Almost 4 weeks post liver resection, anybody know what chemo usually used after?

Hi 

Delighted to hear you are safely through surgery . I am glad you have decided to go easy on yourself as it is a very big surgery and you actually sound as though you are making an excellent recovery . Whilst my mum was functioning well she took another few months to actually find her feet and feel up to her normal tolerance of activity . The surgeon did warn us that might be the case .

My mum was so long ago and they decided not to give her chemotherapy . I don’t think she would have been fit for it to be truthful . However I notice a few cycles seem to be a more popular choice post op . You can always get a second opinion to see how another consultant would approach it . It seems to be similar to first line chemotherapy . Some still seem to reserve it for future use if required whilst other oncologists op to use it . 
I will try and look at recent research if I get a moment . 
I can understand your concern and you could certainly speak to your team about your wishes .

Take care ,

Court 

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng151/evidence/d2a-treatment-for-metastatic-colorectal-cancer-in-the-liver-amenable-to-treatment-with-curative-intent-pdf-253058083672
Found the nice guidelines . Big long document so not had time to digest but you got to love the title .” With curative intent “ 

Court 

Hi  I am 6 weeks post liver resection, I feel much better however I still need to brace myself for a sneeze!  I would have liked to got back to exercising by now but I'm listening to my body and not quite ready just yet.

I know how you feel about being off treatment,  I haven't had chemo since Aug and it's terrifying going through the major surgery and just leaving things.  My primary tumour is still in situ so I am due to start chemoradiation in Jan and then hopefully the bowel op after.

Have you had a post op scan yet?  Maybe some firm decisions will be made then?  I would def speak to your team though, if they are advising a break, how long for?

Xx

Dear Court, so sorry not replied  sooner. Thankyou so muchbfor replying to my post its really helpful. Have spoken to oncologist and he is organising ct in about 4 weeks and then we will be speaking again re chemo. He said histology said margins were clear but both in agreement at this particular point chemo would be vest put off to give me extra time to recover. Most days I'm ok but having big wobble today but think that is partly due to lot of other stressful things going on at moment.  I will try and wade through guidelines.  This surgery def takes a lot out of you. I can completely understand why your mum said it took a couple of months. Take care and Happy New Year x

No problem at all . You have been through a lot and unfortunately other life issues keep unfolding at the same time . 
Your oncologist sounds very wise and taking the time to heal is essential . It’s a big operation and I think you will find another four weeks makes the world of difference to you .

Clear margins is brilliant news !

Hope this year is kind to you .

Court 

Dear Star, thankyou for replying and I am so sorry taken me so long to reply. I'm 5 weeks post op now and starting to turn corner, I think. Scan planned for about 4 weeks and then appt with oncologist to discuss if chemo or not. Yes exercising little way off for me too. Find get fatigued still quite easily and digestion bit of issue. Not sure if it's where everything is tight still round scar and it's affecting normal passage of food. Have to guage quite carefully amount I eat. The anxiety comes and goes. Think its fuelled by my memory of last year when scan went from clear to aggressive spread and I worry that will happen again.

How are you getting on now? Hope you are making steady progress  and treatment goes ok.

Best wishes x

Thankyou Court, not having a great day today. Its unlike me but its all caught up with me a bit and just really tearful. Reading some of the other posts on here as well helps as I know I am not alone in what I am experiencing. Think I will just put it down to a bad day. What do they actually mean when they say clear margins? Is it that they check the resected liver for any cancer in margins? I seem to remember the surgeon saying they could look at outside of liver remaining to see if anything there but obviously not inside. Cancer is so unpredictable and the speed of spread this time last year was aggressive so I think its just haunting me that it could happen again in the new bit of liver. 

I know I need to get my head around this as this is what a lot of us have to live with, the uncertainty. Just need to get back to feeling bit calmer and living life.

xx

Just had a quick look at liver resection margins in the liver and I think they still aim at a good clear 1 cm around the tumour . Remember overall survival stats increase significantly after surgery . 

Its good news , however my own observation with my mum it was almost when she was on safer grounds that the enormity of it all took hold . Her very kind surgeon said even patients with well constructed constitutions hit a wall at this stage and can feel depleted . However with time and the right support she found her feet . 

https://www.workingwithcancer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what.pdf
A lot of people find this article helpful as they work through the thoughts of recurrence.

A few positive scans increase confidence levels again . 
Glad your speaking about it .

Take care ,

Court