Stage 4 Rectal Cancer

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I was diagnosed in January with rectal cancer. After MRI, CT and PET scans it seems my cancer has spread to my liver and lung and I have a completely separate tumour on my kidney. I’ve had my first round (8 hours) of chemo on 15th March. About to embark on round 2 on Monday.

HD problems with my blood pressure being off the scale too high and my iron levels being dangerously low. As well as all the other drugs in my chemo package I’m having cetuximab. This has made me look like a pubescent year old kid with the acne.

Mum trying my hardest to stay positive but I have a long and arduous journey ahead of me.

court over 4 years ago

Hi CherryMorrello

Just want to welcome you to the forum . A difficult time and diagnosis for you . However it’s not without hope . If you click on my user name you can read my mum’s story with managing a stage 4 diagnosis since 2009 . Lit and lots of bumps along the way to navigate and many good times too ,

A stage 4 diagnosis is very much a work in progress with more aggressive approaches than there were when my mum was first diagnosed. The cetuximab was only surfacing back then and funding was not available in Scotland although she did feel she had enough with two agents ! But the research is encouraging when it’s added in . The side effects do sound a bit harsh on the facial front but hopefully it’s doing it’s work on the cells too !

I e we plus be honest and say the first two years were the toughest getting to a more stable position but after that it eases off a bit . Good on you for trying to stay positive . And if some days you don’t achieve that , it’s ok too . You will see people on the forums who stay on maintenance chemo on their 5 th and 6 th year and able to achieve a balance of treatment and quality of life ..

Please feel free to ask anything and join in any thread .
Take care ,

Court

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