Bowel cancer diagnosis, then news of spread to liver, all within 2 weeks

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Hi all, new here, first post.

I hope everyone is coping best we can. Im finding this journey horrendous. I'm 37, I started off with minor symptoms, that most people thought would be hemeroids. A scan later, then another scan, I've found myself 3 weeks on from being fine, to being told I have stage 4 bowel cancer, that's spread to my liver.

I haven't started treatments yet, PET scan to come this coming week.

At best I've been told I'll have to have a stoma bag for life and looking like some removal of some amount of liver?

Please tell me there's light at the end of this tunnel.

Anyone with a similar experience but further along the treatment path?

Thanks

Dulac over 1 year ago

Good Morning Neilio57,

A friend of mine - early 40s with a young family - was suddenly diagnosed with bowel cancer that required swift surgery to remove a section of his colon. A stoma was not necessary in his case, although two tumours on his liver were discovered. He recovered from bowel surgery quickly and then embarked on a course of chemo to attack the liver problem prior to surgery for that. Two operations were necessary to deal with his liver and he took it easy for a couple of months. Now he is back to near- normal activities and seems as fit as a butcher's dog, although chastened by his experiences and with a different outlook on life. The whole process took about a year or so, but he was driven by a strong desire to continue physical work as soon as possible. The NHS teams saved his life.

Dulac

court over 1 year ago

Welcome Neilio57

The speed of change is hard to process but if you click on my user name you can read my mum’s story . Her liver has been clear since 2010 . Definitely hope despite a difficult diagnosis.

It took all involved time to process things but there are centres of excellence for the liver . They eventually took 73% of my mums liver away . It has regenerated and to be honest functions well despite her age and recent health issues.

Hold onto the hope that there is a good plan in place and the chemo itself can shrink the tumours for some people and give better surgical margins .

We also have a stoma forum and good people to help you through that aspect .

take care ,

Court

Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

Sub over 1 year ago

Hi there ,

I had similar diagnosis to you - tumour in the bowel that had spread to the liver . I had 5 sessions of radiotherapy followed by 4 months of chemotherapy. This shrank the tumours enough so that I could be operated on . Just before Christmas I had a bowel resection to remove part of bowel with tumour in it and then last week had liver resection for 2 tumours that had spread from bowel . All tumours have beeen removed so all is not lost (though it may seeem like that sometimes) with regards to a bag , that was my biggest worry but my surgeon managed to attach the bowel back without the need for a bag so it’s not always a definite .

here for any questions you may have as someone that’s recently beer. Through that journey

Jimmy