Secondary Liver cancer

Hi NGoode, 

Sorry to see your post, I know how confusing and scary everything must feel at the moment.

My situation is that my mum was diagnosed with secondary liver cancer back in May this year, it was picked up on her final follow up scan almost four years after her primary cancer had been removed. 

I'm no expert I'm afraid but have asked a lot of the same questions you're asking, so here goes.

First question on surgery, with secondary liver cancer removing the tumours surgically is not possible apart from in a very small minority of cases (I think if the primary is bowel cancer then sometimes it can be removed). Immunotherapy to control the cancer is a fairly common treatment, it wasn't an option in my mum's case (chemo only) so I don't know anything about treatment etc.

Pain in the elbow - I've not heard of that with liver cancer before, it can bizarrely cause shoulder pain, although pain in the right side could be a symptom of the liver.

With questions for oncologists I find it helps to write down questions before I go, and take a notepad and write down the answers. If not I find everything just becomes a blur after you've left. Also, has your mum's hospital got Macmillan nurses? If so, ask to be put in contact with them as my mum and I both find they are fantastic at dealing with questions and worries, and are really good at translating doctors' comments into a more understandable form of English! 

I know it's hard not to panic over your situation, and all I can advise to take each day as it comes. Everybody's story is a little bit different, but everyone on here can relate to what you're going through so feel free to rant and rave on here. Personally I've found it a great help at times.

I know the distance between you and your mum makes things even more difficult (my mum is a four hour drive away from me), but all you can do is be there whenever you can. The hospital will have a lot of support available, helplines etc, all I can suggest is that you use everything they offer. Don't feel like you're being a pain or bothering them, it's their job to be there and they genuinely want to help. 

My mum is currently halfway through her 6 cycles of chemo, and it's been a bumpy ride so far, but to look at her you wouldn't think she was ill at all. We won't know whether the chemo is working for another 9 weeks yet, so it's one day at a time till then.

Take care

C

Thanks very much for your kind words and advice. I’ve reconnected with her palative care nurse which has eased the worry and reinstated support for my mum which is a relief. 

Good luck on your journey too! Much love xxx

Hi

That's good to hear. This place is a good place to offload so if things get tough then just remember that everyone here is more or less in the same boat.

Take care