Hello everyone,
After 6 months of Carboplatin/Paclitaxel chemo (from Dec 2025 to |May 2026), results of my two MRI and a CT scan are in. I was T3/4 N1a M1 on diagnosis last September.
I got the MRI rectum scan report yesterday (13th) and am awaiting a call soon from the oncologist to go through that (it wasn’t ready at the July 9th meeting). It stated ‘significant regression’ in the bulk of the primary tumour and mesorectal deposits. Tumour was 7.5cm before treatment and I think the residual bit is down to 2.7cm (from what I could interpret but needs confirmation).
The single liver lesion has ‘shrunk nicely’ to 1.7cm (from 2.7cm) with no new lesions identified (phew!), suggesting ‘a partial treatment response’ according to the report.
A new inguinal lymph node in the left groin has appeared 1.4 x 1.5cm that the oncologist is worried about, saying it’s a common one to be involved.
So, the next steps are 28 days chemoradiotherapy with Mitomycin-C and Capecitabine tablets. CT planning scan should be within two weeks and treatment starting three weeks after that. The liver spot can be treated with the high dose stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), likely before the pelvic treatment starts.
I was told that the NHS won’t fund the liver radiotherapy treatment until the primary tumour has been dealt with. The oncologist said I need to have the liver spot treated first and the best way, for speed, is to have it done privately (at either Birmingham or Oxford). It’s expensive!
Otherwise, it could be up to six months (as waiting lists are long) before I could have radiotherapy to the liver on the NHS and that’s a long time to leave the cancer. It would be 3 or 5 liver treatments, plus a planning scan. The oncologist said it needs to be done now ‘if we’re to knock it on the head’, so I’ve agreed to go ahead. No other option really!
The oncologist says she can treat everything in the pelvis, including the new lymph node, with the chemoradiotherapy. She’s going for a 'more aggressive approach' with the aim of ‘disease reduction/elimination. I’m ready for this! Just rather apprehensive about the 28 days treatment but I really appreciate the earlier advice and tips from forum members on how to cope and that’s given me advance warning of what to expect. That’s so helpful, reassuring and a big thank you to forum members for that.
As for now, I'm feeling very well, keeping up the walking and bouncing round the garden with a watering can, everything's so thirsty! I’ll keep you updated on how I get on.
On a related note, here’s my A.R.S.E acronym for coping with this disease. And hopefully kicking it into touch!!
A: Attitude – positive and plenty of it
R: Resilience and Rest
S: Stay well and Stay fit
E: Eat well, Exercise…and Everything else
Kathy x
