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Stage 4 bowel cancer

Lottie_51
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Hi, My husband was diagnosed with bowel cancer in January, he has had part of his colon removed with tumour and 25 lymh nodes. 1 was positive. This has spread to his liver so is classed as stage 4. He is on chemo for 4 months and then an operation to remove the cancer in liver.

I'm very confused about how cancer is staged etc. I know why it's stage 4 but does this also mean it's advanced cancer and or terminal, co sultanys do t say much on this and I don't want to press for answers as it would upset my husband who doesn't ask any questions only accepts what he has been told. Any advise please

 

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    Hi

    during my bowel cancer I was never told what stage mine was.

    I was affraid to ask some questions as I was scared of what answers I might get.

    I listened to what was to be done and took it one day at a time. 

    I had surgery and then chemo as it had spread to one lymph node, all the others they removed were fine.

    I guess maybe stage 3 but not sure.

    I met people along my journey with a spread to their liver and had seperate chemo for both.

    You just have to leave it to the experts who know what they are doing and every day is one less day to the end of treatment..

    Be strong both of you, you can do tis together x

     

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    Hello Lottie_51,

                               sorry to read of your husbands diagnosis,the terminology can be difficult to understand when you are calm and relaxed,and almost impossible to take in when you are under so much pressure.Yes the Consultants are not the best at getting the explanations across,but l always regarded this as a positive since my pressing need was for a top dog surgeon,not a golden mouthed PR person,

    Stage 4 colon cancer is advanced,with metastic spread to other organs.This has the possibility to be cured with surgery and chemo/radiotherapy.,teminal implies that the cancer cannot be cured but can possibly be controlled.or spread slowed

                           l was stage 4 colon cancer with spread to liver Originally diagnosed at high stage 3,l had 8 weeks of chemo/radiotherapy before planned bowel resection.Pre op scans showed spread to liver that was motoring along at a pace,so liver surgery took precedence followed by bowel  and stoma 12 weeks later,followed by 18 weeks of chemo.Stoma reversal 14 months later.

     its now 5 years since stoma reversal and my bowel has taken most of that time to decide to rejoin decent society,but it never stopped me from getting on with living. Its a long road  but worth the effort,l definitely appreciate everything so much more now.

                                                                                     Take care and l hope your husbands joins me on the other side as a cured and recovered patient,

                                                                                    David

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