Bowel & Bone Cancer & Rejection from the NHS

Hi all, 
Unfortunately my brother, only 35 years old, has gone through so much over the last year with undergoing chemo for 6 months and he was then due to have surgery in November but unfortunately he had a bowel blockage which meant they have to do an emergency operation to defunction the bowel and put a stoma bag in. 
Since then he was told his cancer had grown back, primary tumour in his bowel, peritoneal spread, liver mets and now he has been told it's gone into his bone. He was also told by NHS that they don't have the funding for him and cannot put him on the chemo drug he was on which is really sad to hear and we are now referring to private medical help. The NHS took a long time and we are sadly in this place now. 

If anyone has gone through this and has any advice or suggestions on who could help please could you let me know. He needs treatment as soon as possible so my family and I would be extremely grateful for your help. Thank you 

  • Hi KSharma,

    Welcome to Cancer Chat. I'm so sorry to hear of the situation with your brother - this sounds like a lot to deal with and I can certainly understand you reaching out for more information. I'm not sure how much has already been discussed with his doctor/specialist, but they will always be the first port of call to discuss available options, including what may be possible via the private route. If you have an appointment with a different, private, doctor then they should of course also be able to give their opinion.

    It's hard to advise further than this, but if you feel you'd like to talk things through with someone then our nurses are available on 0808 800 4040 (Monday-Friday, 9-5) if you'd like to give them a call.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Hi. I'm really sorry but it sounds as if your brother has run out of treatment options because his cancer is too advanced. My best friend at 47 has bowel, groin lymph, liver and lung cancer now in the bone too. Initially she was only offered palliative care but pushed and was put on a chemo and then chemo/radiotherapy trial. Initially the tumours shrunk but grew again within weeks after the trials ended. She was put back on chemo with no effect. Immunotherapy hasn't worked either. All treatment was ended a few months ago and she has weeks left. The treatment has given her approx a year of extra life but it has been non stop hospital appointments and even she would probably say that she wished she'd faced the fact that she was terminal and focused on enjoying the time she had left. She never wanted to hear bad news and now this non acceptance has led to her having to suddenly face the inevitable and understandably is freaking out and doesn't want to see family/friends to say her goodbyes. I am not criticising the way she's dealt with it but I can't imagine private treatment would be available unless a consultant thought the outcome would be worth the risk of treatment which comes with its own risks. I'm sorry to sound harsh but I haven't known personally known anyone with cancer being refused treatment, no matter their age unless they'd reached the end of the line. My friend has been so poorly with immunotherapy and now she is too poorly to have quality time with her loved ones. Your brother's cancer sounds extremely aggressive as is my friends and treatment would only be a case of buying a bit more time so you really have to ask yourselves is it worth the trauma of it all