Support

Hi Scattychic and a very warm welcome to the Community but sorry to hear about your journey.

Navigating the cancer journey can be such a stressful and challenging time but getting support from people who have walked the ‘exact same' cancer journey can help a lot. (I have a completely different cancer).

The New to Community is like our reception desk where we look to try and direct you to the best part of the Community for you to get support. The Community is actually divided into dedicated Cancer Support Groups (Discussion Rooms) so can I recommend you join and post in our dedicated Liver Cancer support group. This will be a safe place to talk to others with a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support.

To connect in with the group please click on the link below

Liver cancer

…… then once the group page opens click in the [Black - Click to Join - Banner] that appears at the bottom of the page and this will then confirm that you have joined the group.

When you are ready……. you can introduce yourself by putting up your very own post by clicking [+ Create new post] or [ + ] in the top right of the group page.

You can copy and paste the text from this post into your new post.

You may find it helpful to call the Macmillan Support Line open 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00. This service provides cancer information, practical information, emotional support, benefits/financial guidance or just a listening ear. We also have our Ask an Expert section but do allow 3 working days for a reply.

Talking to people face to face can be very helpful so do check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support in your area, do also check for a local Maggie's Centre as these folks are amazing and give support to all the family.

Do get back to me if you need further help navigating the community.

Hi

It's tough to be hit with Stage 4 suddenly. It came to me in July 2021 (cholangiocarcinoma - bile duct; metastases in peritoneum - now one the size of an Easter Egg, the other a small pineapple! - and elsewhere). They opened me up to repeat a 7 hour operation and then sewed me back together when they saw the multiple tumours. Great news to wake up to - and they had told my wife over the phone even though I had carefully drip-fed bad news to her over the years.

I have been lucky. I have had three lines of chemo (GemCis; Folfox; and, currently, Folfiri). That's coming to an end now.

I don't think there is one way, and certainly there is no "right" way, to respond to a diagnosis. We each have to find our way through. I'm not a believer but admire those with faith. Nor am I a proselytiser for my way, but for what it's worth, I am a Stoic and find Marcus Aurelius's Meditations comforting. More simply, very little can beat a good laugh with family, friends or watching comedy - it releases tension! Not so easy to do at first. The doctors should be focused on making you comfortable and not feeling ill. You can work from there.

Good luck

Thanks for responding it's been a whirlwind of emotions etc, I'll know more on Fri biopsy results to what degree how bad, gosh u had it tough mun I applaud u. I totally agree on laughter etc