I am sorry to hear about your partner’s situation and appreciate what a difficult time this must be for you both.
When cancer is found in the coccyx (tailbone) area and in lymph nodes near the perineum, it usually means the cancer has spread from where it started. This can sound worrying, but it does not mean nothing can be done.
After you have had a cancer diagnosis your partner’s case is discussed in a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting where all the different doctors involved in their care discuss their case and work out a treatment plan.
The doctors may use surgery, chemotherapy, and / or radiotherapy as part of the treatment. These treatments work together to give the best chance of getting better.
I hope this information is helpful.
Please get back to us if you need any more information or support
It might help to talk things through with one of our nurses on the helpline. You can call for free on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Thank Tina for your reply. The consultant has said there are multiple cancer nodes ( none operable ) in her small bowel and the way it was said as there was nothing they could do for her. Does that mean she will now be on end of life care? She is on chemo every 3 weeks for the coccyx tumor and she has one behind her navel. Will the chemo help with the nodes?
Hi Monkeybob and thank you for contacting us again.
When a consultant says there are several cancer spots in the small bowel and they can’t be operated on, it usually means the cancer has spread and can’t be cured. But this does not always mean end-of-life care straight away. People can still have treatment to help control the cancer and manage symptoms
If your partner is having chemotherapy for the tumour near her coccyx, the same chemo might also help with the cancer spots in her bowel. Chemo travels through the blood, so it can reach cancer in different places. How well it works depends on the type of cancer and how her body responds. Her cancer team are the best people to explain what the aim of the chemo is and what to expect.
Even if the cancer can’t be cured, there is still care to help her feel as well as possible. This is called palliative care. It can be given alongside treatment like chemo. The palliative care team can help with pain, sickness, and emotional support for both your partner and you.
Many people can live with cancer with treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy keeping the cancer under control for several years. It depends on the individual and how they respond to treatments.
It might help to talk things through with one of our nurses on the helpline. You can call for free on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
