My Dad 66yr old with bowel cancer stage 4 with liver mets

Hi everyone,

Although I haven't been adding to the posts recently, I am still reading them everyday. To recap, my wonderful Mum (71 now) was diagnosed just before Christmas 2010 with stage 4 cancer, primary unknown but treating as bowel with mets in liver and lungs. Mum had cape tablets from January but scan showed further growth so that was stopped. Doctor has now allowed Mum to try capecitabine and oxaliplatin but it was touch and go if she was strong enough.

It is so hard dealing with the ups and downs, you try and be positive and then fall so far when more bad news is given. Mum has stayed so strong but I can see her finding it harder day by day. She is a wonderful gran to my children and has been a constant in their lives and also my best friend.

We really need a crystal ball to show how Mum would be without chemo as she is finding it hard feeling so weak, she was always so active. I wonder if it takes ages to get over the chemo effects once it stops?

It is wonderful to hear some good news stories on here, it really does prove that miracles can happen. Fingers crossed for everyone.

Gill xx

Hi there, thanks for the lovely message, nice to hear from people in a similar boat. I'm really sorry Ann about your husband and your Mum. Must be so difficult for you. My mum had surgery to remove the primary site from the bowel. It went well. The rest is the complicated part, which is being treated with chemo. We shall see how it goes. The blood results are not always reliable I am told, the scans are the only real measure of what is happening. The next few weeks will tell us more about the next phase of treatment. Very hard to keep sane however whilst waiting, as I'm sure you all agree. Lovely to be in touch with you all x

Gill just a quick note to say I know exactly how you feel - almost exact same scenario although my Mum had an operation to begin with - otherwise the same. It is very difficult but never give up and remember she is in great hands - doctors can do amazing things. I am telling myself this as much as I am telling you :)

Stay strong x

Hi Everyone.

How are you all.

Ann, I hope the appointment went well with the new liver surgeon.  Where are you going for this one.

good luck for tomorrow with the blood transfusion and then the appointment on wednesday. what a busy week.  Hope Nev is not too bad.

Court  Hope you and your mum are enjoying the time before treatment is due to start again.

Mandy - Thank you for your update and we have sent a copy of your post to Als oncolgist to see if we can investigate this any further.  I don't think we will be able to do anything until the scan on 6th June.

Alex has gone off today for a 5 day golf break in Suffolk with 11 other guys. I am busy helping the boys revise as they both have GCSE exams this week.  One in Latin and one in Resistant Materials. (unfortunately I know very little if anything in either subject.)

Jules - I love the photos you posted.  When was your brothers wedding?  I thought you looked lovely in all the photos.

Take care and catch up soon

Jacqui

Hi Everyone,

Gill and Saz, big welcome . Sorry you have to join us but hope we can help. Gill my mum has oxaliplatin 2009 AND 2010. I do believe that it has been really good for my mum , not always easy though. I wish the same for both your mum's. It is very hard always supporting and hoping. Love to both your mum's and hope you both feel supported her.

Anne, Hope your hanging on in there. I am but only just.The waiting takes so much out of you.

Jash, Do not fancy helping two at once through exams.Sending hugh amounts of admiration to you.Really pleased to hear your hubby is off enjoying himself.

Jules , just looking out my old photos from twenty years ago to get my best flattering angle. Hee

Love to all and remember you are all welcome to join,

Love Court

Hello all on this site!   Andy, how is your Jules going?  Mandy, I hope Terry is recovering well.  Ann, how was the Liver Surgeon Appt?  And the blood transfusion yesterday, hopefully made Nev feel a little better - and I think another appt today, good luck with it all  -  thinking of you x  Nice to see you SSaz, god luck for next scan - yes always gets the nerves going, best of luck.  Gill, nice to see you back.  Yes hard to know what to do - chemo really can knock you around.  It doesn't usually take long to get over the effects of chemo.  How is your Mum eating?  Has she lost much weight?  The best advice would be is to keep the food up to your Mum, and if your Onc hasn't already he can prescribe a supplement to stop your Mum from loosing too much weight and to help keep her energy up. When is your next scan?  That is always a good thing, even though scary, when you get good results at least then you know that all 'this' is worth it - goo luck.  Jacqui - great to hear Alex is off on a golfing break!!    Take care all - Jules   

Hey Court, come on bring out those photo's!!  Love photo's and love to see a nice one of your Mum!  I thought you were off on holiday?  I hope your Mum is still still doing great XXX - Jules  

Hi all

Jules, firstly let me thank you for asking after Terry and everyone else, when you must still be suffering after losing your dad - he sounded so wonderful.

Ann, I hope the appt with the Liver surgeon was hopeful and useful.

Court, hope your Mum is doing OK

Terry had his follow up appt yesterday after his operation to remove the right side of his liver. They told him he had a 'million pound outcome' with no sign of cancer in any of the margins, so we are delighted! He has to have a scan in 6 months, but they are confident. Yippee! Terry is now 2 and a half weeks post surgery, already he is going out for 4 mile walks every day and even went for his first mile walk a week after his op, and pottering around the garden. He amazes me.

Hope you are all doing well - I think of you all often. Take care, Mandy

Thank you Mandy, for your comments - you are so right, my Dad was just wonderful, and is really hitting home now I think, that things are so different without him - miss him terribly - but still smile each time of think of him.  It does keep me going keeping up to date on all you wonderful, couragous people on this thread, and knowing how wonderful some of the outcomes can be.  Just to see people beat this diesease is the best prize of all, and to know they won't go through what Dad did.    I am so excited for news of Terry, he sounds like a real strong person, and the news of no cancer in the margins is so fantastic!!  Way to go Terry!!  Sounds like he is on top!!  It's funny, I feel like I have an invested interest in you all!  Still think of Patrick XXX - Jules  

Hi everyone,

I know I usually plough through each of you but on this occasion I am so seriously peed off I don't seem to have the concentration to remember everyone's posts.  I will work backwards with Nevs appointments:

Today - Cystoscopy-unfortunately the bowel tumour has infiltrated the bladder which means surgery will be more complicated and he will lose part of his bladder, IF they do it at all.

Yesterday - Blood transfusion -did what it says on the tin

Monday- this is the best bit! Saw the liver surgeon (a Professor, top of his game and very nice man) He was amazed at the seriously poor quality of all the scans Nev has had so far.  He said he was not in any way prepared to make a decision on the strength of them and couldn't see how anyone else had.  These are the same scans that the first liver surgeon has used to write Nev off!  The Prof. said he may just as well toss a coin to decide.  Anyway, he has arranged to scan Nev himself (2 weeks time) and has promised us that if surgery is at all possible he will do it.  

Not a very good outcome all round really but we will keep on keeping on.

I know Terry has done really well,  Jacqui is less than useless at Resistant Materials and Latin!  and Jules has a new avatar.  Can't remember anything else but hope everyone is doing ok.  Will be on it next time, promise.

Love to all

Ann xx