Bowel cancer spread to liver

Al, thank you so much for sharing that with me! It sounds so familiar. Amazing that your husband is doing so well, I do appreciate it’s a long journey and I’m trying to prepare myself for that. To hear his liver responded well to chemo to have surgery is what I hope for! Southampton General have been amazing in hurrying through my scans - had MEI & PET yesterday. Have a “chemo” consultation on Monday and hope my results for scan come in later next week. Please keep me updated on ur husband’s progress. So good to hear positive results! Good luck 

sally xx 

Hiya - so sorry to bother you but my scans came back similar to yours. They say tumours on liver make it challenging to operate even if they shrink with chemo and don’t think surgery is an option. I am devastated. How did you get through  and also how did you find that fantastic surgeon. Have you got any advice for me. They say that a cure isn’t what they are aiming for . Im so scared I’m on borrowed time xx 

Hi there I just noticed your post. I’m sorry that you’re having such awful news to process. 

I thought I’d tag Star74 for you. This will show as a notification 

Sending you a hug 

Thank you Ann - still trying to work my way round here - not sure if I start a new thread each time or just reply to someones comment !  Xx

Hi I’m so sorry to hear the latest news on your scan results. I have a had secondary spread to liver and at 6 month scan found further spread. I only had a liver resection last September, so now my only option is chemo. I start next week. I asked what happens after the first 4 cycles and was told a rescan. If they have stopped the cancer from spreading elsewhere, then another resection is on the cards. I can’t think beyond that. I know a bit about how you feel. I’ve started thinking I may not beat it this time. I’m lucky that I’ve not suffered from any pain from the liver mets. It’s was to say about taking one step at a time, but I do struggle at times. Come on here as much as you want to. There’s usually someone about. Wishing you the very best of luck.

Good luck to you too! Do you think it’s possible to get years from just chemo ? That’s where I’m struggling to get answers. If no surgery is it just keeping you going temporarily or can they keep it at bay long term ? Such a crap situation to be in isn’t it? Especially when you had no idea you had the cancer in the first place. Everyone I have become “friends” with here all went to docs as soon as they realise something wasn’t right yet haven’t seemed to catch it early enough to have an easy ride! Xx

Hi Phoenix C 

My mum had no symptoms , picked up on a bowel screen and what a shock to find it already in her liver .

At that point in time my mum’s surgeon had said he had a lady who was on her sixth year of chemo only treatment and doing well . Fatigue was her main problem . 

Some people do . You might be interested in joining bowel cancer U.K. Facebook group . You are most welcome here but it also lets you connect with others and see how they are managing it . It also lets you connect with other resources and see who the best people to consult are .

You are most welcome to use both . 
Court 

Hi Phoenix

i have that too. But we are all different and although mine only reared it’s head on 18th April with a blocked upper colon I’ve been sped through an operation to look and fit a stoma, then MRI and CT scan and finally liver biopsy . On 10/5 they confirmed mine is inoperable and only treated by chemo and a new drug bevacizumab only approved by NICE during Covid so chargeable atm. The latter drug works in harmony with chemotherapy but targets the new blood vessels of cancer growth whilst chemotherapy reduces the tumour so I can get my functioning bowel back and live longer. I’m 67 but my father and grandfather both died in their 60s of oesophagus cancer which I’ve had treatment for Barratt’s Oesophagus since 2011 with annual endoscopy appts ( except during Covid) I had one in January and ironically I’m still clear there despite years of precancerous cells. My husband has been tested for prostate cancer these past 18months with rising psi levels and he’s the same age as your husband which is too young for all this stress and worry. I’m his rock and now he’s my nurse this last month. But we are alive and positive. I found this phrase helpful couched by Michael JFox the Hollywood actor fighting Parkinson’s. He said in a recent interview about his new film:- “With gratitude, positivity is sustainable” He’s lucky to have such a caring wife but reach out there is a lot of practical and emotional help out there. I have Nightingale cancer trust a walk away and look for a Maggie’s centre in your area. I go to Hampstead for that but they always take anyone and their carers running all sorts of activities, support groups, therapies drop  in chats for free. I’ve been overwhelmed by support. MacMillan have arranged blue badge parking and attendance allowance and my oncology nurse is fab as is my stoma nurse. If you’re not getting any of these ask your MacMillan nurse can advise

its a journey like stepping into a room you never expected to live in but we are all the same people needing time and information to adjust to. Take each day as it comes and your journey will be unique. Some people can have liver section surgery but I can’t. But I’m so grateful for this therapy to extend my life and whilst I can I’ll try and prove I’m one of the few that survives longest. 
good luck youre both in my prayers 

Hi again Phoenix. It’s hard to predict how each individual responds to chemo but all you can do is give it your all and who knows what might become an option further down the line? Have you thought about posting on the bowel cancer uk board as well as on here? There’s a lot of stage 4 people on there who are on long time chemo 

I started chemo on Wednesday at Royal Free Chase Farm Enfield. I’m lucky as it’s a brand new hospital 25 min walk away and the unit arranged free parking and undoing of fines by any over zealous parking attendants! It was scary as you have to Covid test and go in alone but so friendly and informal. I had a tear as an enthusiastic woman left for the last time after completing 3 rounds of chemo and the staff all clapped , took pictures with her and rang a large old fire bell. It was pertinent for me to maintain in my head that difficult  journeys often have the most desirable destinations.

after 2 hours it was over and I was connected to a silent non battery pump and a small balloon of chemo in a bottle in a bumbag for me to take home fitted to my PICC line fitted the day before which saves regular cannula fitting and taking bloods. Don’t be alarmed by the pictures of what they fit …it took 20 mins with a local anaesthetic and was like an injection  

I’ve then taken drugs with my chemo for anti sickness and diarrhea. Apart from a bit tired, hiccups and being right off food I’m fine. I’m afraid I eat for fuel and rarely fancy it but keep in mind every fire needs fuel and shovel it down. The drugs do their work and so far no sickness despite occasional nausea. I’m aware it builds so this might get worse or might not. We are all different. I met a man next to me with cancer in the lymph glands so has had weekly chemo and immunotherapy since September last year. He took a break for Christmas in the sun , same for Easter and was flying out the next day to his sons wedding in Mauritius via Dubai for 10 days, so life can go on