Covid and Cancer, UNHAPPY BED FELLOWS!!

FormerMember over 4 years ago

2 replies
120 subscribers
1041 views

Evening all.

I.was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in September, with a 10cm (yes, CM) tumour and a little fluttering on the liver.

Surgery was very successful. Primary tumour was completely removed along with 6/21 lymph nodes.

I was due to have a liver resection at Addenbrokes but learnt today that they have stopped, for Covid, all liver cancer surgery.

The results of my last MRI showed minimal spread. Two.of the nodules they want to use ablation with so clearly there is a plan. I've been told will likely be on 'bridging chemotherapy' to sort of keep.it in stasis until surgery. I am in really good health otherwise (mostly thanks to Joe Wicks) but it is a worry for us isn't it?

Has anyone else had surgery or treatments delayed/put back/cancelled altogether? I sort of feel like I'll be ok as long as it is this year and the drugs do what they're meant to but also have anxiety more about Covid than anything...what happens if the vaccine doesn't work etc.

What times we are enduring!!

Much

seaspirit44 over 4 years ago

, sorry to hear your treatment has been postponed, You are very philosophical. I have no experience of what you are going through, but will tag court whisper mum has been successfully kept going with chemotherapy, and kate really liver surgery, for 11 years. Good luck. X

Onwards and flatwards (don't do hills) and keep walking if you can!

court over 4 years ago in reply to seaspirit44

I tried a bit of Joe Wicks and realised something has gone wrong with my flexibility. Well done you for keeping fit . I think he is amazing doing that . One of the hero’s in all this .

I think my mum’s liver was more of a big splatter than a flutter and it’s so disappointing just now to not be able to get in and sort that out . But it sounds like a good plan and in reality it is probably pushed back a couple of months . My mum’s liver surgery took the best part of two to three months to organise without covid pressured . She had absolutely no treatment in that time and they did ask for scans immediately before surgery and she was still operable . Afterwards her lovely surgeon casually said they found what the expected to find ... cancer . He did not go into size etc and by that time we were so relieved it was out we did not bother asking . In my mind they kind of know the parameters of the surgical margins they have to work . He did a good job and it’s been clear since 2010 .

I still can’t get my head round the whole disruption that covid has brought to medicine . I think the issue with liver surgery is you need a High dependency bed following surgery and they are currently full of covid patients . The high dependency unit my mum had was dedicated to liver surgery and was pretty impressive stuff . Their post op care is fantastic. They are on top of everything and I remain grateful for all their help . She never looked back after that surgery and has lived a very full life the last ten years .

Any questions please feel free to ask . I would think as soon as they can you will be taken in . That was also the surprise in a stage 4 setting it can actually happen very quickly . The phone rang and she was in the next week . You can click on my user name to read her full story .

Take care and I hope the maintenance chemo is kind and not too many side effects .

Take care .

Court

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