My Blog!

Finally

2012-08-08T00:09:25Z

After nearly 8 months which involved

-two liver enlargement procedures,

-one new tumour appearing,

-that one new tumour being rfa'd

-being told by another Doc (who was not my Dad's main doc) that chances of a resection were practically zero (after all the above) and to possibly consider palliative care...erm, what did you say? (angry face)

-being told time and again that his liver does not have enough volume/function for a resection.

Dad finally has his resection on the 9th August, this week.

Turns out his liver is in better condition after all, recovered well from chemo etc. We always felt that the Dr was stringing us along, and after the chat with the 'other doc' we reached breaking point...all came home feeling like poop...angry/upset. However, I now realise that Dad's Dr has indeed been stringing us along, but only to see how much Dad wanted the resection, how much he could cope with. Its going to be risky, but it'll give Dad's liver a better chance at withstanding more chemo later on when it really comes back. Getting a bit nervous now, but have a good feeling about it. Don't want to go on too long, just posted this as an update. Take Care all!

Claire

sigh Results....

2012-05-01T20:38:08Z

Yesterday we went down to the Royal Free, London, to get Dad's latest MRI results which would tell us if he could have a resection. After a few months of having PVE's to try and enlarge the liver (already small due to naturally having a small liver) to give it enough volume/function, we were told that the latest PVE had enlarged the liver, but not enough. First bit of bad news. However, the Dr then said that Dads liver volume was borderline ok, only just not enough. Apparently, the liver volume needs to be around 500 something to have a resection, and Dads is around 400 and something-I can't remember the exact number, so borderline. The Dr then said that he was willing to do the resection, but only if it is what Dad really wants. This is because it would be a much more riskier operation, than the bog standard liver resection. He would be able to get through the actual operation, but things would turn life-threatening if he gets an infection or has a bleed. Also, its risky because if the Dr takes too much liver out, his whole liver may fail suddenly, then we would have no dad. However, this last risk, I don't think I'm too worried about because the Dr knows everything about dads levels, and so should know how far to go. Also, I'm reassured by the fact that he said that as dad's body has already taught itself how to regenerate (expand) the liver already through the pve's, so I'm hoping that if he does go through with it, his body can cope. Moral of this blog post: we are in a shit situation...we have been offered life extending surgery which has the potential to rid Dad's liver of cancer, but with a huge risk-death at worst from infection/bleed/liver failure. Needless to say, we are all a bit devastated at the moment, and tears have been shed. Next step is Dr Sharma has order a lung CT scan so he can look down on to the top of the liver, to see if there is some volume the MRI's didn't show up, and also to see if there is any cancer growing back. Apparently, the rush of hormones the body creates when it tries to regenerate the liver can actually cause the cancer to grow back-more encouraging news (not) but then the doc said that this may be unlikely to happen with dad, as his body has had this rush of hormones twice...its all a bit of a gamble.

I'm hoping that this resection can go ahead...the thought of Dad having all the nasty crap out of his body brings me a sense of calm, and I'm sure he will too. However, its up to Dad, but either way I'm shit scared now. I'm just hoping that the medical teams involved will be pre-pre-pre-prepared as it would be such a high risk op. Also, if anyone has been in the same position as us, please PM me-Dad is really struggling now, and we need some hope that this can work- we all just feel so lost.

Sorry for rambling on...there is still loads I can say, but just trying to give you the jist of how we feel. Good luck to everyone here, whether patient/carer, and keep fighting!

Claire

xxx

Wow! Where did the time go?

2011-11-27T22:56:59Z

Well, next month means 1 year from dad's diagnosis, and what a year it's been. Who'd have thought that 1 year ago, Dad, previously healthy and hardly needing to go to the Dr's, would be diagnosed with the most vicious disease? And how ours lives have changed, hey. But, at least we are more positive now than what we were then! Since Dad's diagnosis, he (as well as the rest of the fam) has been through so much-gruelling chemo for six months, then a colon resection, and coming up (drumroll please!) a liver resection! Us, well I never thought I would have to experience huge bouts of fear, almost as if your stomach is so heavy it'll push you to the ground, and cry as much as I have, and sometimes feel guilty when you realise your having a few happy weeks-huh? All part of it I guess. Generally, things have been quite good the past few months-all of the scans have been clear, so feeling a bit of 'normality'-then last week Dad got told he needed a resection, and it seemed to throw everything up in the air again? How, I dont know-it should have been happy news, but then I realised we all must be emotionally exhausted from the last years events. However, we are all back to our normal postive mood now, thank the Lord! So, now we have to wait till Dec 19th for the first part of the resection, then have the rest done next Jan-hoping Dad will be ok for Christmas, and hoping even more that it will not be our last together-bloody disease casts such a shadow over things. I also think we have been very lucky so far with this, because I do know of people who dont get the chance of getting used to cancer being part of their lives before it claims the loved-one's life. I hope this hasnt been a boring/negative blog, just feeling a little sombre of late, so would like to wish everyone good health, A MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! (I know its early, but hey, lifes too short to moan). Keep well all,

Claire x

Dad's CT results after Folfox + Cetuximab Chemo for secondary bowel cancer

2011-05-26T17:52:35Z

Hey peeps! Some of you know Dad was diagnosed with secondary bowel cancer last December, and he has been on 7 cycles of chemo since January/February this year. Today he had his CT result (picture taken mid-way through chemo) and results are brilliant-no trace of cancer in the liver anymore, so no liver resection to be done...however, there was still a small amount of primary tumor in the bowel, so within the next few months he will have that removed. So, he is almost 'disease-free' to the amazement of his oncologist-who sat with a cheshire cat grin on her face in her office lol. We are all chuffed at the mo, but being cautiously optimistic incase it returns...we shall see when he has his 3 month check up :D So dont give up hope people, and keep on fighting!

Smile

2011-04-02T23:04:24Z

THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE HABIT..........WORRY

THE GREATEST JOY.................................GIVING

THE GREATEST LOSS..............................LOSS OF SELF RESPECT

THE MOST SATISFYING WORK...............HELPING OTHERS

THE UGLIEST PERSONALITY TRAIT......SELFISHNESS

THE MOST ENDANGERED SPECIES.....DEDICATED LEADERS

OUR GREATEST NATURAL RESOURCE.....OUR YOUTH

THE GREATEST 'SHOT IN THE ARM'......ENCOURAGEMENT

THE GREATEST PROBLEM TO OVERCOME.....FEAR

THE MOST EFFECTIVE SLEEPING PILL....PEACE OF MIND

THE MOST CRIPPLING FAILURE DISEASE.....EXCUSES

THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IN LIFE.....LOVE

THE MOST DANGEROUS PARIAH......A GOSSIPER

THE WORLD'S MOST INCREDIBLE COMPUTER.....THE BRAIN

THE WORST THING TO BE WITHOUT......HOPE

THE DEADLIEST WEAPON.....THE TONGUE

THE TWO MOST POWER-FILLED WORDS......'I CAN'

THE GREATEST ASSET.....FAITH

THE MOST WORTHLESS EMOTION......SELF-PITY

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ATTIRE......A SMILE

THE MOST PRIZED POSSESION.....INTEGRITY

THE MOST POWERFUL CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION.......PRAYER

THE MOST CONTAGIOUS SPIRIT..........ENTHUSIASM