Results, not good

Hi Lucie,

I was in the same position 2 and a half years ago, large rectal tumour and 4 on my liver. All were too big to operate but after 3 months of chemo and then 5 weeks radiotherapy both were operable and I had both bowel and liver resections. 

It's very confusing, shocking to start and frightening. As you get more information from your scans your knowledge will increase and your understanding. Ask lots of questions and make notes if you can, it's hard to take it in and remember everything. 

Yes it does mean it has spread, likely from your primary bowel tumour.

It likely feels very overwhelming right now but just take each day as it comes and use the online community. Bowel cancer charity website is also very good for support and information. 

Best wishes

Martin

Hi Luciem47, I had rectum cancer what they said had no spread no metts ,I had 5  weeks chemo radiation, complete response. Unfortunately a dot on my liver, so I have to see surgeon. I’m lucky they found as they thought I was clear. I think from what they said to me I think the mri scan gives a better picture of what’s going on. I have a consultation with a surgeon from another hospital on Wednesday. I’m high risk so if they don’t operate there seems to be other treatments. It is all the waiting that really gets to you. I always say in my posts that I found the Macmillan nurses that are on the support line are so caring and helpful.  I think others will be on line that have more knowledge than me. I’m going to write down questions, if you can have someone with you or put your phone on loud speaker, that is what I did when I went in on my own.  Wishing you well and sending hugs xx

Hi Martin, your words have given me a glimmer of hope after a day of sadness. I am so glad you are getting better and beating it, you are my inspiration right now so I thank you. I think things will become clearer when I know exactly what they plan to do with me and I just plan to take it day by day. We are all in this together and hopefully all get out of it together xx

Wishing you all the best

Louise

Hi Nelly, thank you for replying I think when I get speaking to people it will help me to understand it all a bit more and see what I am up against. It is all such a shock, as I'm sure it is for everyone. I also am type 1 diabetic. Do you think that will make things any more difficult, as I saw you said you are high risk?

I wish you the very best and thank you for your kind words xx

Louis3

Hi 

Just want to pop on and welcome you to the forum.  I would also like to encourage you . If they have not done a PET scan they will probably want to confirm it is actually malignant. Bowel cancer that has spread to another organ still has a lot of treatment options . That includes chemotherapy , surgical options and you might also like to look at radio frequency ablation. Your team will find out the best starting point for you to begin treatment . Most have chemotherapy first which can be a very good plan to reign in the existing spread but also to eliminate any potential micro disease . If you click on my user name you can read how my mum’s disease was manage. Chemotherapy allowed other options to open up and she kept seeking out the windows of opportunity. 
Since my mum has been diagnosed back in 2009 many different treatments have been developed and progress made . There is a subgroup of patients that continue to live a good life despite a difficult diagnosis. 
You are still in the very difficult part of pulling all the information together but once you have a good plan and team to go forward with it starts to get a bit more manageable, 

There are centres of clinical excellence for the liver that are very helpful should a surgical option present itself . 

A difficult day and take the time you need to draw strength , we are here to help you reduce the fear and find a way forward . 
Take special care ,

Court 

Hi Court,

Thanks for your lovely words, it really means a lot, no word of a Pet scan, but they did say it was definitely cancer after this histology result unfortunately. I guess I wait to see my treatment options and hope they can help me cos I don't want to let this beat me. Only 40 and still plenty more years left in me hopefully. I will look at that what you mentioned. All the help is reassuring and as I said to another person it offers some glimmers of hope and makes the picture not all black and doom and gloom.

I hope your mum is well, thank you one again, xx

Mum Is doing fine thank you . 

They will explain everything in depth . The chemotherapy is very similar to lesser stages so lots of people can help with their own experiences. All treatments have a criteria but you start to get a feel for what they are talking about and it’s reassuring to know what your treatment plan is and to understand it .

One step at a time .

Take care ,

Court 

Things will become much clearer Louise as you gather the information. Hope is always available and trust in the specialists, the care and treatment I have had has been phenomenal in the most challenging times. You will have a specialist colorectal nurse who are always a good point of contact, you might not know who it is yet but again that's another piece of info that will become clearer very soon.

Take deep breaths and you will get through this bit.

Martin

Great to see your update . Hope things are going well for you ,

Court 

Hi Luclem47, I’m type 2  diabetes. But I have other problems. I do think it is the waiting that is the worst. I hope you get a plan of what they are going to do soon but give the Macmillan nurses a call, they are caring, kind and knowledgeable. Sending hugs xx