Partners Bowel Cancer Has Spread

Hi 

I am so sorry to read that ! 
Our helpline staff 0808 808 0000 would be happy to speak with you and have a lot of resources on how to support children . 

If I am reading it correctly it looks as though his CEA markers started dropping back down ! Has the oncologist kept him on the same chemotherapy?

There are many people who use chemo long term and you will see them around forums in their fifth and sixth year and still doing well !

I am a big believer in second opinions as I think they can help to hear how another oncologist would manage the situation ! It also can help different options to surface although they can also be hard hearing it all over again so timing can come into play !

Is immunotherapy a possibility? If you know a bit about his cell type you can start to investigate the different targeted therapies that might be possible for him . An oncologist could help in that area . 

We are here to support you too ! Anytime you need to chat or ask anything please post !

take care ,

Court 

Hi RMG03

I am so sorry that you are going through this awful time. I too am in a similar position with my husband, who was diagnosed with metastatic colorectal and liver cancer during the first lockdown and went through a year of chemo, immuno, radio, 3 surgeries. All looking good and apparently no mop up chemo needed. Then bam, from being cured to it's back in the liver and spread to the abdominal wall, which makes it terminal and only palliative chemo.

I felt exactly the same as you and our world fell apart. From having hope to having no hope is a big shift and although we've come to terms with the secondary diagnosis, there's still a part of me thinks that there's still a possibility of clinical trials etc. We haven't told our two boys aged 9 and 11 about the terminal diagnosis as we just don't know how long we are dealing with and can't destroy their worlds until we know for sure that it's going the wrong way.

The way I have tried to get through it is to set myself a challenge and do it. Just for me. I swam the virtual English Channel for Macmillan and gave back something to them as they've supported us. Whatever it is, you need to take time for you and only you, no matter how hard it is. The rest of my time is taken up with caring for everyone else but I'm beginning to get a bit of me back finally. At the end of this long road I hope to have retained myself and not got sucked under with cancer.

Whatever happens you will deal with it. But look after yourself xx

Hi RMG03

I would like to introduce myself !

I myself was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer in 2016 . And more or less in the same situation as your self to be told all gone then bam back in full force and now stage 4 manageable but can't be cured .however chemo makes me ill destroys my immune system .so no treatment at the moment only for pain but maybe offering Radiotherapy for pain just waiting for my last results . 

Keep in touch 

Take care 

Jumbobs 

Hi Jumbobs

I'm so sorry that chemo is making you so ill. It's so gruelling! Have you heard of mistletoe therapy? A friend told me about it recently and has been used effectively alongside chemo etc. I'm going to ask if it's a possibility for my husband. Think it's done in Scotland, unsure if done on the NHS. Anything is worth a shot x

Hi . I have been on mistletoe therapy ever since breast cancer 12 years ago, and ongoing for bowel cancer 4years ago and am in remission at present. To access it you could try getting I  touch with the National  Centre for integrated Medicine. It has to be prescribed by a doctor and is individually tailored for the patient. You can google them and contact them via the website. Good luck.

Thank you! I just feel a bit helpless at the moment. My H2B is so strong and staying so positive and trying not to worry but i am really struggling with keeping myself from breaking down. I am just so angry, he's a good man who have never abused his body and i just feel its so unfair! They have changed his Chemo now and he's just finished his first session of that, still every 2 weeks but a different quick infusion drug...

We still have no update on the immunotherapy and i have been reading up on ablation... maybe that could be worth a look into. 

Thank you so much, for now we have just told my daughter that the chemo has to continue, i think until we know more about how his treatment is working for him we will just leave it as that as he has been very lucky and chemo isn't causing him too much of a problem at the moment at all.

Thanks again!!

Hi Jimbobs!

Good to hear from you and someone who has been in a similar situation. I am so sorry to hear the chemo makes you so poorly, my H2B has been very lucky so far with it however he has been on chemo less than a year so far.... hopefully you get the radiotherapy and manage to keep the pain at bay. Its awful the effects this treatment has on people.

Stay Safe and take care of yourself!!

That’s great that he tolerates chemo so well ! That’s really important! 
Totally understand you are struggling ! It’s very tough to watch a loved one go through this ! Have you got a cancer centre nearby you could seek support from ? 
I also am a big believer in getting time away for yourself to have a coffee and unburden yourself to people who understand! It helps you in the long term !

I also found my GP a good support! He helped me cope with the emotional aspects !

Hopefully the Immunotherapy might be an option ! 
Always here for you !

Court 

Hi RMG03 

Yes it is great to speak with someone that's recieved the same treatment as they can swop there ordeals or maybe even say like yourself  all went well today which is like  boost for others to hear that , 

Yes my results on Monday as long as they are back as the last twice I have had the results weren't available so he just reported on it .

Hope your H2B continues with treatment without the side effects 

Take care speak soon 

Jimbobs 

Hi there same thing happened to me had my bowel removed then had a tumour in my line of my stomach so started chemo and changed my diet no sugar plenty of vitamins had ct scan tumour not showing up but couple of spots in my liver so they said they are keeping my going which I said I Don't think so I will beat it but why won't the NHS offer me more treatments because if your willing to pay for it other place's will give you this treatment what NHS won't