Back to back surgery

Hi

All the very best with your up coming surgery . My mum had her first liver and bowel resection under the one procedure . But they don’t tend to do that so much now . The next year she had surgery again at a specialist unit for the liver and I would say it was a much better idea to have it as a separate procedure . The liver unit is specialised in every way with highly trained staff . Her liver has remained clear for over eight years .

My mum’s liver mets were really rather large so there was no need for an additional scan.

My mum has had over ten mets removed in total and her liver has regenerate and works well . 

It’s all overwhelming to begin with but over the last ten years the liver surgeons have been much more proactive .

take care ,

 Court 

Thanks Court. When I went for radiotherapy back in November they didn’t see the spots in my liver that’s why I am a bit upset. Should I even ask why not scan everything (kidney, lungs) to be sure it’s not one blow after another. I usually take things in stride and sulk for a day and bounce back. This time I keep thinking was the wait too long in between diagnosis and radiotherapy treatment. Would it have spread if they did it sooner? Lots of thoughts and what if’s. I’m quite upset. Hearing how your mom is now makes me feel better but I still have that fear that my heart might not be able to take all the stress. I don’t even know if they’re giving me chemo after coz the surgeon said it might affect my heart and have complications. Oh I’m so sorry that I’m ranting now.

Your definitely not ranting these are very valid questions . Bowel cancer , although with a few exceptions, generally spreads through the lymphatic pathways , liver/ lungs. That’s why you will see a lot of treatment for liver and lung mets in forums . From what your saying your tumour burden in the liver must be small if they could not see them in Nov . That’s a good thing and the benefits of subjecting yourself to the scanning process they can get in and remove them quickly and preserve most of your liver function .

My mum was a stage 4 patient at diagnosis. Her liver looked like a fruit bowel with tumours yet they managed to take73% of her liver away . She required an extensive procedure . A smaller spread is easier to remove .

You might be surprised to know my mum has never had any chemo post surgery and has done well . She also had around three months gap waiting for surgery . The surgeons know roughly the margin they have for surgery and the timelines . They are quite relaxed about it whilst we were anxious . 

It sounds as though they are not intending to leave much of a gap between procedures and that’s something I have noticed in recent years they are much quicker . It’s changed so much but all for the better .

Ask anything you like . 
take care 

Court 

Thank you so much Court. I maybe can manage not thinking much about it today hearing what you had to say. It’s just one health problem after the other with me. As I said I had open heart surgery in 2018 and now this. It’s a bit too much for me and subjecting my family to all the stresses and scares. 

I really appreciate you responding

ana

Hi ,

You have most certainly endured more than most and hopefully this will open up to a extended period of wellness for you .

The NICE guidelines covers heart issues and gives guidance to oncologists on the best approach . It is well thought out and you might get some comfort from knowing it’s been considered .

 The other thing to remember outcomes are changing because the scans are so much better than ten years ago . They only picked up tumours that had reached 5mm now they detected a lung met in my mum four years ago that was 2mm , they removed it at 7/8 mm . She was in great shape and it was gone before it caused any issues .

One of my mum’s liver mets was 5 cm . Gone and never returned .

You are only human and emotions initially get overwhelming but it does sound as though you have a very proactive team behind you .

take care ,

 Court