Bowel cancer spreading to liver in 82 year old woman previously very healthy . Unmarried , living alone .

FormerMember
FormerMember
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My closest friend (whom I knew from age 10 ) very recently, at Christmas 2021 , became very ill  and was persuaded eventually to attend A and E.  She was admitted to the hospital and after a lot of tests was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the bowel and liver. She has undergone numerous procedures and several blood transfusions for anaemia.  There doesnt seem to be any hope and she has refused an operation which seemed unlikely to help. Only a miracle would aid her , it seems !  

Could lead poisoning have caused it ???   She always used very old plates passed down or from Charity shops and I gather they often contain lead and or cadmium .She was very keen on healthy food and didnt drink at all or smoke.  A mystery, even though age increases the risk of cancer, as we know. 

  • Hi rosemarinus,

    I don't know anything about lead in plates. Better check mine! I am a bit of a fatalist. I'm not sure anything you do or eat has much to do with getting cancer. I can see the connection with smoking. Other than that I think its luck, or lack of it. Both I and my husband have had cancer in our 70's, but most friends of our age haven't!!!  I do think if you keep yourself fit you have more chance of beating it.

    Best of luck to your friend. xx

  • Hi  and welcome to the board. I’m sorry to hear about your friend but as NannyAnny says there’s often no definitive cause of cancer and it’s just down to luck. Did the surgeons say that the operation would not be beneficial or has that been her decision? If she has decided against treatment then you could maybe focus on some nice days together and support her in making decisions about future times?

    The nurses on here are available to talk if you need any help on 0808 808 00 00

    Take care

    Karen x

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm