Disappointing scan results

Hi NicN

Welcome to the forum !
Sorry to hear that . I can see why that would be disappointing. Did they say if there was evidence of some shrinkage just not enough ?

I take it you are going to be having an infusion of chemotherapy just now ? It certainly took that to turn my mum from inoperable to operable .

The other aspect you may want to consider is getting a second opinion . Some surgeons are able to go in a bit more aggressively than others . I will tag in  to share their story .

Take care ,

Court 

Thanks Court, 

it’s good to hear it made a difference for your mum, (I hope all went well for her ),  that makes me feel more positive, 

Was a knock hearing I have to have more treatment as I felt so much better, but it just hadn’t shrank enough 

They have suggested I have another scan in a couple of weeks just to double check it hasn’t shrank a little more, if not I may try for the second opinion option also

thanks for taking the time to reply. It helps 

Hi Nicon1, mine didn't shrink after chemo/radio. You actually sound like you're in a good place if they are trying another course to get it to shrink. Even though mine didn't shrink I had the op as it was already assumed I'd have that part of my bowel removed. So remember 'success' is relative - sounds like they are hoping to not remove any bowel/or mimimal. Whereas mine was assumed they would remove some bowel, so the chemo/radio not shrinking it was an expected outcome and didn't change the next step for me.

Just see your next course as the next step for you.

I am three years post-op and life is awesome, yet if we compare my outcome with yours - mine will appear worse. So try and see your situation as a positive. I know that's easy for me to say, but from my perspective it really is.

Cheers 

I never really looked at it that way, 

thanks for opening my eyes a bit more to the bigger picture, I’ve just been taking baby steps and taking each bit of treatment/ news as it came, so was a bit of a knock back

appreciate your words , they have def given me a boost

glad to hear you sound like your smashing it

He also has one of the best user names on the boards 

Really does

need to up my game 

Hi NicN, sorry to hear that it hasn't quite shrunk enough yet...'yet' being the key word. How many cycles of chemo and radio have you had so far and how many more have you got to have? 

The important thing to remember that the number of cycles to become operable doesn't impact your prognosis (although I can definitely understand you want to get to that point asap and not have to have anymore chemo). Some people take longer than others to get enough shrinkage before surgery. Hang in there, it sounds like you're doing well and the treatment is working. 

I had 5 weeks of radiotherapy combined with chemo tablets 

I will have more scans in the next week or so, to see if the radiotherapy has worked that bit more, but looks likely I will need 3 months of chemotherapy, they haven’t given me too many details until the next scan , and if I’m honest I never really asked  to many questions, I seem to be in shock every time, and never know what to ask , would think I might have accepted it all by now