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Stage IV colon/liver cancer diagnosis

Dorby
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I'm a 61 year old man with 2 adult children. In February, I was diagnosed with Colon cancer after a colonoscopy and after several other tests found it was Stage IV terminal cancer with tumors mestacised to the liver 90% and the lymph nodes. First there was a hope of surgery, but because of the liver diagnosis, I am inoperable.    

I was in shock, as I had no pain, but blood in the stool.  Regardless,after  meeting with 4 different specialists, I was told by everyone to "get my life in order" as I had 8 months to a year to live.   After being assigned an Oncologist, I was told I didn't need to do chemo, but "why not give it a try".  Chemo could give me some extra time on this earth.  

I am now on my 8th very aggressive chemo treatment, the first 3 with major reactions, ending up in intensive care.  I've been recommended to be on chemo for the rest of my life but I am struggling with that.  I am completely wiped out and totally fatigued for about 8 days following chemo.  No pain from cancer, only fatigue. 

Lots of pressure to stay on chemo and some pressure to try alternative treatments.   Looking forward to chatting with folks in a similar stage 

 

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    Hello, Dorby, just wanted to say how sorry I am for your diagnosis and to welcome you to the forum.  I don't have the same as you, mine is ovarian, but I can certainly  empathise with you concerning the effects of chemo.  

    I am sure there will be others on here who will come forward soon to compare notes - it may help them to find you if you amend your heading to something like 'Colon and liver cancer'.  Hope this helps, thinking of you and sending my very best wishes. 

    Hazel xx

     

     

  • Offline in reply to haze44

    Thanks, sorry about your ovarian cancer.  I took your advice and changed my heading.  

  • Offline in reply to Dorby

    Thank you, Dorby, touch wood and everything crossed I am okay at the moment, just taking each good day as it comes.  

    Thinking of you and hoping your team will be able to find some treatment that enables you to be in reasonable comfort, and that there will be others along soon on here who may be in a similar situation and able to help you more than I can. 

    Hazel x

     

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    Hi Dorby I was also diagnosed with colon cancer spread to the liver. I was able to have liver surgery even though 70% was removed. I am due to start chemo next week and am currently on a totally raw food diet (fruit and raw veg). My nutritionist has had a lot of success with patients on this diet alone (with no chemo). Perhaps you could give it a try. It does take some getting used to but you hardly have any washing up! All the best.
  • Offline in reply to BeaA

    This is interesting indeed.  I was told NO raw food after my diagnosis. Very basic very unraw diet. Canned vegetables and fruit, plus meat.   The bleeding stopped in my colon.   However, after 2 months - I am eating some raw fruit and feeling much better; raw vegetables are not working for me.  So, do I understand correctly that 70% of your liver was removed?  I was told I cannot have liver removal as 90% of my liver is covered with tumours. 

    And yes, I took up a raw food diet a few years ago.  

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    Hi Dorby,

    I just thought I'd say welcome to the forum, none of us would choose to be here but I hope you receive the support you need.

    Please don't let anyone pressure you into staying on chemo if that isn't what you want. We all need to make our own decisions about when we've had enough and if we feel that the chemo is doing more harm than good we need to be able to consider our options rationally.

    After successfully fighting bowel and liver cancer for several years (including a bowel resection and several cycles of chemo) my Mum decided to stop the chemo because it was making her quality of life worse than it needed to be. Luckily most of the family accepted her decision, though it was pretty hard for some to accept. 

    I'm nowhere near that stage in my own cancer journey, but I hope that when I get there my own family will respect my decision.

    Best wishes

    Dave

  • Offline in reply to Dorby

    It's quite shocking what you were told to eat. Red meat and dairy are the worst things for cancer. The problem is that the medical profession looks at the problem from a purely medical view. We need a much broader understanding of the role nutrition plays in our health. If you can get hold of a book called The China Study by Dr Colin Campbell it's worth a read. He is American so obviously his concern is with the very bad state of health of Americans but he has been doing research for 25 years and his results are relevant to the whole of the Western world. Yes I had 70% of my liver removed which is the limit apparently.

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    Hello Dorby,

    We have some information on diet after bowel cancer treatment here  which includes a section also on diet and chemotherapy.

    If you would like more information about diet, don't hesitate to get in touch with our cancer information nurses who will be happy to help. If you live in the UK, you can ring them on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Don't hesitate also to get in touch with your medical team as they will know exactly what to suggest in terms of diet in your particular circumstances.

    We also have some useful information on our site on the difference between complementary and alternative therapies. 

    I hope this helps and best wishes,

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline in reply to davek
    Well, what they told me to eat actually helped. I was losing a lot of blood from my colon, and without the raw food, it stopped. (It may also have been the chemo) Regardless, the diet was based on the tumor in the colon. I will look up "The China Study". Thanks.

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