Hi Billy,

I just can't get my head around this. Have I to pretend I have  symptoms to get treatment. I've got stage 4 bowel cancer I just don't get it. 
I would have thought they would be trying to shrink every. 
They must all have agreed this approach at the MDT meeting. 

Hi cath  

I had no symptoms, felt fine and working well, just blood test showed something wrong, remember I've cancer alot of places. They must know your worried and should tell you things to ease your mind. 

Billy 

Hi Billy,

So have I it's in my sacrum/pelvis abdomen and both lungs but they are not sure about them yet. The lungs I mean. 
 

Im worried this oncologist has written me off. 

Have you got oncologist phone number ask reception if not and ask about treatment options for the future or what is being done as your very worried about lack of detail on what is happening about treatment options. 

Billy 

Hi Cath,

I'm so sorry to hear how you are feeling with this.

There are so many things I would want to say to you, but I tend not to make too many private comments too publicly.

Please do ask for second opinions if you feel at all uneasy about the treatment you are given. I have absolute faith that all the medical professionals do their best with the tools they are given, but we are all individuals and I feel strongly that our treatments should be given on an individual basis. After all, the other expert in the room is you!!!!!

Good luck with it all,

Mary

xxx

Hi Billy,

So you don't think I should wait till 25th November?. Have you ever heard of anyone with stage 4 not being offered chemo because they don't have symptoms!

My husband remembers him saying it's all about quality of life if you don't have symptoms there no point giving you chemotherapy as that will make you feel I'll and at the moment you've no symptoms. 
 

He said but if it's only going to grow a mm at a time there's no point giving you treatment.

ivsaid so is it slow or fast growing he said I don't know. I said do it could double in size . 

Can't hurt to have a word, not saying it'll do any good. You never know till try. I've been thinking about chemotherapy and not sure I've heard of plenty having chemotherapy and some radiotherapy because it was in small places. 

Hope others will reply with more details. 

Billy 

Hi Billy,

As far as I know they biopsied my pelvis that's the biggest tumour in my sacrum that's where I'm getting radiotherapy starting Monday. This was after I said I was on painkillers for my hip and did have symptoms there. I have according to the Ct scan also enlarged lymph nodes outside my bowel next to the join from the right hemi colectomy 10 years  ago and both lungs showing nodules which they are undetermined as yet. I just thought they would go through what there plans were. 

Hi Cath,

Everything you say resonates with me. But I cannot give advice- I can only tell you about my own story. and the things that have worked for me. And I don't talk about the details publicly.

But, if it were me, I think I wouldn't be able to wait to ask for a second opinion. My mental distress of feeling written off when my whole spirit was geared up for a fight was incredibly destructive! Perhaps you are feeling that your approach is conflicting with your medical experts' approach?

Is there any reason why you should wait to ask for a second opinion? In my experience the medical teams don't mind people asking. After all, it encourages their own professional teamwork and sharing of expertise doesn't it? The second opinions I have had have been very informative and helped reassure me towards trusting that my medical team really are on my side.

Warmest wishes to you,

Mary

xxxx