Bowel cancer

Hi makerfield

Firstly welcome to the forum ! I sense this has been a difficult post for you write . I take it your oncologist and yourself have not had a discussion on your prognosis? That’s ok too , my mum purposely did not wish to know hers and felt Drs did a great job treating cancer but could not predict her own response! If you click on my user name you can read her story managing a stage 4 diagnosis to both liver / lung .

If you respond well to chemotherapy and achieve shrinkage /stability then it is possible to continue you like that for a longer period of time . You will read of people on the forums who are five/six years into treatment using chemo . My own mum had three different surgeries , two to her liver and bowel and a separate one to her lung ! There are treatments like Radio frequency ablation that can be used on the liver and lung if they met the size and location criteria. From what I can gather it is dependent on keeping the tumour mutation burden low and how well you as an individual respond and tolerate treatment . My mum had an intense few years of intervention but had several years off treatment too . She has been twelve years diagnosed as a stage 4 patient this month ! Others may not achieve the same response ! It is very individual. Has your oncologist said how you are responding?

You might like to take this through with our helpline staff 0808 808 0000. 
https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/TreatingAdvancedBowelCancer_BowelCancerUK.pdf

I have also copied in a leaflet from bowel cancer U.K. ! It shows the different treatments but also the amount of chemotherapy options open to oncologist for bowel cancer patients . I think it might give you some insight into what is being achieved in the field !

Take special care and I am glad you posted !

Court 

Hi thanks for your reply I have spoken openly with my oncologist I see two off the same team they are full of hope and think I'm doing well but part of me thinks they dont want to tell me how long they think I have it's not knowing that is getting to me im staying positive but cant plan for the future thanks again it is good your Mum has survived I hope I will to x

Right I understand what your saying . Can I just say when they don’t see that hope they tell you without any sugar coating ! My mum’s disease was initially extensive and they were tough talks to listen to ! If your team is hopefully I would definitely  listen to them and trust their judgement ! 

They would definitely not give you false hope ! When they saw my mum responding I noticed their language changed too! It did become much more optimistic and to be fair until they see that from the scans they had every right to be cautious . But once they get a better feel for your own individual response they were better able to assess the situation . Sounds as though that’s where your team are at ! 
I can understand why you think they may withhold something but I actually think that is against their ethics now !

All the very best and hope your chemo is not causing too many issues for you !

Court 

Thanks again court I feel more optimistic now I'm doing every thing that's asked I want to survive iventaken your advise on board and will keep going bye for now