Bowel Cancer with Liver Metastasis (28 Years Old)

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/221768/chemo-care-top-tips--
 
Hi 

Welcome to the forum but I have to say I am feeling for you . If you are able to take some inspiration from a much older lady then please click on my username and read my mum’s story through as she navigated a spread to her liver . A complete surprise as it was only detected through the bowel screen . Chemo did a fantastic job at not only stabilising the disease but also shrinking it to allow other avenues to be explored . 
I am also going to tag in Star74 as you might find her story very encouraging. Although she may be a busy Mrs Claus at this time of year !

I have also linked in a thread at the top of the page to have a read through in preparation for chemo .

Bowel cancer is quite fortunate in that it has many different treatment options in a stage 4 setting so it’s certainly not without hope .

Please feel free to ask anything and we will do our best to help .

Take special care ,

Court 

Hi  sorry you have found yourself here but you have def come to the right place.

I was in your shoes this time last year, it is such a shock isn't it? Especially when there are no symptoms, I went in for my colonoscopy expecting to have a few piles sorted but when I was shown into the private room my whole world came crashing down. 

Due to the extensive spread to my liver, I started chemo straight away in the hope that it would shrink enough for surgery, which was looking very unlikely according to the nurse and I am very happy to have proved her wrong!

I had about 7 months of chemo with regular CT scans, I responded well to chemo and things were shrinking nicely. My Oncologist was always so positive but my local hospital refused to operate as one of the tumours was on a main vein.  There was talk of palliative radiotherapy, however, I requested a second opinion and the fantastic surgeon in Basingstoke agreed to do a liver resection.  This was 6 weeks ago, I have since had a scan and my liver is clear!  

Next step is chemoradiation in Jan, so Im a year in, I still have a way to go but please don't loose hope, amazing things can be done, even with a stage 4 diagnosis.   

Do you know what chemo you will be on?  You are very young, however that can be a great benefit as they will likely throw everything at you. The nurses in the chemo suite are lovely and will go through everything with you.  Keep a note of any side effects as there will be some medication they can give you.

I made sure I had a healthy smoothie every day, I also had protein shakes if I didn't fancy eating much and I exercised when I could.  Be sure to drink plenty of fluids as is really easy to get dehydrated. 

Finally, no Google!!  Anything you want to ask, just ask here or the nurses.

All the very best, please keep us posted. Xx

Thanks court Mrs Claus has got everything done, this week has been a mixture of playdates, hosp appointments and scans!  Hope you are well?! Xx

Hi Court, 

Thanks so much for the reply. As you can probably imagine it's been a busy month with lots to consider, apologies for a delayed response!

It's so good to see cases like your mums. When you hear stage 4 for the first time, it really doesn't fill you with much confidence but it's stories like this that gives a bit of hope. 

I started chemo this week and I've been put on a clinical trial which is testing a drug that could reduce the damage chemo has on bone marrow. One full day, one half day and a pump disconnection on day 3, 2 week break and repeat for 3 months is what they've got me on.

A long way to go but at least the process has started!

Hi Star, 

Thanks so much for the message! Reading through your story is just inspiring. Fantastic to hear that chemo was effective and other options were opened for you.

I'm on quite an intense chemo regimen by the sounds. They've prescribed irinotecan, oxaliplatin, leucovorin, fluorouracil and bevacizumab. I'm also on a clinical trial testing a drug which could protect the bone marrow from chemo damage. I have one full day, one half day and a pump disconnection on day 3, 2 week break and repeat for 3 months to see where I am.

I had my first sessions this week and it's settled well. I've had nausea/sickness/fatigue but seem to be getting better by the day thankfully. 

I completely agree with the Google comment. Unfortunately it's something I did quite early on and it was just destructive! 

All the best with the rest of your treatment, hoping the chemoradiation goes ok!

It will have been a long month for you but you are on your way now and hopefully as we chat it will be doing it’s job and heading straight to those cells ! 
That’s a really interesting study to participate in . Hopefully that will give you a good run at chemo too!

Hope it’s not been too rough on you . 

Holding out for significant shrinkage !

Take care ,

Court