Bowel Cancer spread to the Liver

Hi, 2 years down this road for me.   My 19th chemo is tomorrow.  I will have chemo so long as I can tolerate it and as long as it's doing its job.  I am waiting for my latest scan then I can discuss with the doctor.  I have mesorectal liver and lung metastases.  Push them so that you understand exactly why it is inoperable.  You just have to live every day the best you can.  Very Best Wishes

Thanks for your response.

You've had 18th chemo because i'ts not working ?

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/our-publications/treating-advanced-bowel-cancer/

HiBPOSITIVE,

Sorry to hear you are dealing with a recurrence. If you click on my user name you will see my mum’s story . She had a spread then a recurrence. Went from inoperable to operable twice !

I have included a leaflet at the top . Bowel cancer is quite fortunate in that regard as it has quite a lot of chemotherapy options . Some people are fortunate to gain sufficient shrinkage to allow other options to open up like surgery or radio frequency ablation . Others tolerate chemo well and can use it as a maintenance therapy over an extended period of time . You may see people on the forum for five or six years still having chemo and doing well . Sadly not all people yet . It can also take the oncologist some time to get a feel how you respond as an individual. But therein lies the hope.

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The leaflet explains the options open to oncologists depending on the cell type and response to chemotherapy . Different clinical pathways are formed depending on your response etc .

Take care ,

Court 

Thank you very much.

You've brought sunshine to my positivity.

Every time i see my oncologist i leave the room so depressed. Story like yours is enough to keep my energy up. I am a lucky person and i know i'll beat this.

Thank You

Looking back I can see the oncologist position now as they won’t commit until the science is confirmed by the scans that you are responding well to treatment . Our family felt it deeply too . Those initial consultations were incredibly hard to recover from . They won’t give false hope which I get . However we did notice a big change to a more encouraging position when they could confirm the treatment had made some progress . 
Hang in there !

Despite a difficult diagnosis there is a subgroup of patients that do appear to respond well to treatment . We just need that subgroup to grow . My mum continues to do her bit to push those stats in a better direction .

All the very best with your treatment and here’s to some shrinkage !

Court 

Just had 19 chemo on Friday so it must be working in keeping cancer stable.  Last scan showed no new liver lesions and it had reduced to 12mm from 14mm. Everything appears stable at moment.  Had another CT scan about 2/3 weeks ago and am still awaiting results.  Unfortunately, my hospital is experiencing an enormous backlog so have to be a patient patient :) 

It’s sound good

1. will you be able to have surgery to remove the Tumor at some point?

https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/about-us/news-and-media/2021/09/15/first-uk-patients-have-liver-cancer-successfully-treated-using-pioneering-non-invasive-ultrasound-te
Another forum member brought this to my attention . Has your team mentioned this at all . Just wondered if it is up and running ?

Court 

https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/whats-new/news/pioneering-southampton-liver-cancer-treatment-bathes-organ-in-drugs-to-boost-survival
Not sure if this is similar to the HAI pump in America . Although not common place one oncologist has been using it with relatively good outcomes since my mum was diagnosed.

Worth a read .

Court  

My Mum has BC with mets in liver and was  told there are different options as liver can regrow. It depends what they found in her specific situation. 

Sadly, hers was inoperable (as was the BC) so she's now had a biopsy to see what chemo and care she can have.

It's all very individual - good luck!