Hello

Hi there,

I did not get your name but I am Nina. My hubby was diagnosed with  stage 4 metastatic colorectal cancer which had spread to his liver end April this year and only after 2 months, our local NHS hospital gave us the shocking news that they aren't able to help except to give him palliative care. As his liver was almost 80% taken over by cancer, they told us he will only have several weeks to live as liver will fail. Back then, they insisted that NHS is the fatest route to get treatment as private route will take even longer!  Of course, this was a blatant lie!

Luckily I was well prepared as I had a back up plan which I have to thank a member at this website whom have advised me to consider sending my hubby to one of UK cancer centre of excellence instead of relying on local hospitals.  Contacted Christie Private Care at Manchester on the day we heard the grim news, managed to see the Oncologist a day after and in less than a week, started 1st chemo treatment. Since then, never looked back and Christie was amazing - super quick at arranging treatments, scans,& tests as they know cancer spreads fast and its a fight against time.

Hubby was on intense Folfox with panitumumab every 2 weeks. CEA cancer marker before chemo was 698 and by 3rd chemo cycle, it dropped by half and by his 6th cycle, it went down to 4. He was chemo sensitive which is expected for those with right side wild type bowel cancer at sigmoid area.

Now he had stopped chemo for 4 weeks as he is going for his colon surgery soon, later for nano knife treatment before going for liver surgery. Oncologist is confident that my hubby will go into full remission.

Christie in Manchester has both private and NHS options. They are one of the top dedicated cancer hospital and research centres in the UK. Dont just listen to what i to say but to google this up at your end. We travel over 2 hours one way to Christie each fortnight but the journey is the least of our concern now that my hubby is on the road to recovery.

To cut long story short, don't give up! Except the reality but move on. Get a 2nd opinion as a lot of local hospitals may not have the capacity or experience to treat advanced cancers. Dependant on where you live, Royal Marsden in london would be another good option.

For now, take care and best of luck in your pursuit.

Oh wow! My name is David, nice to meet you Nina. This is truly amazing and i am so happy for you and your hubby. This has given me so much hope honestly, i will definitely explore the private route as have not had much with the NHS. It’s horrible when you are left with no options and feel hopeless.

I truly value your time to reply today, all the best for hubby and your family! 

Absolutely ask for a second opinion. You can also ask for an oncologist within the nhs at a top cancer centre to review it . We have had many people find some options by asking other clinicians .

My own mum lived for 15 years with a stage 4 diagnosis. Lung tumours can be very slow growing and my mums first oncologist said they can grow to a certain size then hold for a few years before starting to grow again . My own mum had some show up in 2014 , dealt with in 2016 and still had some in 2023 .

its worth asking other oncologists how they would approach your situation.

 NMoy  you made me smile . Well done for all the support you have given your husband . You have certainly played your part . 
Take care ,

Court 

Thank you for your reply Court. It is reassuring reading everyone’s story and how they never give up!