Hi Aisling,

I am sorry to hear about what you, your dad and family are going through. It really is a sad situation.

Thanks [@Moderator Jenn]‍ for the tag, I do believe I can perhaps shed some light.

My mother is also RAS Wild type however, I'm not quite sure what that means or if the relevance goes beyond perhaps chemoimmunisation.

My mother was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer last February. The cancer had spread to her liver and she was put on FOLFOX as a first line chemo for 10 cycles. What started off fairly well slowly begun to eat away at my mom's energy, weight, hair, digestion, immune system, sensitivity and nerves (but I know many people say this is to be expected with each cycle). In her 3 month scan lesions in her bowel and liver had shrunk so she was put forward for liver surgery and chemo was put on hold for 5 months in preparation for the surgery. Within this 5 months the cancer in her liver had spread, bowel stayed stable and lesions were then found in her lung.

For the next couple of months the surgery was put on hold and she was put back on FOLFOX. This eventually came to an end when she begun experiencing nueropathy (nerve death) in her fingers and toes. The fact that she was becoming unable to do even basic tasks like buttoning her top or hold on to things lead her Oncologist to believe that she was losing sensation completely so FOLFOX was discontinued and she was put on to a second line chemotherapy and the story continues.

I think each person's case is different because I've read many accounts from people in the same boat but all are experiencing something completely different.

1 thing I have to say is that positivity and mental health is key. If you refuse to give up and keep your fighting attitude then I believe that you can come through even the worse times.

I pray that your father continues to be strong and you all come out of this victorious. As I tell many people I meet, nothing is impossible with cancer and statistics is not a true represenation of an individual.

Please also keep on top of the anti-sickness tablets you are given, these are especially important! Your father more than likely will also be given steroids for appetite, but if you find that he is still unable to stomach anything then I suggest bleding anything and everything in the kitchen.

Hi [@Faithisamust]‍ 

Thank for your message, it means a lot as sometimes it can feel like we are naiive to what is ahead. 

My father started his chemo, he had his second round there last Friday. They also scanned the area before beginning the chemo and told us it was stable. Which is a little vague. But relieved as there was delays even beginning chemo due to his violent vomiting bouts since his bowel resection. 

How is your mother doing now? We both got news of a spread around the same time so, we discovered it in March. 

After the first round, in the second week my Da improved, he had one good day. This time it seemed worse. He has no nausea as he is already on a high dosage of anticsickness. But this time around he wasn’t sleeping for nights on end, got very restless and anxious which is totally not my father in the lease, I know it’s the medication/chemo. 

Thanks for the tip about blending food, we might try that as I’ve noticed he has no real will to eat, but will eat whatever I give him. He lost 3kg from his last weigh in so thinking it the chemo. I’ve been using my fitness pal to track calories and working very hard to get him to get the right food intake. Yesterday he didn’t eat much though! 

Hope all is going okay for you now? It’s definitely a series of hurdles and trying remain strong and positive until you get over that hurdle and into peace for the time being! 

I will keep you and your family in my prayers