Alex

Sorry to hear about your moms secondary, How long ago was here primary?

I had bowel Cancer 5 years ago and had several secondaries but still kicking so far, I try not to stress on the details of what I need to do but trust in my wife as my medical advocate (The Rottweiler) to keep the NHS on its toes about scans, treatments and appointment's . I think it is harder for family members in some ways because for us patients we need to go along with the flow.

Hi there Mj hunt and thank you for getting in touch.

sorry to hear about your situation and I'm glad to hear you are doing well given the circumstances. I'm sure there's been lots of emotional ups and downs. 
 

her primary was diagnosed in December 2021, and secondary in March this year. She's in very good health apart from the cancer...

your wife sounds like a great person to have in your corner, you do need to hound them abit I've found otherwise things move very slowly. Wish you all the best with things.

it's challenging yes, I'm in my 30s and just had a baby so been hectic time and just trying to keep up her spirits.

where were your secondaries if you don't mind me asking and how's the treatment been so far. Private message me if that's easier.

again thanks for getting in touch and telling me about your journey.  

In 2018 it was surgery to remove a tennis ball sized tumour in the small bowel they cut out about 30cm of bowel and about 23 lymph glan only one of which had cancer, it was graded as stage 3 in histology, this was followed 3 months later with chemotherapy (copax).

Late 2019 tey  found a small tumour on my liver ( it basically works its way around the bodies filter systems) they removed a 25mm tumour using Ablation and I was back to work in 5 days.

Late 2020 was a suprise with my Liver again but this time it was the size of a grapefruit and they had to remove 1/2 of my liver (it will grow back sort of) the surgeons at QEHB were again amazing but I do have a scar big enough to put an iPad in, it did take a couple of months to bounce bacj from this one as it affected my breathing as well.

2021 brought the gift of a tumour or nodule as they call it in my lung (everything is on my right side) I was told it is to small to do anything with so it was left and one became two and two became three, The surgeon was very vauge on what he had actually done by the time he did it in August 22, but said he had done such a good job removing them both that he was cancelling further treatment, this was all well and good until I pointed out there were 3.

Jan 23, I had another ablation this time to my lung I spent 4 days in hospital and carried on.

I was due to start Chemotherapy the first week of March 2023, the week before my vision started acting funny in my left eye, I got into hospital as it was originally thought I might have had a TIA but the scan showed a tumour in mu Occipital Lobe (Rear right hand side) frome there I saw my Oncologist who passed me to the neurosurgical team who were fantastic, I had a bit of a battle getting my diabetes under control ready for the op 2 weeks later, they did the operation and removed the tumour it was the size of an egg yolk and I and pretty much the same as before, the drugs to prevent me from seizures and the Steroid to stop the brain from swelling took a heavy toll but nearly 2 months down the road and much reduced doses I am fine.

This week I am preparing for radiotherapy to my brain, just 5 treatments that will be followed by a different type of chemotherapy, unfourtunatley my oncologist called me on tuesday to let me know the latest PET scan has found another cluster of cancer cells in my chest. The plan is to carry on as planned and review after chemo.

If not for my wife I would have died 2 years ago but she tells me she has 25 years wort of jobs for me to do.

My journey sounds worse than it has been, I only live 1 mile from the hospital and I unfourtunatley know more about my illness than I really want to, that said with the support of my family I have got the right treatment at the right time even if the doctors have needed to be reminded of what time scales they need to do things in (looke at NICE guidelines and the hospital guidlines) I am still here and still very positive I have 1 rule for those around me and that is do not cry in front of me as it does not do me any good.

I hope your moms journey is as positive and painfree as possibly, dont be frightend to ask questions or challenge proffesionals in this respect google is not your friend only trust information from this site or mcmillan. Dont forget to look after yourself as well as your mum will depend on you.

Good luck

Martin