Secondary liver cancer from bowel cancer

Hi after a short period of illness (couple of months) without much symptoms tbh my 54 year old husband has just been told he only has weeks to live after finding out he has bowel cancer spread to the liver. The CT scan shows two thirds of the liver covered by cancer and jaundice has set in. He said you can't survive without your liver and not offering or recommending any treatment due to the short timescales saying no point putting your body through chemo for an extra 2 weeks when you only have a few weeks left. Is this right? Only been offered the palliative care. Please help or any advice ???? Thank you 

  • Oh, Betsy, I have no help or advice to give you, the prognosis from the Consultant must have left you both in utter shock.  I hope that you get some helpful replies from people who have experienced what you are going through. My heart goes out to you. xxx  

  • Hello,

            l read your devastating news with a cold shudder, since l have been one step away from the same some years ago.
                               Although l had 60% of my liver removed,50% from one lobe,the remainder from the other,the area affected by the tumour would have been lot less,allowing for a good margin of healthy tissue to be removed along with the affected. It was also fast growing and was not there when the bowel was diagnosed,but showed 6 months later after initial chemo and radiotherapy pre bowel op. l had no jaundice and was in for surgery pronto. for liver resection with the bowel op put back

                                    Speaking as a patient,  at 66% of the liver affected ,dependant on location,it would be a big ask for surgery to allow for the margin of healthy tissue that requires to be removed as well.From your post it sounds like the liver is really struggling now.The Chemo would be brutal and if your husband is struggling hard at the moment ,he would be unlikely to survive it.  When l started my treatment you would not have realised there was anything wrong with me and was fighting fit.. l only got diagnosed because l noticed old blood in my stool for the first time and  went to the doctors straight away.

                                                                                         Your Consultant seems to be very clear in his assessment , and l can see the point he is making.  l assume you have, or considered asking for a second opinion but from the tone of your post, time is not on your side.

                                                                                                                     l  truly wish l could give you more hope, or anything that could see off this viscious invader and destroyer of lives,l only have sympathy for your plight which l realise will be all too very little,

                                                                                      So very sorry,

                                                                                                               David

     

                          

  • Thank you for your support. We are still trying to process the news and start preparing for the worst  

  • We have the nurses coming tomorrow so I'm sure they will be able to give some comfort. Thank you. 

  • Dear Betsy, support for you both is so needed now and the nurses will be there for you with all their experience, in medical, emotional and practical matters, take everything that they have to offer you.  Do you have family support? Take advantage of that too, but sometimes it is hard to talk especially if it is with children.  I wish you the very best for the coming weeks.  PM if it would help you in anyway, to rant or whatever or just share here, we are all here for you both. 

    Lyn xxx

  • Thanks David for your useful advise and information - your spot on with your assessment and yes time is against us. Unfortunately Derek deteriorates daily and has no strength or energy left to question the diagnosis. It's pretty brutal and a hard pill to swallow. We are trying to stay positive and make the most of what time we have left. Derek hopes to pass away quietly at home in his sleep. It's devastating news. I can't believe how quick it's all happened - cancer really is a silent killer. Take care. 

  • Hello Betsy,

                       l hope Derek and yourself have the peace you wish for over the coming weeks and when the time comes it visits gently.Be sure to look after yourself and do not be alone.If you ever need to someone to unload onto in the future l will always reply.

                                                             l still ask why l was spared when so many others more deserving never got the opportunity.The only sense l can take from it is to try and do very best every day l have left and carry those who l shared treatment  with, but not the outcome, with me as l do,

                                                                                                                                       Capture the good moments and hold on to them so tightly,they are the ones that matter and will see you through in the future,

                                                                                                                   David

  • Hi,  I know exactly how you feel, we have just been told the same last week.  My husband was diagnosed in april with cancer of the oesophagus with mets to the liver.  We tried chemo and a targeted therapy and was expecting to have him around for another 1-3 years, then he went into hospital with stomach pain, did a scan and said the treatment hasn't worked and he now has 'weeks'.  We are really struggling to come to terms with it, whole world turned upside down, we have two girls to help through it as well, (8 and 12), it is crazy how a healthy guy (my husband is only 44), can seem healthy but be carrying around such a serious disease unbeknowns (all he had was indigestion when diagnosed!), and it takes over so fast and they can't fix it!  Super hard to get your head around isn't it and you feel like you've woken up in a nightmare, our lives are never going to be the same again and my friends with their healthy young husbands just don't get it!  I'm sure they are all just relieved it is not happening to them!! But to some of us it is, I really feel your pain  xx

  • Hello there - I totally relate to everything your saying and unable to make any sense of it all. Love is what gets you through the live you have for each other and from family that's what makes you strong and helps you find some inner peace. So so sorry for you and your family. My heart goes out to you all. Stay strong and try remain positive x