Bowel cancer spread to liver

Hi Phoenix C

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Please be extra kind to yourself at this time as this is an uncertain and unsettling time, and your emotions (quite naturally) may bounce around a bit.

People with similar diagnosis should be along shortly to share their experience and help you.

You can click on people's usernames to read a little bit about them and you can "friend" people if there are any parts of discussions you feel happier to hold in less open forums.

You'll see from my profile that I've just completed 6 months of chemo required as I have invasion.

In the meantime, I hope you have been introduced to your Colorectal nurse as they will be a great source of info at the start of your journey.

If you want some reading material, this is what I found the best for reassuring factual information, as it explained pathways, demystified terminology and showed me this is a well trodden path: 

bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/.../YourPathway_BowelCancerUK.pdf (from Bowel Cancer UK website)

Thank you Crumpetsortoast

im a hot mess at the moment - until I do mri and pet scan I’m in limbo. I have no idea how serious it all is - I’m so frightened I’m going to die. All they have said is chemo , so many thoughts are bombarding me. 
thank you I will check your profile - how was the chemo? 

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/TreatingAdvancedBowelCancer_BowelCancerUK.pdf

Hi Phoenix C 

Welcome to the forum .

So glad you found us this early on in the process . When cancer has moved to another location /organ they do class that as a spread but that does not mean it is not treatable . They class curative cancer as a tumour that can be completely removed . 
Bowel cancer is very fortunate than some other primaries as it has a lot of treatment options .

This is the hardest part as they gather in all the information and you are literally in limbo . But once they pull all the data together they will have a Multi disciplinary meeting where they will sit as a group of specialist and decide the best chemo for you .

This is largely governed by your cell type as in recent years not only is chemotherapy an option for some people but we now have immunotherapy. You will get into a routine with treatment and we are here to talk you through each part .

There is a subgroup of patients who do well on treatment . After chemotherapy is completed they rescan and reevaluate the plan and see if there are other options to introduce.

You will see people on the boards on chemo for literally six and seven years and still doing well . Not all people yet  but slowly progress is being made .

My own mum was diagnosed at 67 with a significant spread to her liver back in 2009 . She was in and out of treatment for years . You can click on my user name to read her story . It went to her lungs after that and currently that’s where it is in 2023 . She is still having treatment . She is holding her own at 80 .

It is a very individual journey and people respond in very different ways so I think it’s best to remember you are a statistic of one . Only your own results matter . Your team will guide you and adapt as they go along . 
The beginning was the worst for mum but she has had many good times since diagnosed.

Always here to chat and we all know just how awful the thoughts are that go through your mind so as a very wise lady said to me “ keep your head where your body is “ . Another forum user here encourages taking each part of the process in steps .

We do have lots of people your age on the boards .

Have a look at Star74 profile for some inspiration.

Take care ,

Court 

thank you Court, its so good to have other points of view and stories. i can imagine i will be on here a lot! so amazing about your mum. i will go on your profile to read more. I think I am just feeling low - I have had a lot of upset over the last 7 years and just when I think there is light at the end of the tunnel - boom. But once the initial shock wears off I will get my head around it I am sure and battle on, thank you for the advice no doubt I will return for more!!

It’s a lot to process . As you move along we can have a chat about the benefits of even small amounts of exercise during treatment .

But one step at a time . I love your user name . That was my last professions symbol . Phoenix rising from the ashes !  Very appropriate for you as you start navigating this and finding a way through .

Take care and we are always around .

Court 

oh wow really? cool name  - Phoenix was my lab that I unfortunately lost to cancer 6 mths ago - he was only 5 so I am hoping I have a better outcome! thank you so much for the messages - it is really helping.

take care too, no doubt I will be back soon with more questions :-)

Hi Phoenix C

Many people here found chemo easy. I however found (and still find) it physically challenging but I think I could have asked for more help earlier .

For me the anticipated gains outweighted the risks, so that is what I hold onto on the more challenging days.

I have a lovely oncologist and CSN, so I think that also helps.

Hi Phoenix C ,

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis, it's very early days for you and I remember the feeling very well.  I was diagnosed in Nov 20 at 46 years old, bowel cancer with spread to the liver, my world fell apart.  This really is the worst bit when you are in limbo, every day is agony waiting but they will be doing a lot behind the scenes and a huge team will get together with all the scans etc to decide on the next steps for you, once you have a plan you will feel much better and can crack on with the fight.

When there is spread, the first step is usually chemo, there are different versions of chemo depending on tumour type, etc so when you find out what you will be given let us know and we can help with side effects.  (There are loads of good remedies available now to help with any side effects).

I have been "lucky" in my journey, I had a good response to chemo which led to two operations and I'm just preparing for my 3rd!  As court mentioned, exercise has played a big part and has many benefits, so I would def recommend to get active if you can while you wait for chemo to start.

You're not alone, ask us anything at all on here, please don't Google, the stuff on there is so out of date.

Best wishes, Michelle 

If you look at my profile you'll see I started with that same diagnosis. It's really hard at first but just take a day at a time go for your scans and hopefully soon you can have a proper talk with your oncologist when they have all the results. At least then you'll have a treatment plan. As lots of the replies say try not to think too far ahead and be kind to yourself.

Thank you so much ! I have had a call and both MRI & PET scans on Wednesday so will definitely share results to get your thoughts 

I feel so much more relaxed now that you guys have taken the time to respond to me and hope I can keep it going !

taje care xx