update not what I expected!!!

Hi Strong lady 

Firstly I am so sorry to hear this . It’s such a shock for you and you already have a lot to process with your son’s diagnosis and your dad’s death . I lost mine in September. It’s a sad time indeed .

However I do want to say it sounds positive that the spread is contained in the one area . Going to chemo can be really helpful as it not only stabilises the disease but can give the opportunity to shrink the tumours where possible and give better surgical margins . My mum has had two liver resections and the largest was back in 2010 with 73% being removed . Being the wonderful organ that it is it regenerates and has functioned remarkably well for the last 13 years . On top of that it has remained disease free . However back when she was first diagnosed it was such a shock and hard to see a way forward .

She actually found the liver resection easier to recover from than the bowel .

Have a look at Star74 profile as she is closer in age to you and been knocking the spread back very effectively .

Cancer is enough on its own and dealing with your sons diagnosis is also a difficult chapter but we are going to be here to give you a soft place to land when you need it and help you over this bump .

Take care ,

Court 

thank you for your reply, I had seen your comment on someone else's post thanks for the positive story and the link x

Hi 

Hi Strong lady 

So sorry to read your update, you really do have a lot on your plate at the moment. 

As court says, it sounds positive that it seems to be isolated to one side and the fact that they are talking surgery is a very good sign.  I had spread to the liver and went straight onto chemo, I believe this was a life saver for me, it got the disease under control and was so effective that everything they removed from the liver was dead tumours.  My resection was 18 months ago and my liver has remained free from disease. 

It's tough going through this with children, although mine are much younger than yours at 5 and 8 but they are also great keeping you going and putting one foot in front of the other.

Keep us updated with the chemo regime you will be on and we can give you some tips about managing side effects. You've got this.

Michelle x

Ps I also found the liver op easier than the bowel!

Hi Strong lady

If your post op is N0M0, then chemo luckily is not normally recommended - chemo can be quite tough and has it's own risks.

I'd suggest if you're unsettled by the thought of surgery alone for your liver, have a conversation with your surgeon or specialist nurse team as they can explain your specific case in more detail.

i would also say that the emotional rollercoaster is quite common, and you may need time to truly accept and believe in the good news part of N0M0.

Good luck and enjoy the 18th birthday celebrations, what a fab milestone and excuse to party.

Morning! 

thank you so much for sharing your story, this gives me hope,  keeping myself busy this weekend with lunch with my bestie is always a good tonic!

Seeing Oncologist Tuesday so will update then, my children will keep me busy life goes on. I am just going to have to learn to let people help me as I am always the one on the go and doing stuff for others. I am a school nurse so weird being on the other side. 

good to hear the Liver op was easier than the Bowel one, is this common to have bowel and liver?

thanks for your response, I initially got told no chemo after the bowel resection as no node involvement, the MRI on my liver was 4 weeks after surgery and only reported on last week. So now will need chemo and surgery.  

The birthday celebrations will be a good distraction and the surgeon laughed when I asked if I could drink, and he said go for it while you can !!!

thanks again 

Yes, it is strange to learn to accept help, something I am still learning to do 2 and a half years into this!

It is very common for bowel cancer to go to liver or lungs.  Luckily with the liver, it regenerates and doesn't take long at all to get back to normal after a resection. 

Enjoy your weekend, lunch with the bestie sounds just what you need, don't know what I would do without my friends, they always pick me up. Have a lovely weekend. Xx

thank you that was what I suspected! The bestie is the one that always lifts my spirits but the liver may take a hit today while I still can 

talk soon 

Amyx