Hi Everyone

Have been on here posting about my husband Jame's recurring bowel cancer. Well today was the day we went to see the oncologist and as my post title says we are remaining `cautiously optimistic`. 

We saw the oncologist and what he told us was a slightly different version of what the surgeon told us at here appointment. The cancer is there there's not question about that but what the oncologist said is that it was very hard to see on the CT scan and we think it may not be to the extent as we first thought. The surgeon said it is in his stomach lining but the oncologist said it is in the membranes of his bowel. Whether this is one and the same I don't know. We were told it was showing in his pelvis but the oncologist also said they didn't see any there and what may have been picked up there was either scar tissue or slight remains of an infection that was there during his operation. When James (my husband) was in getting his operation he had to stay in hospital slightly longer because of that and it meant they had to put a drain in to drain out the infection that was there. The oncologist said that its only been months after his operation so parts of his insides may still possibly be recovering but cancer is definitely there. James also has scarring on his kidneys from the op so they are referring him to neurosurgeon to get that looked at but said his kidney function is good.

The cancer they are going to treat. It will be done with Oxaliplatin and Capecitabine and will be part drip where he goes into hospital day surgery and part medication (tablets he can take at home). He said it may not rid him of the cancer completely and it may be one of these these things that it's just something that's going to be there but can be managed. He said its hopefully it will shrink down significantly whatever is there. He told James that he is looking `extemely well` since he last saw him back in February not long after his operation. He's lost about a stone in weight since May but the oncologist said that's ok and that he's not underweight. The oncologist also said that they tend not to start treatment immediately if its a case where the patient is in good health and is tolerating the cancer for fear that starting treatment and it may backfire causing adverse effects and the person becomes really ill.

We have three weeks before we meet with him again to give our decision but really its a `no brainer` we're going for it and hopefully the benefits will outweight the side effects if its going to give him a good quality of life anythings worth a shot. James has been Capecitabine before and toleralted it well he was on it before he got his operation but the dosage he will get this time will be a bit stronger.

So sort of good things came out of it. We're laughing again so that's a good sign. He's even making jokes about his weight with me saying things like `at least I can lose weight:laugh: But no joking aside it feels like a 10 ton weight has been lifted right off our shoulders and hopefully now better things will come.