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
Jen, Debbie & Mandy - I really appreciate you taking the time to reply, thanks u for the info.
Jen sounds as if like me, you and Anne Triplets live in the SE London/Kent area judging by where you have been receiving your treatment - is that right?? Mum is currently in the Princess Elizabeth in Farnborough whilst she recovers from the bowel op. I'm a little confused as to how we get told the results and by whom, can you let me know how it was approached with you both ? Do they contact us to make an appointment and we meet with just the surgeon who did the bowel op or if it is cancer (as much as I hate to say it I really have no doubt it is) do we also meet the oncologist at the same time to discuss prognosis and treatment there and then. I know I should be brave enough to ask these questions to one of the nurses or dr's on her ward but I'm so scared they are going to go into more details and tell me more bad news as to how many and where the tumours are in her liver - at the mo I'm praying that there are only a few and are all operable. Wishing you all big positivity with your ongoing treatments.
Hi Louise, Martin's initial cancer was confirmed over the telephone a week after he had a camera inserted up his back passage (sorry I don't know all these long medical terms). Since then it has always been confirmed in an appt with the consultant about 4/6 wks after a scan.
In your mum's case, I would expect the consultant and/or his team to be speaking to her direct daily after her operation. Try not to be frightened Louise, knowing is always a lot easier than the not knowing - which is when you just torture yourself about what could be wrong, what could happen etc.
If you are never at the hospital at the same time as the doctor's rounds I think you should ask a nurse to arrange for you to speak to someone.
Keep in touch, it is so good to share your thoughts with someone.
Wishing you, your mum & your little girl lots of love at this worrying time.
I was told at the colonoscopy that there was an "ulcer which is likely to be cancerous" , then I had a CT scan in 2 days time,got the results the same day,then had a PET scan next day, saw the guy again and he told me about the spread. All done in a week. I never wait more than 2 days for the scan results but maybe cos it's private. I think 4-6 weeks is far too long to wait. You can ask to see the doctor and I think you should, it really is better to know.
