Secondary Bowel Cancer

Wondering if anyone can shed any light. The liver surgeon are saying the spots on my husbands liver (6mm and 9mm) are too small for surgery so they are going to go with chemo first to try to cure. I’m not sure how I feel about this as everything I read suggests that chemo won’t cure and they will just come back but the nurse said that they can cure. The liver surgeon is saying he won’t touch them as too small, so we don’t really have an option. I think we were going to get a second opinion or try speak to a liver surgeon to see if they can explain a bit more as to why they are too small (what is the cut off)  to operate and why they are not even offering ablation, why chemo first and is this cured patients before. Everything I read suggest surgery is the only cure for bowel cancer that has spread to the liver? 

  • Hello thank you for your post,

    I am sorry to hear about your husband's situation. I am afraid we cannot give you another opinion on how your husband should be treated, this has to come from the specialist doctors that are caring for him. The decision to be able to use surgery on liver metastasis has to be looked at by a specialist surgeon and I'm afraid to say that it is not always possible.  I think if you have concerns about the decision then do talk again with the team so that they explain why they want to give chemotherapy.  It can, in some circumstances, get rid of cancer. So, I wonder if they want to see if this is case and if it doesn't, then they will look again at surgery?

    If you want to know how another specialist would treat your husband then you are looking at getting a second opinion, we have information about this process on our website here 

    Please do get back to us if you need any more information or support and you may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Yours sincerely,

    Caroline