Palliative Immunotherapy - Avelumab

I can't really help much if I'm honest as this is out of my league that's for sure. But I'm sorry you are all in this position. 

I guess the only bit of advice I can even think of really is spending quality time together while you can.

I'm far from an expert but I'd guess I would want to weigh up the pro's and cons in that situation. Weighing up the potential side effects versus the quality of life it might gain and the quality of life during the treatment, that would all probably factor into my decision if it was me in that scenario. 

I realise none of this probbaly helps but I just wanted to let you now none of us are alone in this, everyone is here to support each other in any way we can. 

Hey Simon, 

Thank you for your reply. How are you? 

Mums oncologist has obviously left the decision in her hands. Seeing as she’ll have had her initial planned 6 rounds of chemo by the end of Jan, he has asked her to consider how much ‘normality’ she wants back in her life as if she was to go in to immuno, it would be every month for a max of 12 months. He also said, she has the option to just let them monitor things with no treatment over the next couple of months. 

I guess she’s just worried, that we already know time is quite limited, so doesn’t want to feel rubbish and spend more time in hospitals than at home. 

As I initially stated, she’s done really well with the GemCarbo. They did have to reduce her dose by 20% as it caused a severe arthritis flare up though. Thankfully, that’s been her only real issue.

Our family obviously want as much time with her as possible; while hospitals aren’t a second home. We would also hate to see her suffering for the sake of potentially maintaining her current stand point. 

Apologies for the waffle, hopefully it all makes a slight bit of sense!  

I'm fine thanks I really can't grumble about my current situation when there are people way worse off than me like your mum is, so I have to be thankful for that. 

I'd hope I choose quality of life even if shorter rather then trying to prolong my life and feel awfully I'll all the time, we all want to prolong our life it's natural to want that. I honestly don't know what I'd do in your situation but I hope whatever is decided you make as many good memories as possible in the time you have left together. 

I'm sorry I feel at a loss as to what to say having watched my dad die from bowel czncer I know firsthand what it can do to a person when it is incurable. It is a horrible disease and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. 

My heart goes out to you all and I hope whatever is decided pans out the best it can for you all. 

Oh and please waffle all you like on here we are all happy to read and respond to others on here. 

Having a place where you can say what you need to is important.