Stage 4 colon cancer

Hi Edward I'm sure you will get some helpful replies soon. Meanwhile just wanted to send kind thoughts and best wishes to you and your wife. 

Good morning 

in this forum cardiff1968 had a successful HIPEC surgery. 

kind regards 

Natallia 

Hi Edward,

So sorry to hear about your wife's diagnosis. I was diagnosed in 2019, aged 42, and my biggest' s struggle was the uncertainty of the future for my young children. I was initially diagnosed with staged 3, tumour in the colon with malignant cells in the nearby lymph nodes. I has surgery to remove the tumour (+lymph nodes) followed by 6 months chemo. I was clear for a while but then 3 metastases popped up in my lungs. At the time, the surgeon gave me a few years max - that was in June 2022. I've had another 6 month chemo, which shrunk the tumours followed by stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), with curative intent rather than palliative. The treatment made me feel rubbish but apart from that I feel completely healthy. It is highly likely that the cancer will resurface at some stage but we'll have to deal with it again, one step at the time.

Unfortunately immunotherapy only works in a small proportion of colorectal patients with certain mutations. If your wife has a biopsy, they will do a genetic analysis and see if she might be suitable for it. There are a range of treatment options available and some very inspiring stories (search "surviving stage 4 colorectal cancer" on youtube). I came across this article a while ago, I think it's still early days but worth keeping an eye out for clinical trials https://www.targetedonc.com/view/targeting-oxmif-signals-promise-as-new-immuno-oncology-option-for-mcrc. It's not easy and there are plenty of ups and downs but don't get hang up on the stats, they are often out of dates and each case is very different.

Hope your wife gets started on treatment soon and it all goes well.

Cecile x

Thank you Cecile, this is helpful information. It's true as you say, one step at a time. Encouraging to hear that you are healthy and I wish you all the best.

My mum had a horrible diagnosis back in 2009 . Chemo had a big job to do but taking it one step at a time and slowly reducing the tumour burden has helped her get to 2023 . She is still in treatment and has a Ct scan in the morning .

Some parts have been very tough , but so grateful for the staff that have helped her get to this point and although chemo was tough it did a fantastic job .

I keep meaning to update my profile but still a bit annoyed it came back for a third time . But seeing how her team treated it as a chronic condition has been insightful. Having a mum who can push through very tough times has been wonderful  , however we have also had the most amazing times since diagnosis too .

One step at a time , or in oncology one process at a time .

Send her our love and support .

Court 

Hi Edward. I too now have Stage 4 bowel cancer with metastases in at least 6 lymph nodes, which rules out SABR as mentioned by Cecile but this course of treatment was initially discussed. I was told it is only used if no more than three lymph nodes are involved. My most recent scan shows the metastases continue to grow but with no spread to more lymph nodes or other organs. If it stays stable for 3 to 6 months they may try radiotherapy to further slow the growth and delay the time I need to start palliative chemo. Whilst none of this is curative I hope my message shows there are options that can prolong life and if you search through the fora you will find lots of people who are beating their prognosis.

There is a lot of support here for both patients, carers and family members.

With best wishes to you, your wife and family.

Maninbath

I’m going through the same as you with my husband’s recent diagnosis. It’s such a scarey time and we haven’t told our children yet as we don’t have answers.

ill follow your journey and I wish you all the best x

Hi Feelingoverwhelmed23 and a warm welcome to the board. It is a scary time but I hope you get a treatment plan in place soon then things will honestly feel a bit better. Please feel free to start your own post (if you want to) or you can just read others on here.
If you want to ‘follow’ Maninbath - this means you will be notified every time he posts - then click on his name and then on the green connect button on his profile page- the option to follow should then be there to click on.

Take care

Karen x

Hi Court!

You and your mum continue to be such an inspiration here. Even having to face losing your dad you have both battled on. You may have read my posts to the other girls here about my sister. She successfully got another polyp removed last week at Stobhill hospital in Glasgow and now she has been told more or less going to make a full recovery (touch wood!) the polyp removed will be sent for analysis but they are 99.9% certain that there is no concerns with that and just wanted it out to be sure and to be on the `safe side` she feels a whole lot better within herself now and more or less is getting back to normal going out to meet her friends and is getting her appetite back again- twofold!! starting to enjoy her food again. It's so bittersweet though that she pulled through two cancer diagnosis (her breast cancer 4 years ago now this) and Jay fought so hard with his but it was going to take him anyway. `Them's the breaks as they say`. Will just make the best of Christmas this year as I can my first without him in 40 years. Take Care. 

Vicky xx

You have been through a lot this year PattyK . It’s been one of the tougher ones at our end too but I am delighted to hear about your sister doing so well . That is an encouragement and I wish her much good health going forward into a new chapter and hopefully better news for you all .

I would say I am missing dad more than ever but I pick myself up in the full knowledge he would want us to be happy . Special occasions without them is hard but I also treasure every good memory with them . What else can we do .

Jay was so special to you and will be in your heart forever for sure . 
Will be thinking of you this Christmas and sending you lots of strength .

Court x