Inoperable cancer!?

Sorry that should say shadows on my liver not lung!!

Hi carpfishing

Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to the Online Community. I see from your profile that you have joined the liver cancer forum and secondary liver cancer forum. I hope you are finding them supportive.

I’m sorry to read about your diagnosis but it’s good to hear that you feel well.

You don’t mention whether the lung or liver is the primary cancer. Primary cancer is the place where a cancer starts in the body. If cells break away and move to another part of the body this is called secondary cancer.

It would be helpful to get an understanding from your cancer team about which is your primary cancer as this will help with getting the right information for you as you move forward.

On the Support Line we do not have access to people’s medical notes or NHS systems, but we are able to give general information and support.

Chemotherapy can cure cancer, but it depends on the type of cancer. It can also help in combination with other treatments.

When deciding on a treatment plan your team will use information such as what type of cancer you have, how big it is, whether it has spread and your general health.

You mention that your family are taking your diagnosis hard. There is information here that may be helpful for them.

I hope this information helps. Please feel free to get back in touch if you want more information or support.

Best wishes,

Fiona M,

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. 

Ref/DC

Hi Thanks for quick reply! The lung cancer is primarily liver secondary, I had slight pain in top of my chest which must add went away completely after a week but doc sent me for x-ray which resulted in follow up with ct scan, had meeting with registrar who said it had spread to liver! And showed multiple shadows so was inoperable, the lung cancer she said was not in my lung but on the wall possibility it's attached in chest wall so also inoperable! Having biopsies tomorrow to find out what type it is and what treatment could be available!

Sorry do have 2nd question 4 weeks ago i had to have a large abscess drained and surgically removed it is currently being packed & dressed twice a week would treatment of this be affected by any chemotherapy? 

Thanks again

Hi carpfishing,

My name is Carole and like Fiona, I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists, on the Support Line.

Thanks for getting back in touch and providing a little more information.

I hope you managed to have biopsies taken yesterday as planned. As you say, this should give your specialist team the information they need to plan treatment.

It’s difficult for us as nurses on this type of platform, to answer specific questions about treatment, because we don’t have access to medical notes. However, in general, surgeons and oncologists work together to decide when it’s safe to start chemotherapy. A few chemotherapies can have more of an effect on wound healing, so the specialist team may allow a longer time for healing, if these are recommended.

And because chemotherapy can affect the immune system, your specialist team will want to ensure that you have recovered from your recent infection before starting treatment.

I hope this is helpful.

Please don’t hesitate to get back in touch if you have further questions.

Sending best wishes,

Carole

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us. 

Ref/ FS

Thank you for reply and general advise i appreciate it all depends on the results of the biopsies, which were done successfully yesterday! Now have the wait! 

Regards