Newly diagnosed today

I'm sorry you have had this diagnosis it must have come as shock.. There is a lot of support out there. It might be helpful to you to speak to one of the nurses on here. They can give you lots of information. Also you could ask one of the advisors on here about counselling. I'm sure people will be along to give you some information x 

Thanks

Hi Bobby68 

So sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. It’s overwhelming at the beginning for both patient and family but what a powerful motivator you have .

My mum had the same diagnosis back in 2009 and is still currently in treatment at the grand age of 81 . She keeps ploughing through .

I will add some reading material that might help see the volume of treatments that can sometimes be used to treat a spread to the liver . After chemotherapy my mum had 73% of her liver removed . 
If you want to read her story , click on my user name . Still to add her latest recurrence . However it’s important to remember the very good times she has had despite of her diagnosis. 14 years worth . She is not alone . Others are ahead of her . Not everyone gets  this obviously but in recent years new treatments have emerged .

Take care ,

Court 

Thank you for bringing a little light into the darkest of days , appreciated

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

You might find this helpful .

My mum had five liver mets and one at 5cm alone . Yet chemo shrunk this down and become operable . Not once but twice . 
The U.K. has centre of excellence for the liver . They are identified by the fact they do liver transplants and the surgeons are well trained . If after treatment they feel it’s operable they may ask one of these specialists Centres to assess your case . 
Some have also successfully used Radio frequency ablation.

There are a lot of people out living life despite a stage 4 diagnosis.

Have you got a treatment plan yet ?

Court 

Just to clarify. I think it may have been palliative treatmemt not palliative care. Hope so anyway, my head was in a daze 

It will be and that’s not time limited. My mum has been on palliative treatment for fourteen years . My husband always says these categories are good for health economists to plan patient care but not for predicting individual outcomes. At the end of the day you are a statistic of one and that to me is where the Hope lies .

Court 

No plan yet. They just broke the news and said id expect an appointment with an oncologist. The dr who told me was the bowel surgeon snd said he coukdnt give me the answers about the liver. 

They are inclined to stabilise with chemo initially and hopefully gain extra margins . However they rescan and the MDT meeting explore every Avenue. You are also entitled to a second opinion at any point in the process .  
You might also like to read Star74 bio as she has navigated treatments for a spread to her liver whilst raising her beautiful family .

You are not alone and knowing how others navigate this can be very helpful.

Court 

Hi Bobby68 ,

So sorry to hear your diagnosis, it will take a while but honestly you will feel better when you have a plan.  Let us know what treatment regime you will be on and we can help with side effects tips!

I was diagnosed S4 with spread to the liver 3 years ago.  Initially they said I was inoperable but a good response to chemo got me to a liver resection.  There is also a Living with Stage 4 - bowel cancer Facebook group, over 1k members who are in the same boat and many have been on maintenance or palliative chemo for years.

At the moment this will take over your life which has been turned upside down but as you progress it does get easier.  In the meantime, try to be active if you can, and eat well.  Good luck.