Bowel & Liver cancer

Hi 

Big welcome to the forum . Please feel free to post any topic . Can I ask if your diagnosis is recent ? Do you have a treatment plan yet ?

My mum has been a stage 4 patient since 2009 with the same spread as yourself . If you click on my user name you can read her journey . There is a subgroup of patients who do well with treatment and that in turn opens up other options . For my mum the first oncologist visit was by far the worst as it was more of a reality check of her condition . However with time she was able to see how her body responded to treatment . Some patients are treated more like a chronic condition and stay on continuous maintenance chemo , for others chemo can be very powerful and turn inoperable to operable . It takes time for the oncologist to discover the best approach for each individual depending on how they respond .Sadly some don’t respond .

My mum approached it from a wellness point of view . What did she require to do to keep herself fit for treatment . She also focused on projects each week . To keep her connected to her life out with cancer and also made her feel she was accomplishing things .

I think it’s important to stay honest with how you feel . This is tough and thankfully your treatment response does not depend on your attitude to it . However many people do become more encourage if they see treatment working . They will keep a good eye on your tumour markers and scan after so many cycles .

I think sometimes people don’t quite know what to say so try and encourage as best they can . My own mum was very positive but a knowledgeable she had a diagnosis that meant she could not count on the future but neither could she discount it so she refused an actual prognosis from the oncologist. I think in the end we actually just learnt to live within those conditions . However I would have to say she has had many , many good times since her diagnosis so she was right not to discount it too. 

I will link in a Bowel cancer Uk booklet as it’s a good overview of a stage 4 bowel cancer diagnosis and possibly treatments .

Take care ,

Court 

www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/.../

Thanks for your response 

I was diagnosed mid September, The cancer has spread to multiple places in the liver, therefore inoperable 

i have treatment 6 of 6 Chemo sessions next week then a scan on the 29th to see what we do next

Hi 

How have you found chemotherapy ? Have you been able to tolerate it ? . My mum found it quite tough at times but it did its job in the end . 

My mum had a significant spread through segments 4 to 8 . But 1 to 3 were clear . They were able to remove 73% of her liver but it took the full two years on and off chemo to get to that level of shrinkage and stability . You also might like to have a read on Bowel cancer Uk forum as they have a group of stage 4 contributors who have used chemo over a long period of time and it might let you see how they manage that and continue to live a good life . 
My mum was always ready for a break after 6 cycles of treatment . 
Did you have symptoms prior to diagnosis with your liver ? My mum has actually never had any symptoms at all from the actual cancer . She was picked up in a bowel screen so it was a total surprise and a blow to hear it was in her liver and at that time inoperable . 
All the very best with your scan . Hope there has been lots of shrinkage for you .

Take care ,

Court 

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/living-with-incurable-cancer-forum

I also meant to say this is a patients only group for people who are living with an incurable diagnosis. You might find it useful .  might be able to give you some more insights into the benefits of it .

Take care ,

Court 

Another suggestion is do feel able to call the Macmillan help line.  They really helped my husband following his diagnosis.