Colon and lungs

Hi Boz34

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/advanced-bowel-cancer/treating-advanced-bowel-cancer/spread-to-the-lungs/

I have included a leaflet about the various options open to treat a spread to the lung . My mum’s was a bit of a different timescale as her disease went first to the liver then the lung . Her bowel surgery had occurred by that point in time . Depending on size and location they can use various treatments . Many do use chemo . 
My mum had surgery via vats on hers . All come with a criteria of course . 

Great you are feeling well and keen to keep your interests going . 
Have you been referred to the bowel surgeon?

Take care ,

Court 

Hi Court.

Many thanks for the quick response and the leaflet. It's so helpful to hear from others at this time. 

I've been told that I should hear within a few days about my appointment with a bowel surgeon. 

To be honest the spread to the lung for my mum was probably the easiest to deal with . She had three nodules but only one had uptake on the pet scan . The surgery was keyhole and recovery was uncomplicated. It’s been five years since her treatment. 
Others here have used radio frequency ablation but I can’t remember if they had chemo first . I will tag in Marianne26 as she could give you some insight . The MDT meeting decide on the best approach for each individual depending on the size and location of the spread . The other good thing about chemo is the systemic nature of it tackles and stray cells too plus hopefully gets the desired shrinkage .

Your team sounds good and I am sure they will take good care of you .

Ask anything you like . 
Court 

Thanks Court....Will reply tomorrow.

One thing I'm finding odd is that this is far and away the most serious health condition I've faced, but I don't appear to have any symptoms. Possibly I"m in denial, but usually I only have to read about any condition to feel I 've got the symptoms! I know thajt sooner or later I will be experiencing pain, breathlessness etc, but at the moment there's a strange disconnect between how I feel and what the doctors know. Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful for each day of continued health I have, but I wonder if others have experienced this disconnect, in themselves or their loved ones.

Boz

It’s strange for sure but my mum was exactly the same ! She was picked up on a bowel screen initially before symptoms started . Came through two years of treatment ! Surgery and chemo and had side effects of treatment but no symptoms of cancer . Her lung met was picked up on a surveillance screen so again no symptoms . She has cane right through the entire process without a single cancer symptom but the side effects of treatment made themselves known ! After each treatment she returned to a reasonable state of health. Maybe just very fortunate!

Hope it stays that way for you too!

Court 

Hi Boz34

These feelings you have of denial & disconnectedness are highly common...when receiving diagnosis of your condition - particularly in the early days, until a treatment plan is put in place for you - which perhaps puts it all in a better perspective & understanding for you.

I had vague achy symptoms in my lower abdomen...with lots of bloating & wind/ gurgling...prior to my diagnosis of bowel cancer in May '19. but no two people present with the same symptoms. I had a left Hemicolectomy within that month...& my Oncologist did not recommend Chemo. at that time - & so I thought I'd got away with having to undergo it. However, once diagnosed, you are followed up religiously with regular CT scans...& the one I had in March '20...showed a couple of shadows on my right Lung lobe. This was followed with an MRI scan which put them at 5mm & 3.5mm in size.

Although small, it was recommended that I had 8 cycles of Capox Chemo - to see if they could be shrunk further - prior to Lung Ablation. I declined the infusion part of treatment...as I was very wary of developing Neuropathy in my hands & feet....particularly with my hands (being an artist.) & so, I just had the Chemo Capecitabine tabs...although only had 6 cycles, owing to having bad Palmar Planta in my hands.(No other symptoms.)

However, fortunately, the Tabs. worked reasonably well to shrink both nodules...particularly the smaller one...& so, in October '20 I was able to have the radio frequency Lung Ablation..A CT scan the following month showed that this procedure had been very effective & had worked to cauterise/ blast the cancer entirely.

You mention being wary of possible symptoms...In the six months leading up to my procedure, I had no breathlessness or cough.

I expect that all this terminology is very new & strange to you at the present time. (It certainly was to me back then,) but I wouldn't concern yourself with this at the moment, until you have a treatment plan in place...which will all be divulged to you in good time.

As court mentioned in her previous post, Lung Ablation will only be suitable depending on the size of the nodules, their location, & how many are present...& the surgeons & radiographers will be able to determine whether this could be a possibility for you.

In the meantime, I would suggest that you continue doing all the things that interest you - & always seek advice/ listening ears on this site...as there will always be someone ready to reply.

Wishing you all the very best

Marianne 26

Hi Court and Marianne26

Many thanks. Very helpful comments.

Boz34

I met the surgeon today. He explained the alternatives very clearly, and I've decided to go for keyhole surgery to remove the growth instead of a stent. It's likely to be a Hartman's procedure, which means a stoma: any recommendations for advice about living with a stoma? He'd already booked a slot for the 28th in case I opted for surgery. The plan is for me to see the oncologist during the recovery period, so as to plan how we proceed once I'm ready.