Hi Andy..... you asked about my husbands quality of live during his 7 years of struggle after his 2 bowel operations and three liver resections plus years of chemo..... He lived life to the full still. We enjoyed months and months of normal life between the chemo regimes. Last Christmas we spent with our daughter and her husband and enjoyed it so much. Sadly, on our return home he started to feel unwell and 12 days before his death he suffered a series of seizures. For 12 days he was in hospital being cared for and free of pain.

Please keep in touch... I am thiking of you

Gillie xxx

Hi,

My mum was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer back in Jan and was offered chemo to give her more time. She readily agreed to the chemo but looking back whilst it did give us time it stripped her of the life she had before. She was unable to do the things she enjoyed due to tiredness, sickness and other health issues the chemo brought about. Now i wish we'd chosen quality of life over time but you grasp for every second of time when you hear the worst news. Mums still battling on but i feel her fight is now coming to an end. X

Hello Andy909,

I should say it's entirely your choice, and that you're not being selfish at all.

Have you thought about a holistic approach to the cancer, and trying alternative approaches as well, in order to compliment your treatments?

I was on the emergency 6 month disability stuff for a while, but have since had 8 years of relatively fit life, and counting. Mine is IDC breast cancer which had spread throughout both lungs and liver before I knew anything about it so I understand mine's a different cancer entirely, and everyone's story is different isn't it? But I know what it's like to be faced with difficult odds, and yes it's terrible!

Back in 2011 I was given so many "sad eyes" wherever I went, as my prognosis at the time was poor. I decided I only had enough energy for one thing; either I had to accept and move forward that way, or to fight it with every fibre and expect a struggle. So chemo it was. And the chemo shrunk my tumours. I think I went a fair way to helping it all along with lifestyle changes and healthy diet, but I am living a relatively normal life at the moment.

Nobody can make those decisions for us can they? We trust our doctors to advise us, but we have to decide for ourselves don't we? I imagine our relatives will always want us to fight, but I know I shall make my own decisions when the time comes. But while I don't feel bad enough to want to stop treatment yet, I've carried on. I take heart that I can always stop when I'm tired, I always will have the right to say "no".

I hope that some of these words help. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time, and to everyone who has answered your post.

All best wishes.

Mary

Hello Andy.. sorry I havent been on this site for a while so have only just picked up your message. My late husband was a very strong man and so, through his 7 year fight his life was good. he of course was on and off chemo but never let it get him down apart from injections which forced him into hospital on occasions. Sadly, last Christmas was a bad turning point when he kept on having seizures and sadly, he lost his battle in January. Good luck dear with your treatment. Keep fighting

Hi Andy909,

I'm not a medic but know something about bowel cancer. I know it is one of the few cancers which, even when Stage 4, can still be treated with curative intent. And it looks to me as if the specialists are doing this, rather than offering palliative care. If you are unsure about this, you can ask them. They will answer your questions, including the 'what are my chances, doctor?' It is hard for them to decide what you want to know. You may find it hard to decide what you want to know. But they will answer your questions.

Good luck, Andy909.

It's so difficult to say what one would do if they were in your position. What I do know is after having 3 major operations I am not having any more of my body cut into. If my cancer returns then I will deal with it and no more treatment for me. 

I don't feel this is selfish, it's all my body can tolerate.

My decision and no one else's.

Hope you are still here and able to live a reasonable life. 

I'm sorry to hear about your dad but I would just like to know is your dad still alive or if not how long did he live after I hope you don't mind me asking these questions it would be great to revieve a reply 

Hi my dad is doing very well thankyou. His still active although not as strong as he used to be his  been left will some side affects from his  treatment. He will never be cancer free but he is enjoying living his life. He goes out every day eats very well. His slower then he used to be but he is nearly 77 so that's to be expected.