One yr post anal cancer, now facing liver metastasis & further treatment

Hello Gill8

I totally understand your shock, I am so very sorry that you are going through this when the initial signs were all clear.  Keeping positive and hopeful goes a long way in helping through treatment, and I am full of admiration at your spirit!  If you check my profile I was stage IV at diagnosis and underwent systemic chemotherapy first.  I am almost certain that if they follow up with chemotherapy it will be carboplatin/paclitaxel which I had first prior to chemo/radiotherapy.  My mets were in the lungs, not the liver so I don't have experience of that.

However, I tolerated the carboplatin/paclitaxel really well - in fact it was a lot more bearable than the chemo/radiotherapy.  If you have this, you will lose your hair, but I bought chemo caps from at Etsy seller who even made them to match my outfits (and my hair has grown back to my usual bob without any ill-effect) - happy to share details if this is the treatment path you are on.

And I wish you all the luck for Monday; your team seem very proactive in treating you and I will be thinking of you next week.  Please come back and let us know how you are, and if there is anything I can help with afterwards during chemo, just give me a shout.

Big hug

Irene xx

Hi Gill8, this was exactly me this time last year although without the offer of liver resection because of where the tumours were located. I had six months of cisplatin and capecitabine which was hard but helped. I'm now on paclitaxel as second line because of progression during a four month treatment break over the summer. Good luck, take it step by step. Seek out the people you need for support, the psychological impact of finding out you are Stage 4 after thinking you were in the clear is awful. For me this has been a good CNS, a cancer well-being nurse at the hospital who referred me to an NHS psychologist and online relaxation sessions with the Penny Brohn charity. Sending your body strong vibes to get well again xxx

Hello Gill8,

 I hope that you are recovering from your liver resection and that the surgery went as well as possible. 

I am so sorry that you had this news and can’t begin to imagine how this must have knocked you sideways after doing so well. What a blow for you.

I don’t have any useful advice to offer as haven’t been in your situation but I really wanted to wish you well for the next steps in your treatment journey and in healing up from the surgery. 

Sending hugs xx

Hi, sorry to hear your news. I was diagnosed with squamous rectal cancer in August, however it had already gone to my liver when I got the diagnosis, so mine is classed as Stage 4, and the liver mets are definately the same squamous cell, not been offered any surgery though, so hope yours goes well, will be thinking if you.

I am just on Chemotherapy at the moment, just into the 2nd 28 day cycle. Carboplatin & Paclitaxel, 3 cycles then scan then 3 more cycles, and depending on how the Mets have responded on the scan, after that radiotherapy for 2/3 weeks. Good luck.

Oh Gill8  I’m so sorry to hear your news! It must have come as such a shock a year down the line. Not sure how I’m only just seeing your post either! 

I hope your liver resection went smoothly & that your oncologist has a plan for you moving forward. 

Although I don’t have any experience of your exact situation I certainly can sympathise with what you’re facing & know we’re here to support you however we can.

Nicola 

Hi JDTb698a5 , I’m sorry to hear you’re going through so much too, I hope your treatment is going well. 

Nicola 

Hi bluecurlewb85383 , I’m sorry to hear you’re facing further struggles with this damn disease. I hope your treatment goes well & you offer great advice so thank you for that. 

Nicola 

Hi, yes treatments going ok up to now thanks, not too many side effects, hair loss and reflux mainly.  Just anxious for the 3 month scan. I had initially been told the rectal tumour wasn't likely to spread so was a shock to find it had!!

Biggest thing at the moment for me is the terrible sore scalp from the hair loss, I have lost about 70% of my hair but the back of my scalp is just so sore, not sure if anyone has any advice on whati will soothe it? My Oncologist has given my some topical betnovate lotion. Anyone got any tips on what they have tried. I think I will likely loose it all so guess it will be less sore once it's all gone x

Hello JDTb698a5 

I am sorry you are having such problems with your scalp.  My scalp had the strangest prickly painful sensation when I lost my hair but I was lucky to have a hairdresser nearby who cut it to about 1/2 cm and the odd feeling did ease a bit. The loss continued and my husband clippered it all off.  Eventually I had no hair at all, anywhere on my body.  Who knew that nostril hair stops a runny nose?

But betnovate is quite powerful and steroid-based and I do hope that it will work very quickly and ease your sore scalp.  And I am really pleased to hear your treatments are going well and will keep everything crossed that your scan results are really positive.

Big hug

Irene xx

Thanks, yes I am booked in on Wednesday with the hairdresser, my thoughts are just take it really short for now, I know it will all go quite soon.  Just noticed this morning my legs wont be needing shaving for a while.