Bowel cancer any tips?

[Vespa]

hope the feeling has come back

how is your appetite since the treatment started?

My arms are okay, my feet are really very numb.

When I first went on chemo I lost 20kgs in three months, it is coming back slowly. I can eat but I'm on this low fibre diet - which means I'm eating a eight year olds dream diet, just carbs, fat and sugar.

[lambrini]

I hope you are doing ok, Vespa.
Have you heard about Metokur? Indolent lymphoma. smh.

[Vespa]

I hope you are doing ok, Vespa.
Have you heard about Metokur? Indolent lymphoma. smh.

Ouch

[Vespa]

Been asked to visit the surgical team next week. The tumour has been resistant to chemo and I'm now starting to suffer nerve damage - I guess they'll tell me next week. They are very vague on the phone, as always.

[shabbado]

Been asked to visit the surgical team next week. The tumour has been resistant to chemo and I'm now starting to suffer nerve damage - I guess they'll tell me next week. They are very vague on the phone, as always.

Sorry to hear that Vespa.

If you don't mind me asking. It's not metastasized in any way, has it?

[Vespa]

Been asked to visit the surgical team next week. The tumour has been resistant to chemo and I'm now starting to suffer nerve damage - I guess they'll tell me next week. They are very vague on the phone, as always.

Sorry to hear that Vespa.

If you don't mind me asking. It's not metastasized in any way, has it?

No it is a t3n1m0 (iirc could be n2) tumour that's spread to a few lymph nodes. The chemo was meant to shrink the tomour so the cutting was easier, the cancer is classed as stable i.e. it isn't changing.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-inf ... wel-cancer

At some point they have to cut it out, there has always been a 40% chance I'll be dead inside four years and that's largely based on if the cutting removes all the cancer.

If the chemo isn't reducing the tumour they may decide to cut now, the original plan was to cut then chemo - but because I was so fit and well they thought chemo first could shrink the tumour.

I'm also going to be on chemo more than six months shortly which they don't like because the side affects become more pronounced, like my inability to feel any of my toes.

Like I said I'm a passenger, they'll cure me or they wont.

[shabbado]

Been asked to visit the surgical team next week. The tumour has been resistant to chemo and I'm now starting to suffer nerve damage - I guess they'll tell me next week. They are very vague on the phone, as always.

Sorry to hear that Vespa.

If you don't mind me asking. It's not metastasized in any way, has it?

No it is a t3n1m0 (iirc could be n2) tumour that's spread to a few lymph nodes. The chemo was meant to shrink the tomour so the cutting was easier, the cancer is classed as stable i.e. it isn't changing.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-inf ... wel-cancer

At some point they have to cut it out, there has always been a 40% chance I'll be dead inside four years and that's largely based on if the cutting removes all the cancer.

If the chemo isn't reducing the tumour they may decide to cut now, the original plan was to cut then chemo - but because I was so fit and well they thought chemo first could shrink the tumour.

I'm also going to be on chemo more than six months shortly which they don't like because the side affects become more pronounced, like my inability to feel any of my toes.

Like I said I'm a passenger, they'll cure me or they wont.

That's encouraging that the Drs are classing it as stable.

I really do admire your indefatigability in the face of this awful disease.

[delboy1983]

Hopefully the surgical team have positive news for you at your meeting,
Stay strong !

[Vespa]

Hopefully the surgical team have positive news for you at your meeting,
Stay strong !

Just checked my grading was t4n1m0.

Thanks for the well wishes.

[Holden Mcgroyne]

Best wishes as always Vespa

[Steve Hunt]

Like I said I'm a passenger, they'll cure me or they wont.

Well I sincerely hope they do, Vespa.

Fingers crossed the next stage of treatment is successfull and goes as smoothly as it possibly can.

All the very best.

[kevin04]

God bless you, Vespa.

Hoping for some good news and you are in my thoughts.

Take care bigman.

[Vespa]

Went to see my charming but somewhat terrifying bowel surgeon today. I do like her, but the way she talks about chopping you up is unsettling.

The basics are that six months of chemo hasn't really done much. This means the only real option is a procedure called a hemicolectomy which is a standard procedure for bowel cancer. This involves cutting about 30cm of bowel out and stitching it back together. The complication I have is they think the tumour has grown into the muscle and tissue in my abdomen, so they'll need to chop that out as well - bye bye abs.

It is considered a high-risk procedure because the chance of leaving some cancer behind is reasonable and that may need radiotherapy. She told me that they'll try to do this via. a keyhole procedure but if they can't see enough they'll fillet me like a mackerel.

Because I'm also high risk due to a pulmonary embolism I need to go through some assessments, I should be on the chopping board in five to six weeks.

[the puddin]

Thinking of you Vespa. Can be a lonely old road at times but you have people that care here too. Odd people, crazy people, maybe, but people that care.

[delboy1983]

Not easy Vespa but sounds like they have a plan and they are good at what they do.
Positive thoughts are with you as always.