Results back - 7 mets on liver

Hi JoJo32

I think surgery always feels like the best solution in our minds however long term I think it was the chemotherapy that became a game changer . Reducing the tumour load gives the surgeons more room to creat better margins but also it may pull in other stray cells . In most cases I read they prefer chemotherapy first . It’s pretty standard . However already he is borderline so that’s a plus . My mum was not borderline at the starting point . He is in a better place . 

My mum had only three clear segments .1 to 3 the rest had disease . But it was enough to remove 73% of her liver . They did mention having to be creative ! 

There is a subgroup of patients that continues to do well despite a spread to the liver .

Hope he has significant shrinkage and chemo is kind on his system . My mum was 68 at her first liver resection and 69 at her second and her liver function is great .

take care ,

 Court 

Thank you that is reassuring. Though really hard to think it will be ok. Can’t help my negativity xx

Please don’t give yourself a hard time about feeling negative . I could not help it either at the beginning . It felt too big and overwhelming. Once treatment starts you do actually feel as though there is a safety net in place and the cancer is being tackled . It gives you a chance to stabilise. It’s all such a shock in your life . 
You can draw strength here among people who understand .

Seeing tumour markers can be a great boost .

When does chemo start ?

Take care ,

 Court 

He’s not sure yet still waiting to her from liver team. 

they’ve not done bloods checking for tumor markers which is odd ? 

apparently he’s going to be on this folfiri with a machine attached so it goes into him over days? 
Mia that the norm or an indication how back his cancer is ? 

jo x

Its a standard chemo that is frequently used . 
Once you hear from the liver team they will decide the best order for him . They will do all the markers prior to starting chemo . No worries there .

take care ,

 Court 

Hi Jo,

my dad also has 7 mets on his liver. He has currently had 13 cycles of Folfiri which have started to shrink the tumours. There is hope, I know how you’re feeling I have been in the exact same place as you. Its rough but remaining positive really does help! It’s difficult to do but a positive outlook has really helped us. Make sure you take time for yourself and find time to do the things you enjoy. That’s really going to help you. Stepping back a little was something I found very difficult at the beginning but it has benefitted us so much as when I return home I feel refreshed and able to take care of my dad in the best way. If you have any questions about the treatment or what to expect please let me know! 
Amy

Hi 

13 is a lot, they said to Mark 6 and then review. 

im now thinking ......12 months ago he had chemo to get rid of any cancer  that had travelled because they found some in lymph nodes after bowel surgery and the oncologist said that chemo hasn’t worked because it’s in liver so to try another one.  Is that common ? Or does that mean his cancer is so difficult to treat? 

Hi @Jojo32,

We were told that chemotherapy for bowel cancer works better on solid tumours than microdisease. That’s not to say it does not work on microdisease but they just can’t endure it’s eradicated. There is a bit of oncologists preferences at play too and their own clinical leanings . My mum’s oncologist selected to keep her on the same chemo , others do not .

In terms of saying it’s failed , that’s something I don’t really understand as it’s hard to measure chemo effectiveness on none visible disease . My mum got really wonderful results on chemo . Her oncologist was delighted . They cleared off the scan from 5 cm . Unfortunately not all the microdisease was eliminated . She had a recurrence but the same chemo then did another wonderful job and the surgeon completed the task with surgery . Some may class it as a fail but it got her to surgery so in my book it’s successful . 
It don’t think they would regard it as harder to treat just some stray cells managed to get away .

My mum had six cycles each time then reviewed . Some oncologists prefer 12 . 
take care ,

 Court