Hi lee, I'm really sorry to see your diagnosis. Have a look at the Dan North post, he has just started his journey with bowel cancer that has spread to the liver (I think). He's also done some videos of what's been happening so far. I think you'll be at similar stages. I hope you find the answers you need. Take care

Hi lee, I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in January 2016, im 36 and a mum of 4 girls!  I had the right side of my colon removed and am currently undergoing chemotherapy as the cancer had spread into my lymph nodes, as I'm sure your aware everybody's reaction to the chemo is different and with mine I've found the iv makes me feel unwell for around 10 days, I still get up go out take the kids to school and clean the house! I'm just running at around 60% of my normal self I try not to listen or pay any attention to the side effects as I think this just puts ideas in my head! I find it easier to stay busy rather than sitting around at home waiting to feel unwell! After the iv has worn off and on my rest wk I feel pretty much normal. So I suppose it's difficult to say how much help you'll need until you've started your treatment, our house runs pretty much the same has it always has except I don't go to work anymore and sometimes it's tricky if my appointments are near to drop off or pick up times at school! Hope this helps a little x I was dreading chemotherapy but it's really not that bad ( this is my week off)  And you won't feel ill all the time x good luck with your treatment :0) 

julie 

Hi Lee,

The names Dan North - going through exactly the same as yourself, only 3 weeks earlier. I have not had surgery though.  I have primary cancer in the Bowel which has spread to the Liver also (7 tumors total) and am starting my chemotherapy today to try to shrink them enough so they can operate.  You're in the right place for the support, a moderator asked if icoukd pop over and introduce myself as I've had an overwhelming experience in this site - great people with great attitudes - and hopefully I can do the same, as I'm a bit further ahead than yourself I cab give you some heads up on difficult times and have no problem if you want to talk about it - compare the two illnesses etc. 

I know at this point you must still be in limbo, you hear so much about Cancer that it de-sensatises you to it, and at first it's hard to hear.  The best thing I had was time frames: I know it may sound a bit negative, but if you ask your oncologist "how long have I got" it does seem to help (well, it did me) I've then gone on to plan a whole host of things & the way I see it, if I do them all, have a good laugh & Live for another 75 years, then I get 3/4 century to pay off the debts!! If not - haven't missed out!! 

I've got a V-log on YouTube whicc I fill with stuff that I've been up to - it will hopefully give you a lift - maybe reveal some things you will encounter & may even pop a couple of ideas into your head 

I'll say goodbye & good luck for now

Anything you need - just let us know

P S ; where you ever Jaundiced?

Hi Dan,

Thanks for the reply. I have spoken with my oncologist who has said 3 or 4 years with chemo as the tumours on my liver are inoperable at the moment. I'm supposed to start chemo on Thursday but one of my drain sites from the operation hasn't completely healed so that may delay things.

Hows the chemo going for you? I'm not particularly looking forward to it but needs must!!

Take care mate and speak soon

Lee

As with the tumours in my Liver Lee, they are also inoperable - so I'm having the Chemo to try and reduce them to a size where surgery may be applicable - I just had my first round of Chemo on Friday just gone, the stuff I'm on is FOLFOX 6 - i must admit it wasn't anywhere near as bad as I had been anticipating, I was a bit more tired than usual, but other than that plain sailing.

Until today!!! I have a temperature of 40 degrees and am back in hospital!!! Hah! 

The best advice I can give you is isolate yourself for the first week as much as possible, I know it sounds extreme, but I've picked up an infection and I did barely anything!! It makes your immune system incredibly weak... I feel OK myself, and there are no signs of serious problems, but it now means that I have to stay overnight - possibly two, and that can kind of *** up your plans.

But all in all my Chemo experience was better than I expected, so I hope you have the same, and at worst it only makes you feel drowsy like it did me!!

Best of luck for the coming weeks - whenever you want s chat just drop us a line on here mate

Hi Dan,

So sorry you've had to go back in re the infection (a chance to nick a new hat, maybe?) and hope by now they have let you out.  It's incredibly difficult to avoid these things, when I was having chemo there always seemed to be someone on the bus, on the train, in the shops, somewhere, who was coughing, sniffing and sneezing - I tried to take a wide berth but not always easy on crowded transport. Luckily I didn't catch anything drastic enough to stop treatment, but it was always a big worry, I was forever taking my temperature.  Glad you are feeling okay in yourself though, and I am keeping up with your vlogs as usual, I'm sure they will prove useful to Lee.

Take care, good luck!

Hazel x

Hi Dan, just got email notification of your vlog of yesterday, watched it and found that you have a blood infection plus a blood clot in your leg!  You are starting well, aren't you, for goodness sake?!   Hope the antibiotics and blood thinners do the trick so you can  be discharged soon, new hats in hand.

Hazel x

Not to bad thanks Hazel -  this is Lee, he's in exactly the same situation as me but hasn't yet started his Chemo (or he may have just - I may have the dates behind)

Lee, in regard to the Chemo what we've learnt so far is the first couple of days whilst your dosing are fine, if your having FOLFOX6 like me you'll have 2 hours in the Hospital on some strong stuff, and then take a small round pump home for it to filter into your system over 46 hours (or something similar I'm assuming, you may have something totally different but being similar cases I doubt it) I got an infection around day 6/7, on the Thursday 6 days after first administration I was on a broad antibiotic to fight said infection.

The whole process wanst that bad but key things to look out for:-

1. Neutropenia/Neutropenic infections, these are bad but I think you'll know if you get one.

2. You may end up with the same as me, sepsis, but it's quite easy for them to heal & unfortunately not uncommon 

3. Monitor your temperature - trust me on this

4. You should ask about blood clots, whilst in hospital they discovered one in my leg, but we weren't looking for them, and apparently they are not uncommon

5. Finally, kids carry a lot of bugs being so young & mixing at school exposes them - I know you have a little one so distance yourself from other kids as this could be a vulnerable area

That's pretty much it that I can think of - best of luck with the Chemo, and remember this is your journey make sure your calling the shots & keep your chin up

Any questions don't hesitate to ask

See ya Hazel, & take care Lee

Hi guys, I'm Hayley I'm 42 and I have also been diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer this week. I had a colonoscopy yesterday where they took biopsies and I've been referred for the next step so just waiting for that.

I've been reading your experiences on here and Dan I've watched your vlog ( I watched it whilst trying to get the moviprep down ) 

I will keep on reading where you are up to and post my own updates xx