topic Liver cancer - secondary cancer in I've just been diagnosed

Liver cancer - secondary cancer

PhilPepper — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 12:08:17 GMT

Just over two years ago, I joined this site. Diagnosed with colon cancer and treated as such. I thought it was early enough and the treatment was thorough enough, to make sure it didn't reappear.

Ta-Da!

So here we are again. Good news... The PET scan found only one tumour. It seems to be an early discovery. Markers had not shown up in my blood. I discovered it by accident, with a CT scan for a non-cancer-related reason. Bad news... It's aggressive cancer and I'm losing a chunk of my liver. And I'll have to do chemo again.

I can add up more positives than negatives. Doesn't take away the brick wall I've been hit with. Liver surgery is big. Having gone through chemo already, second time around seems scarier.

I have six sleeps before fronting up to the hospital for some slicing and dicing.

Anyway... bring on round 2.

Cheers everybody

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

Lampwork54 — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 02:57:03 GMT

oh Phil, that's really rough. I hope you come through the surgery successfully. Yes, it's major surgery but you are extremely tough. I hope you get through this with flying colours. You have such a positive attitude and I hope you take some great music with you to silently dance. Sending you my best wishes for a great outcome and a speech return to health.

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

LindaG — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 04:34:29 GMT

Hi Phil, so sorry you’ve got to do the cancer journey again. Sending you love and prayers! Keep us informed of your progress. Xx Linda G

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

mensana — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 08:52:34 GMT

Certainly not the best of news. But they're onto it which is a good start. Not always easy to maintain but a positive attitude helps a lot. Chemo is always a daunting hurdle but you will get through it. I concentrated on the period after the chemo and it got me through. Wasn't easy, but I knew there were better times ahead. Best wishes for all your treatments.

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

PhilPepper — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 08:32:05 GMT

I should be in hospital recovering from liver surgery. Instead, I'm at home, waiting an extra week. Covid patients ended up in ICU overnight, taking the bed reserved for me.

Not too bad to be put back a week. I was giving the option of seeking chemo first. Delaying treatment a week is not a great option, but surgery before chemo seems the better option.

I kind of had to roll my eyes because it was because of covid. With all the lockdown restrictions, covid's a bit of a boring conversation these days. Seems to be the cause of everyone's most predominant issues. Reflecting on it, I'm not sure why I wasn't angry or bitter. It's not like I can actually blame covid. There's no one I can really blame, so no point in being bitter.

In saying that, being sent home in the middle of surgery day, wiped me out emotionally. I'd been mentally preparing for surgery for a week, which fell flat. Kind of like an anticlimax, but much more. It was awful. I think I was a bit relieved to not be going through it, but absolutely frightened about how this cancer could develop with an extra week of opportunity.

A few days later and I'm moving on. I have a plan. I'm feeling more prepared earlier than last time. We shall see how I feel on Thursday when I front up to the hospital again.

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

LindaG — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 13:07:48 GMT

Hi Phil, so sorry about the cancellation of your op. Sounds like you’ve worked through the disappointment. Well done! Hope it happens for you this week and you can recover before the chemo. Just try and take one day at a time. Sending you love and prayers 💕🙏. Linda G

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

sch — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 13:57:19 GMT

Hi PhilPepper,

Sorry, I don't know how I missed this post. I know we messaged a while ago so I was looking out for an update but I completely missed your post.

Then just saw this post.

Mate that sucks that it's come back.

Like you say, there's not really any point being angry or bitter about it. It is what it is.

Getting frustrated isn't going to help you any.

But I can certainly appreciate the emotional upheaval of going home on surgery day. Ouch.

I'm not too sure what the pluses and minuses are of having chemo/surgery first.

I know what some times they try to shrink the cancer first before surgery. In my case, I had surgery first because my large bowel was almost completely obstructed.

I'm glad to hear that you're dealing with it OK (at least from the sounds of it) .

So, if you're back in hospital on Thursday, you'll post and let us know how you went on Friday (kidding - wishful thinking).

Best of luck mate. If you need something, let me know.

-s

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

sch — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 14:07:40 GMT

Sorry - 2nd post already.

Personally, and I've spoken with a few people about it, chemo, generally, is worse than surgery.

After surgery you might be bloody sore afterwards (I was, and I had quite major surgery), but over time you get better. Chemo gets worse over time.

So post surgery, just keep asking for more drugs mate. You'll be fine. That's my advise.

Have you discussed yet what chemo they are going to be giving you? Same as last time or are they going to change it?

-s

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

PhilPepper — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 13:11:39 GMT

Still early days. I haven't spoken to the oncologist yet this time around. He has spoken to the surgeon though. From their roshambo, the surgeon won first stab.

I heard I can't be given the same chemo as before. That might be the case. I don't know. In any case, it nearly killed me last time. Hopefully a different one will be more effective and less dangerous.

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

PhilPepper — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 14:27:39 GMT

Well it's taken me about a moth, booking an appointment with the GP, getting a CT Scan, following up results with the GP and original surgeon, getting MRI and PET scan, meeting the new surgeon, getting bumped for my surgery date, then finally... being made cancer free.

So this has all happened two months before my scheduled CT Scan for my oncologists which was in December. Therefore, I managed to rid myself of this thing three months early. As it was an aggressive little sod, I can't express my relief enough.

So they have taken the left lobe of my liver. Segments one and two. I am also feeling fortunate because of the sucess of the laproscopy. Minimal wounds and speedier recovery.

So preparing was scary. I was prepared for the worst. Putting the arterial lines in was unpleasant. Getting a local in my spine was unpleasant. I woke up feeling less hallucinogenic than previously. I was in practically no pain. Twelve hours later I'm having trouble sleeping, but generally feeling good. I want to get out of bed and walk around. As I'm in ICU, I'm attached to many lines and cables, so need to stay put for now.

Anyway, a lot of fears and anxiety to get me to this point, but the treatment journey has been a breeze so far. Watch this space. I'm sure it won't stay rosie forever.

Ciao

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

LindaG — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 23:38:31 GMT

Hi PhilPepper, that’s fantastic news! Was thinking of you yesterday and wondering how you were. Thanks for letting us know. Hope you keep getting stronger 🙏. Such a relief for you! Will keep praying for you 💕. Linda G. Ps I also had good news this week as the results of my PET scan showed no more cancer after my treatment so I’m happy too!

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

PhilPepper — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 00:01:01 GMT

I just met with the surgeon. Everything went well. He is very happy. They'll unhook me soon and move me out of ICU. He's predicting I'll go home early.

Having the laproscopy makes it so much better. I feel I could go home now.

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

sch — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 08:32:47 GMT

Yay!

Good going mate. Let's hope the rest of your treatment goes this smoothly.

How's the family at home? (wife and dog).

-s

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

Lampwork54 — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 23:19:06 GMT

Hi Phil,

Sorry for not responding earlier but I had no internet yesterday due to an overdue account that I'd forgotten to pay.

I cannot imagine being sent home on the day surgery was to take place. I know how much courage, fear and anxiety you have to go through to front up at a hospital for major surgery. We live in difficult times and yes Covid may be boring but your story highlights exactly why we need to vaccinate and keep ourselves out of ICU or the hospital system will be overwhelmed and planned surgeries will not be able to take place.

I think the time of your email was 12.39p.m. and ai thought of you writing it and not being able to sleep. I think it should be mandatory that you are given something so you can sleep on the night after surgery. There is nothing worse than being sleepless in a hospital, all by yourself and worrying. I remember thinking- all the drugs in the world available in ICU and I cannot sleep. That situation should be remedied in the future. Perhaps we should advocate to people preparing for surgery to take a sleeping tablet with them. I wouldn't normally suggest breaking rules but sleeplessness in a hospital is something I fear.

I wish you every success in your recovery from your surgery. I know you will be dreading chemo and I hope they find one that is less harsh on your system. You are braver than you know, stronger and more resilient than most people so I think you will come through this. I'll be thinking of you for what lies ahead of you and hoping you can do this. All the best to you and your family.

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

PhilPepper — Sat, 02 Oct 2021 01:16:41 GMT

Hi Lampwork

It's nice catching up with you again.

I think was luck not sleeping. I was suffering some sleep apnea conditions with was unfortunate. and everytime I went to sleep , my oxygen saturation dropped and the alarms worked me up. I'm making up for it now.

I've been up and walking around and been stretching my abs to move around. So I have more pain now. I'm off for a CT scan to look for potential blood clots. Just precautionary.

i'll start solid food for lunch if they can find me a spare tray.

Talk soon

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

sch — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 13:01:37 GMT

Dear PP,

How are you travelling?

You must be almost back on your feet by now.

Remember to keep up the walking as much as you can.

How did the solid food go down?

Any complications?

Hopefully they've let you out of hospital by now and you can get a good nights sleep at last.

Just make sure you take enough pain killers so that you stay mobile. It makes a real difference to recovery

How did you CT scan go?

-s

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

PhilPepper — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 00:11:07 GMT

Been back on my feet for a week. Being walking daily. Aiming for optimal exercise and activity without overdoing it. Trying to make sure my lungs are working well and avoiding pneumonia. The CT scan showed some cloudiness in my lungs, so breathing has been my target.

I have been trying to wean myself from strong pain killers, but it was too early, so I've had to start them up again. mainly because I did overdo it with being too active.

In any case, just focussing on surgery recovery in the short term. Not had any new appointments made yet. Waiting to hear the results of my liver pathology.

I hope you are well.

cheers

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

Wegotthis — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 19:08:24 GMT

Thanks for sharing your journey with us.

I just had surgery a few days ago to remove a few lumps from under my armpit.

Maybe later my feelings will change if I find out I do have cancer. Right now the waiting is difficult for my family and I.

It feels like we are always waiting. Waiting to see a doctor, waiting to get a date for images, waiting for them to come back, waiting to hear what they found, waiting for CT scan day, waiting for results, waiting for surgery day and waiting on biopsy results..

Because people like yourself sharing their journey with people who don't know helps .

I feel guilty because I don't think what I have is anywhere as bad as others are dealing with. I would love to trade places with someone who is much younger than me.

Your blog helps me be thankful in many ways.

Stay strong. I hope you have family and support around

Re: Liver cancer - secondary cancer

sch — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 00:07:31 GMT

I hope the walking is going well and you're well and truly back on your feet.

By now your results should be back so I hope they were all ok.

What are the next steps? More scans, or the dreaded "wait and see"?

Any longer term side effects from the surgery?

I hope everything is OK mate.

-s