Recently Diagnosed with Bowel Cancer with Liver Mets

Hi Kyle20124 welcome to the forum Thats a shame that the nurse has said that and maybe not fully elaborated.

Lots of Cancers are not totally curable but remain treatable if that make sense, and I am assuming that is why the Consultant want to see you to discuss Chemo. This is maybe a question that you can ask them if you are seeing them tomorrow. 

Hi Kyle2024 

A big welcome and hope we can be of assistance to you . Certainly the first oncology appointment with a stage 4 condition can be a bit hard to digest but once over that the treatment plan brings some focus and stability around it .

There is still a stage 4 sub group of patients that do well despite a difficult diagnosis but for sure it now includes treatment and hospitals. It is very common with a spread to go straight to treatment and for good reason . It not only gives the opportunity to stabilise the visible disease but also the microscopic disease . My mum was diagnosed back in 2009 with a significant spread to her liver and went straight to treatment . After two years she had 70% of her liver removed and it remained clear for 15 years . She passed this summer at a wonderful 82 years of age . Thanks to her great team . She still has some disease on and off but good scanning kept on top of it . Not everyone gets these outcomes but a growing group of patients do .

However until they see how you respond they are inclined to be cautious .

You might be surprised but many , many good times were had after diagnosis after she had time to adjust . Her grandchildren were 9,7,7,4 when she was diagnosed. They were 24,22,22 and 19 when she passed and she enjoyed watching them grow .

She did not run out of treatment options just strength .

I wish you every success ,

Court 

Saw the Oncologist today, They've said "the situation couldn't be worse" with the Liver Mets.

Stage 4 confirmed, but Chemo to start ASAP. He's said a 50/50 chance of the Chemo shrinking tumors, but all dependent if I respond well to treatment or not. They'll be in touch with Kings in London regarding my scans etc.

PICC line to be put in next week and hopefully we can start fighting from next week.

Feeling quite deflated today, but hopeful that we can get there.

Only got mum’s experience to go on but it took a few days just to get over the first oncologist visit . The “ being cautious “ about the outcome is very hard to listen to but you are a statistic of one . My mum had a significant spread but a great wee responder so please be encouraged. 

You will notice the language gets a bit more optimistic as the process goes along . I know many , many people told the same as you and they are doing incredibly well .

They also follow your tumour markers and will rescan and be aggressive in their treatment approaches if they can despite the no sugar coating approach. 

Hope you can have a restful night and recover .

Heres to significant shrinkage when treatment starts .

Do you know what chemo you are having ? 
take care ,

Court 

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/advanced-bowel-cancer/treating-advanced-bowel-cancer/spread-to-the-liver/

You might find this a helpful read ! 

Been told it will be folfiri.

still feeling quite numb to it, I’ve literally had zero symptoms until a couple of weeks ago, and now I’m fighting to keep myself alive

I don’t really have any helpful advice but just wanted to say I really really feel for you and can’t imagine what a huge shock you must be in especially after having zero symptoms. You are young and the chances are your body will cope with whatever treatment they throw at you. Don’t be afraid to contact your oncologist and the specialist nurses with any thoughts and questions you may have. 

Hi mate. I was diagnosed at stage 4 in February this year. I also had oncology appointments with doctors using words like not treatable and surgery not an option etc...... I felt utterly devastated. But they didn't explain that non operable meant that's it's just not the right option on the day. They like to have "systemic" control first so they know they can shrink your specific type of tumors. I was reading that other people had had surgery first and I was annoyed that wasn't offered to me. But they explained that they would rather not get me into major surgeries to discover later that something had come back. And everyone is totally different. I suppose they will try the chemo options first to get control of the tumors before getting them out. In my case, my liver mets were barely under control after the second option of chemo, and my primary bowell tumour shark slightly but only after a short course of radiotherapy too...... Finally after 6 months of being told it's not operable, they decided it was a good opportunity to operate and remove the liver mets with some ablation used too. Second step for me at least is to get the tumour out the pelvis area next. It's big changes but the alternative, not doing anything about it is worse. So let's take what we can and we'll still be here this time next year ay. 

So what I'm saying is, they like to use scary words but you still have options and hope. 

Like yourself I had barely any symptoms. It's all shocking. Since February I've kind of gotten used to a lower level of happiness and accepted that all I can really do, is do as I'm told. Go here, do this, do that. So on the good days that you're not at an appointment, make the most of it. Don't feel bad if you don't particularly feel like skydiving, I realised all I really wanted to do is spend time with friends and family.

It's not a death sentence, you can do this. 

Mate, this is the kind of post I’ve needed to read.

my head has been all over the shop for 3 weeks now and after the appointment yesterday I was feeling quite deflated… but I’m treating it as it’s not curable right now.

the liver issue is the main issue. Let’s get it under control and then hope for the best!

Thankyou for posting this my husband has just had 6 chemo sessions with no improvement he’s been given another 6 I needed to hear this today