Bowel cancer that has spread to lymph nodes and lungs

Hi Tom72 

Welcome to the forum but I am sorry to hear about your dad .

Was he picked up through a screen ?

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/advanced-bowel-cancer/treating-advanced-bowel-cancer/

I have linked in a useful booklet that goes through the various options for someone who has disease that has spread .

They try to use a systemic approach to treatment if possible with the aim of stabilising the visible disease , hopefully kill off any stray cell but also may gain some shrinkage in the presenting tumours .

They will want to know what your dads cell type is to get the optimum treatment pathway for him .

They generally rescan and if possible might add in other treatment approaches . Bowel cancer that has spread is more favourable than some other primary cancers as it has lots of different options . Others can use chemo in a maintenance’s situation and you will see people on the boards seven years into this . Etc .

Depending on the cell type some people are now using immunotherapy.

Not everyone one responds yet but treatment is very proactive now . My own mum is a great responder to treatment and was able to add in liver and lung surgeries. Size and location of the spread matters and there is criteria do everything .

initially going to chemo felt bad as I thought she had missed out on surgery but with hindsight I attribute it to her longevity. She is entering year 15 following a stage 4 diagnosis. So it’s not without hope but it can be tough and needs a lot of support . But sometimes in a stage 4 situation it matters more now how he responds .

Lots of Hope still and give yourself time to find your feet with this new way of living with treatment and hospitals now part of the process . 
Make sure you use reliable tools for your information. Bowel cancer U.K. also has info .

We have a helpline 0808 808 0000 . Nurses can talk you through any medical aspect but there is also emotional support , financial or information in general available.

Please feel free to ask anything . My mum’s liver tumours grew quickly but her lungs are very slow . 

She still has a spread in her lungs all these years later .

After the first couple of intense years there were many good times still to be had .

How is your dad coping ? 
Do they want to operate on the bowel ?

Take care ,

Court 

Hi Tom72. I was a little older than your Dad when diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2022 but like him I had no symptoms prior to returning a FIT test as part of a routine medical. I had 31 lymph nodes removed along with a section of my bowel. Twenty-two of these were cancerous, which might be something of record looking through this forum. I was diagnosed as Stage 4 a year later after the cancer had spread to my para-aortic lymph nodes. Like your Dad my cancer is incurable. . I have a 11cm chain of cancerous lymph nodes, the largest of which is 22mm in size. The cancer has been relatively slow growing and other than suffering fatigue I have felt generally well. 

My wife and I have taken a cruise; been to concerts and the theatre. I have continued to coach a university women’s rugby team. I live life to the full although how long my life will be I do not know.

I have actually found my diagnosis/prognosis empowering in that I don’t put off what I can do today until tomorrow.

Hope your Dad eventually feels the same.

All the best.

Maninbath

So good to read this Maninbath . So helpful having you around to share this experience with others .

Inspirational,

Court