Rectal cancer with mets to liver

Hi I’m hoping someone could help me, my mum has been diagnosed with rectal cancer and has been put on a course of a course of 5 days a week for 5 weeks of radiotherapy and chemo tablet.This is in the hopes of shrinking the tumour in her rectum them possibly continuing with 18 weeks of a combination of intravenous chemo and chemo tablet.Her mri has shown mets to her liver,which they first believed were normal cysts but now believe 3 out of 5 are liver metastases lesions,one being 15mm,one being 8mm and one being 6mm,all around the same area.They haven’t grown in size over the past month,they have stayed the same.The doctor rang today and said they will continue with the original plan of 5 weeks of radiotherapy and chemo tablet then possibly 18weeks of combination intravenous chemo and chemo tablet then possible surgery.They said they want to target the primary cancer first.Is this the standard way of doing things? I’m just slightly concerned that the mets her liver might get bigger or spread by the time they target them?Thank you so much 

Kylie 

  • Hello Kylie

    I'm sorry to learn about your Mum's diagnosis. It's undoubtedly a difficult time for you both and natural that you have concerns and questions about her health, treatment and prognosis. It's good to hear that the liver mets have remained stable over the past months. Hopefully, your Mum will have a good response to the initial treatment that the Specialists are recommending and she will then be able to move on with further options to treat her cancer. 

    We have some information about treatment for advanced bowel cancer on our website that you may find helpful but if you'd like to talk things through with one of our nurses you're welcome to give them a call. I know they will be happy to offer any advice, information and support they can. They're available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays) on 0808 800 4040. 

    I hope that over the coming weeks your Mum, and you, have some positive news regarding her tumour response. Do keep in touch let us know how you're both doing. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator