Dear all Although I am new to this forum I am quite a long way along my bowel cancer journey. What has struck me reading the entries is how different everyone’s journey seems to be. My journey started in December 2021 with a bowel resection following an obstruction which turned out to be cancer. I had no real symptoms so a real shock I then had 4 rounds of Oxaliplatin and Capcitabine which was not pleasant but I got through it. In December 22 following a check ct scan and was told I had inoperable peritoneal spread. Luckily the Peritoneal malignancy unit at Basingstoke agreed to do cyto reductive surgery and HIPEC which was amazing and I was so glad of their excellent care x I had this in April 23. I was then told I had the BRAF gene and an mis match repair gene which means Chemotherapy won’t work for me. In July 23 following another check CT scan I now have spread to several sets of lymph nodes so have just had 9 months of immunotherapy Pembrolizamab. Now with increased abdo and back pain I have been told I have another soft tissue mass so no more immunotherapy! I have now been told I can try targeted therapy which I am waiting to start but have also been told my prognosis is a year to 18 months so trying to get my head around that and the implications for my family I am 60 with two beautiful young Granchildren . So what I would say is everyone journey is different and there is always hope and new treatments becoming available xx
Just want to wish you all the very best with the targeted treatment. My mum did ten months on a targeted drug last year and found it more manageable. It also was quite effective for her .
Do you know which one you are getting ? You have been through a lot but the only reason my mum came off it was a slight growth on one tumour. Other than that it was easier than chemo .
