Rectal cancer spread to liver and maybe lungs

Hi DEP 

It took my mum a further year to gain the upper hand . 

Untreated my mum’s liver tumour popped up again but once again shrank back with more chemo . The micro disease can take a bit of time to surface but I reasoned it’s been there all along. 
However that does not mean further stability in the future might not  open up other options . You clearly are responding well to chemo and that’s definitely a big part of the solution in my uneducated opinion . 
It was frustrating and a two step forward one step back process but with time she got there .

I hope it’s the same for you .

Court 

Hi Court

Many thanks for your reply and very pleased to hear that things worked for your Mum

Out if interest, did she show any nodules on her lungs as well?

thanks

Dave

My mum has been dealing with a spread to her lungs since 2016 . Showing on the scans since 2014 . Surgery first in 2016 and took a wedge away . Then a recurrence detected in 2022 . Had nine months of targeted treatment and shrank it all back down . 
She is in her 80 s now and harder to do much treatment now .

There are treatments like Radio frequency ablation too . Have a look at that . There is criteria for everything but worthwhile speaking to your team . 
Court 

Hi Dave

Sounds like you are a Stage 4 boy just like me....however I don't yet have the lung stuff.

I therefore won't comment re lungs.

It sounds to me that the primary is still too big to operate on hence more Chemo. That can be a bummer as it could further screw up your kidneys and liver..what choice do you have though..

My liver mets disappeared at Chemo and then re appeared just like yours. The Chemo will hopefully stabilise their growth while shrinking the primary.

Don't be disheartened.  Those liver suckers grew at 3mm a week for me...so it's imperative to do something. 

I opted for re section...chopping the stuff out rather than burning out. Was told that there is no evtdence to prove the preference for either as an S4 cc patient. 

For some, it works well. For me it's been an absolute nightmare. Went to supposedly the  go to hospital for UK liver stuff. Got home and the chest split open so you could park a tyre in the hole. Surgical bugger up. Still trying to fill the hole after 3 months. It's called dehiscence. 

For me in future it's ablation all day every day as no doubt the tumourswill be back .but maybe they will.not be clowns at your hospital. 

Can't imagine anyone will operate on you until 2 or 3 months after ending Chemo. So challenge your advisors on getting ablation as it's hopefully just a day or two recovery. 

Anyways the main message here is that this is a very bumpy road. Stay positive... Incidentally those tumours migrated presumably via lymph glands.

When they excise your primary they'll have a hack round those for good measure. 

Try to maintain your strength by eating well and getting exercise. 

Many thanks Court 

Hi Anthony

Many thanks for sharing your journey - that sounds really tough (under statement I have no doubt). Wishing you the best of luck as you continue. Thanks for the tip re the ablation. That has been mentioned but they don’t seem keen to operate with the spread in the liver and lungs - I guess it’s wait for the new scans after the chemo and take it from there, but like you suggest, if the ablation needs less recovery maybe that’s something they could do to move things forwards - will speak to the team. Thanks gain 

From what I remember from the surgeons they get concerned operating as some people have post op complications and can put chemo months down the road . They like to gain that stability first .

I will link in a booklet you might find helpful as it goes through all the options .

Court 

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/advanced-bowel-cancer/treating-advanced-bowel-cancer/
Obviously the oncologist carefully plan the best treatment for each individual but it gives a good overview. 

Thanks Court, that’s really helpful

Hi Dave

As long as those liver suckers are stabilised and even better..shrank by the Chemo then don't lose any hair over them. 

Colorectal primaries generally grow slowly.  Get an analysis of that situation via scans. Ask for the Radiologist summary and that should contain lymph blather as well.

Ask for the MDT surgery summary inputs so confirm what you are being told.

If that liver stuff grows at pace despite chemo think about creating merry hell and see if ablation is possible in.one of your break weeks between cycles.

You will never get a re section on Chemo as too invasive and fraught so that is off the table..I think. But the ablation thingy may in my understanding be repeatable without causing you to lose sleep as you travel the bumpy road.

Keep fit, eat well etc so that at least you are in a state to take advantage of any options and give no excuses for anything to be off the table.

Good luck