Recent stage 4 diagnosis

Hi Cathy118 

Big welcome to the forum . Absolutely we are here for a chat and a bit of support . 
Sorry to hear about your situation regarding your lungs .

My mum has been a stage 4 patient since 2009 . The biggest factor hitting her now is age related issues . She had a spread first to her liver then a lung met was removed in 2016 . She was able to get keyhole surgery and found it so much easier than her bowel resection . She was home two days later and hitting the coffee shops two weeks later . She currently has a spread . One lung met and some mediastinal lymph nodes . But has stayed on top of this using just a biological agent as she feels at her age quality comes into play .

Radio frequency ablation is also another approach and you might like to read Marianne26  story as she used that approach successfully. 
You can read people’s stories by clicking on their user names .

Bowel cancer is quite fortunate compared to other cancers that spread as there are a lot of treatments.

They do like to treat things systemically with chemo first and for good reason . Stabilising the disease then adding in other approaches has really helped my mum .

Hope this gives you some hope and a little insight into different approaches. 
Take care ,

Court 

Hi Cathy and welcome!

I was diagnosed in 2019, aged 42, got surgery + 6 months chemo and was clear until 18 months ago where a CT scan revealed 3 nodules in the lungs. I had another 6 months chemo and then stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). They used SABR as the nodules were quite small (and had shrunk then stabilised with chemo) so too hard to find with surgery, but from talking to the onco and reading scientific publications the results with SABR seem quite promising. Chemo is not much fun - especially the second time around - but definitely manageable and radiotherapy was just like having X-rays. 

The waiting for treatment plans, results, appointments etc. is the worst part of it all but once everything is set up it gets easier.

Don't hesitate to ask as many questions as you need!

Take care

Cecile

Hi Cathy,

I am willing to have a chat at anytime. Please don't feel that you are alone, & I think that many on this forum will be happy to support you with anything you may want to ask/ or get advice for.

I am loads older than you, but also live in the SW (Dorset,) & was an art teacher up until retirement. I have not added 'my story' to this forum as yet - but I really must do so!

Have you been told why an operation is not possible yet? Is it because of the position in your rectum?

Re, the Mets.in your lungs - have you been told in which lobes/ sizes? The reason that @court has factored me in, is because I was diagnosed with two small lung nodules a year after my bowel cancer diagnosis.

I then had chemo (Capecitabine Tabs. for 5 mths,) which managed to shrink both tumours sufficiently to have RFA - Radio Frequency Lung Ablation, back in Oct '20. at Bournemouth Hospital. You need to ask about Lung Ablation technique - as it's a very non invasive, no surgery procedure. Ask about sizes & positions of the Mets.

I'm wishing you the very best

Marianne 26

Hi Court - Thanks for factoring me in yet again. However, can you let me know how I add 'my story' on this forum please. I still haven't worked out how to. x

I think I can Marianne26 . If you click on your own user name it should take you straight to “edit profile “ . If you click on it you should be able to add your story .

Let me know if that does not work .

Court 

Hi Cathy118 ,

I was diagnosed S4 with spread to the liver 3 years ago.  I'm always around for a chat and I also live in the south west, in Bournemouth. 

It's a scary place you are in right now but you'll find your strength.  Once treatment starts things feel easier.

I'm 49 now and have had chemo, radio and 3 ops.  It's a long road but one step at a time.  Feel free to private message me or pop on here, always someone to talk to here.

Michelle 

Hi Cathy,

Real sorry about you being diagnose. I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in July. I'm due for surgery on the 20th of October. I had no severe symptoms prior to being diagnosed and it came as a great shock, and though I also have plenty of support around me it hasn't stopped me from feeling scared and alone at times. I've found people on this forum are really supportive and very insightful as they will have experienced many of the same fears as ourselves. I found my these eased a little the more people shared their stories. I hope you find some comfort from this forum as well. 

Wishing you the best and always happy to chat.

Rab

Glad you are here Cathy. 

It's a massive and unexpected shock for all of us.  Stay positive if you can.

Here for you if you need a chat.  I don't have any answers, but I'm 'bunny in the headlights' too. 

Zoe.

Hello, 

thanks for your message - how are you getting on? Where abouts are you in the process? 

bunny in headlights is such a good description - also while feeling absolutly fine, it boogles my brain 

I’m so pleased to hear you are doing well - did you have chemo and radio before the ops? I find the waiting the hardest - I almost feel like I’d just like them to hook me up to chemo, but also, I know them having the full picture will make it all a bit easier for them. 

just such a brain fog time