hello,

          l am sorry to hear of your mums problems and your obvious worries .Liver resection sounds such a scary thing,but it can be very successful,and the Liver can subsequently grow to compensate for the removed tissue

 in my case l was diagnosed with bowel cancer 6 years ago, had chemo and radiotherapy and was off to resection surgery six months later when a tumour on the liver was picked up on pre op scan. One month later 45% was removed from one lobe, 10% and gallbladder from the other lobe,followed by bowel resection three months later.

To be honest  l have had no problems with the liver apart from a slight bulge in the abdomen where the lobe with the least removed has grown to compensate.The gallbladder removal has been managed by colestrymine powders to bind up bile since l have a high  production rate with no metering system, however l have within the past month dropped these completely since my bile and bowel have agreed to live in harmony once again.

 Apart from being careful initially with alchohol,which as a light drinker was no problem,l can happily enjoy a few bottles of wine between friends with no ill effects,and indeed really could within the first year.

 Obviously we are all different but if the surgeons are able to operate this can be a very positive step.l should add that l was 60 years old at diagnosis,reasonably fit,and a workaholic.Today l am reasonably fit,and a retired  measured workaholic. l hope this helps both you and your mum, and feel free to ask further questions

Hello [@gruntifen]‍ 

Thank you so much for your reply and sharing your story with me. It’s so refreshing hearing stories like yours, 6 years on and still living happily. 

Your story seems a lot similar to my mums as she has also had a bowel resection. You are right in saying that being able to operate is a very positive step, I’ve never really thought of it like that and always assumed the worst with operations as I know that my Mum hates the idea, especially after her first op which was pretty traumatic. But having that little reminder that they are in fact very positive as it means something can still be done to get rid of the cancer, is so nice to hear so thank you. 

After my mums meeting the other day, the oncologists said they are still deciding whether they want to do the liver resection or probing. I haven’t heard much about probing and I’m not entirely sure why they are deciding between the two. But hopefully either one of them will have a positive outcome. If you don’t mind me asking, are you still having treatment now? 

Hello [@gruntifen]‍ 

Thank you so much for your reply and sharing your story with me. It’s so refreshing hearing stories like yours, 6 years on and still living happily. 

Your story seems a lot similar to my mums as she has also had a bowel resection. You are right in saying that being able to operate is a very positive step, I’ve never really thought of it like that and always assumed the worst with operations as I know that my Mum hates the idea, especially after her first op which was pretty traumatic. But having that little reminder that they are in fact very positive as it means something can still be done to get rid of the cancer, is so nice to hear so thank you. 

After my mums meeting the other day, the oncologists said they are still deciding whether they want to do the liver resection or probing. I haven’t heard much about probing and I’m not entirely sure why they are deciding between the two. But hopefully either one of them will have a positive outcome. If you don’t mind me asking, are you still having treatment now? 

hello again,

                 no l am not undergoing any treatment and the only mediction l take is a single loperimide a day which l feel l will be able to stop shortly as my bowel training nears completion..My last operation was a stoma reversal in January 2015 and it has been the ride to purgatory until some four months ago when the bowel  and bile waved the white flag and decided to return to normality. From a start position of going to the loo up to 50-times a day, after more than four years  l am now once to twice maximum and never through the night. l have to say if l had the choice over again,l would still choose to lose what was a constantly raw/sore stoma. l would emphasise again that my problems were all around the gallbladder removal and coming to terms with bile production,the liver resection was fine

 l am unsure as to what probing involves but l suspect it is a less invasive proceedure, but the one thing l am very certain of is that the professionals in the NHS are on top of the game and that we are very fortunate to have them on our side.l am certain that whatever decision they arrive at,it will be to achieve the best outcome for your mum and not themselves or any budget.The reality on the ground is always so much better than the perception in the press