for such a speedy response at what must be a very worrying time for you. My Mum is recovering really well from the hemi colectomy but very down tonight about what the future holds. I'm obviously very distraught at the real possibility of losing my beautiful and wonderful Mum who brought me up single handedly but also desperately sad about my daughter losing her Nana at an age where she may not fully remember her in the future, at least I will have the memories. I just about managed to hold it together myself tonight ... sorry just realised I'm rambling on about me but this site is like therapy to me at this early stage and need to get it off my chest. . It must be very hard for you but sure you are a true strength to Martin and you should be very proud at how brave you both are. I hope Martin next chemo sessions results in an operable tumour and I send out lots of positive thoughts to you both. Keep in touch.
I had my surgery at King's college hospital in London. they are quite famous there and are a big centre for liver surgery and transplantation. The surgeon who looked after me (Parthi Srinivasan) was, apart from being a very good surgeon, a very kind person and let me do whatever I needed to make it possible to have the surgery. I was worried about the hospital not the surgery but I was treated with dignity and respect throughout my stay.
Parthi did say that it was a big op and he would be frightened himself but he had such confidence in the liver unit that he would go ther himself and even take his mother there.
Professor Mohamed Rela also works on the unit and he transplanted a liver in a 5 day old child. He does work with NHS patients.Kings is reachable from Kent -whereabouts are you?
thanks for prompt response. I just been reading through new beginnings.. lets go!!
Just trying to get my head around who's who but truly inspirational 'family' conversations!
I'm not far from Kings, about 40 mins drive away and funnily enough when I was pregnant with my daughter, Isla (as in St Clair, think you may be old enough to remember her from Larry Grayson's Generation Game - know I am!!) had my first scan there so think this would be my best bet. Although from what Penny Lethem blog experience Prof Lodge in Leeds is top in his field its not gonna be practical commuting and staying in hotels Leeds long term with a 3 year old to consider. My only question so far is that I think in past blog you say you have private medical care, Mum doesn't, but to speed up process/second opinions I can and will find the ££ to fund initial consultations and any necessary CT and MRI scans to get ball rolling quickly. Would they still see her at Kings for long term treatment as an NHS patient?? I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to me so lots of positive thoughts and big hugs
Yes of course they would see her as an NHS patient and I don't think you are made to wait any longer as a cancer patient. I do private cos I am phobic about hospitals and I need a private room so my husband can stay with me. It seems to me that NHS is better as you get a cancer nurse etc. -I think. I went to Kings for the op,St. Thomas's for a scan, the Sloane for more scans and I go to Blackheath for chemo so I don't have a relationship with any medical staff really. I see the oncologist wherever he is, sometimes Harley St and sometimes The Princess Royal at Farnborough.
Scans cost about £900 and consultations vary between £150 -£300 but I really would go on with the NHS, it's the same people who do it. The only problem is the parking at Kings- impossible but we found some ways round it. I'll tell you if it comes to that.
If you find the original "Triplets" -that's Anne whose husband Harry had bowel and liver cancer- you will see that he had his first op in Deal and then he went to Kings. He had treatment for 18 months and has now finished -all NHS. I think she is on holiday at the moment but she will come back. The original thread had over 1000 posts so we started a new one. Anne and Harry do really have 11 yr old triplets!!
Hi Louise, I don't know what the hospitals are like in your area, but I am lucky enough to have a fantastic breast cancer unit in mine. I have had scans done on the NHS and they came through really quickly.
I think that once you are diagnosed they try and get you through all the tests etc and into surgery as quickly as possible. Think there are targets to be met the same as in any other department.
I was told that I would probably not have been seen any quicker if I was a private patient.
I know how horrible the waiting is and each week seems like a year, especially whilst waiting for results.
Hope things move forward quickly for you and good luck. Debbie. xx
