Picked up on a bowel screen in 2009 . Spread to liver covered segments 4to 8 . Five mets with one measuring 5 cm . Six rounds of chemo , Cap tablets and oxa . Resulted in a brilliant response . Surgery to remove the primary and four wedge resections in the liver .
Immediate recurrence on the first three month scan . Four 1 cm mets and recurrence on a resection margin . One tumour was abutting a blood vessel .
Back to chemo and another great response . Stayed on the same chemo combination .
This time referred to a centre of excellence where they removed 73% of her liver . Liver has remained clear since then .
Functions well and not had any problems with it over the 15 years . Think it’s possibly an odd shape when it regenerates and we joke they must give the trainee radiologists mums scans to interpret to give them a fright!
Star74 Could you put a quick summary of your story . I know you’re busy just now . But the second opinion aspect is so relevant for others .
Of course court , happy to and thanks for the tag.
Diagnosed Nov 2020 after numerous GP visits and being treated for piles. I was told I had colorectal cancer with extensive spread to the liver and that an operation would be very unlikely. Luckily my Oncologist had faith in me and put me on the "big guns" chemo of folforinox + cetuximab. I had a great response, however, after many MDT meetings, my local hospital deemed me inoperable due to location and amount of lesions. I sought a couple of second opinions with surgeons known for taking on trickier surgeries, one private with Mr Lodge in Leeds and one NHS with Mr Rees in Basingstoke. Both agreed to operate and I had a liver resection in Nov 21. The surgeon said my liver was top notch and everything they took was dead cancer.
In Feb 22 I had radiotherapy to the bowel tumour and again, my local hospital refused to operate. I was referred to the complex colorectal surgical team in Southampton and had pelvic extenteration surgery in July 22. Unfortunately, I had a recurrence in the pelvis and had a pelvic extenteration re-do in May 23. I have now had a further recurrence and have been on chemo since Nov 23, I've had a good response and at my last scan the lesions had almost disappeared.
I would recommend anyone going through similar to seek second opinions. I would not be here today if I hadn't and my liver remains clear almost 3 years later. I always thought, even if the second opinions agreed with my treatment plan, at least I know that I left no stone unturned. It does help though that I've had a fantastic Oncologist in my corner who is my biggest advocate in the MDT meetings.
Finally, don't loose hope. They may say inoperable now but with a good response to chemo it can all change.
Sorry to hear about your husband. I was really nervous going into the first appointment but I came away feeling quite positive. They'll likely go through what chemo he will have and the possible side effects. They may have the results of the biopsy which will confirm if his tumour has any mutations and this will guide the Onc to his treatment path. They tend to go straight to chemo when there has been spread to try to control any micro disease lurking. This is the worst time, you will feel much better when there is a plan in place and feel like you are doing something actively to fight this.
There is usually a colorectal Nurse Specialist (CNS) in the meeting, a great point of contact going forward. Especially as there can be a lot to take in and you may think of questions afterwards.
I would also ask for a portacath, it's a way of administering chemo and it sits underneath the skin in the chest, unlike a PICC which has the line coming out of the arm. It's great as you can shower/swim, etc and it's not visible when not in use.
Let us know what chemo he is offered and we can help with side effects. I hope it goes ok, please ask any questions here, it's a great place for advice. Take care.
Hello, so I'm still on my journey. I am early 40s. I was diagnosed last year Oct/ November with primary bowel cancer with spread to an ovary and liver. I've had chemo (folfox) 4 cycles, then surgery on primary and ovary in March as ovary was growing too much and it had to be got out, then folfoxiri since late April and now we are at the point that they are talking about either ablation or resection for my liver- this will be discussed at both Colorectal and Hepto MDTs in the next 2 weeks. Any advice from anyone about ablation vs resection would be great. I have the Braf mutation so time off treatment is a factor, though my Oncologist did say that's not the only consideration. I know I am very lucky to have possible options.
