Hi everyone ☺︎

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Hello, new here today.

I've been treated for colerectal cancer having surgery to remove a tumour last October.  Then had chemo (IV 4 doses, with chemo tabs) which finished last Feb. Told CT scan in March was all clear. Then had blood test in June which revealed tumour markers were elevated, had  PET scan and a week ago been told cancer has spread to my stomach and site of original tumour.  

My surgeon at COCH has now referred me to Christies in Manchester as candidate for HIPEC surgery.   Currently waiting to hear from them.

Anyone in similar position, or know much about HIPEC , please? Obviously devastated and now the wait to hear is so frustrating.  

Big Tone

  • Hi  

    Welcome to the forum but I am sorry to hear you have more treatment to face .

    There are a few centres of excellence for Hipec surgery and you are in good hands . However if I remember correctly there is slightly different criteria between the hospitals for the surgery so that’s worth bearing in mind . 
    I think surgically it’s a reasonably big procedure but the guy I first encountered having in went onto become a dad . And reported still being clear ten years later .

    I think there are a few people in the same position as you on one of the other threads .  Might be good for you all to link in . 
    A few people here had second opinions with a Dr Jamie Murphy in London and all they did was forward their recent scans if I remember correctly . I think he might also have some leaflet printed on the surgery .

    My mum has had two liver and one lung resection so no direct help to you on that front but a lot of optimism on the benefits of curative surgery !

    Take care ,

    Court 

    Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

  • https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/diagnosis/278431/primary-cancer-of-appendix-and-secondary-peritoneal-cancer#pifragment-16476=2
    Think possibly different cell types but the same potential surgery .

    I will have a dig around for informed leaflet . 
    Court 

    Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

  • https://drjamiemurphy.co.uk/news/common-questions-about-hipec/
    Think this might be for his private practice info but he works for the nhs too if that’s still correct . 

    Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

  • https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/application/files/6517/0851/8789/HIPEC_Feb_2024.pdf

    This is one nhs hospital info just for further info . 

    Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

  • Many thanks for your helpful links and comments , Court. HIPEC sounds like a good option for my diagnosis. I'll just have to be a little more patient and await to hear from Christies.  

  • That’s the thing with the more specialist surgeries . You end up going through two mdts . First your own then they have one themselves . It really can push things back a week or two . But if it’s agreeable it suddenly moves very quickly . We experienced this twice with both the liver and the lung . We were startled to find her in surgery within the week each time . A surgical slot opened up . 
    Keep in touch . 
    Court 

    Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

  • Yes, I think you're right about the extra delay with two teams having their own meetings.  How is your mum doing?

  • She is doing well all things considered . She has been dealing with a spread for 15 years . Went in and out of treatment when required .

    However age has become a factor . She did not run out of options but became too frail to have any more . But we consider that a good thing she got to this point .

    Also she still has a good quality of life . Her disease went from growing rapidly to slow growing . Cancer biology is so complex but her team were aggressive when it was not so popular to be so when she started this journey

    . We kept knocking on doors and took it one step at a time to find windows of opportunity to tackle the spread . She got there and has an incredible bounce back .

    Keep pushing forward . It was always more challenging until a plan was in place . She was classed as inoperable twice but chemo turned this around .

    She has had so many good times since a difficult diagnosis.

    Take care and I hope you hear very soon with good news .

    Court 

    Helpline Number 0808 808 0000