Dear Ron sorry I have not responded sooner. Stories like yours are so inspiring. I have been a bit down as I have been told that my liver issues are too complex and I will never be a candidate for surgery so my survival relies purely on chemo. Fortunately it is shrinking the tumours and CEA is coming down so I am hopeful. So far have had 7 treatments the 7th today and if it was not for the cancer you would call me strong and healthy! So positivity, diet and chemo I believe will get me through this! I wish you continued good health Regards Carole ... View more

Dear Ron sorry I have not responded sooner. Stories like yours are so inspiring. I have been a bit down as I have been told that my liver issues are too complex and I will never be a candidate for surgery so my survival relies purely on chemo. Fortunately it is shrinking the tumours and CEA is coming down so I am hopeful. So far have had 7 treatments the 7th today and if it was not for the cancer you would call me strong and healthy! So positivity, diet and chemo I believe will get me through this! I wish you continued good health Regards Carole ... View more

Hello Pam Glad to hear your daughter is improving and that she has good friends to support her. It is fabulous that they have booked her on a cruise what a wonderful uplifting thing to do. I am very fortunate that I also have good friends who constantly check on how am doing as well as an amazing extended family, although my own family is in the UK they do what they can from afar and my husbands family is here and wonderfully supportive. My 18 year old son moves interstate on Monday to study medicine, unfortunately he did not get a local place. I am sad to see him go as we do not know how things will turn out for me but he is ready to fly the nest and medicine has been his dream since he was very young so I am also ecstatic for him at the same time. My CEA level after second chemo has come down again and I am hoping it continues that way. My oncologist is also now talking 12 cycles of chemo but I have only had my third so we don't really know how things are progressing on my liver until the MRIs which he now wants to do after 6th cycle but it seems things change on a fortnightly basis so we will see what eventuates. I wish Tracey good luck with her next 3 rounds of chemo, each one seems more daunting to undergo but hopefully the end of chemo is in sight for her now. Take care Carole ... View more

Dear Rachel Thank you so much for your response. It is great to hear some positive news and I am so pleased you are clear. Did you have to have liver resection initially as well? I have cancer on both lobes and crossing main portal vein plus I have several haemangiomas so they are talking about me being a "complex case" - they are hoping tumours will shrink enough to resect left lobe and let it regenerate and then resect right lobe but only if they tumours shrink enough. Its daunting but I will do whatever it takes. My son has just turned 18 and is off to study medicine interstate - I will be around to see him graduate and then get married and have grandkids if I get my way! May you remain clear for ever. Regards Carole ... View more

Dear S Thank you so much for your response. I have the bumbag which I am finding easier to wear to bed but sleep is hopeless it seems - they tell me its the dexamethasone which makes you hyper. At least its only a couple of nights a fortnight. I am 49 and what you say about it being harder on parents is so true. My family have been amazing though. My family are overseas but my sister and sister in law message me every day to see how I am doing and my mother in law here has been amazing. The support of family and friends sure helps you deal with things a lot easier. I note you were diagnosed in 2007 and am hoping that indicates you are now cancer free. It is very encouraging to see people who have survived beyond the 5 year mark. Thank you for sharing your experience Carole ... View more

I am keeping my fingers crossed that your daughters scans show good shrinkage. My cancer is not inherited fortunately for my family although they did say that it only takes one person for it to become a genetic issue so my son and siblings have been checked but are all clear. I had my second chemo yesterday as was encouraged that my CEA levels had come down which shows the cancer is become weaker so at least chemo is working which there is always a chance it won't. Very happy about that. Now we too hope for good shrinkage. I am encouraged every day by the treatment team and their conviction that the new treatments coming out now will help to cure many more of us - we just have to hang in there! Carole ... View more

Hi Robbie I also have metastatic bowel cancer and just starting my chemo. From what I understand no-one can really know how anyone will respond to treatment but if this is the first round of treatment your Mum has had her oncologist would be looking at different treatments for her. Unless all treatment options have been tried and your mother has been told that there is nothing more that can be done for her it is difficult to put a timeframe on things. I am not sure whether you go to appointments with your Mum but it might be good if you did and if you take a list of questions you would like to know with you. My doctor told me to do that and also suggested questions for me to ask on my first meeting and it was really helpful. I was able to tick them off and write down responses to things so I could go home and research later. The first question I would be asking is so this first line treatment has not worked what next - what are the next treatment options, and don't forget you can always get a second opinion. I find people do not automatically tell you anything you do need to ask. If your mother has a good relationship with her GP she could ask her GP to find out the answers and explain the options to her. I hope this is useful and I hope things work out for your mother. ... View more

Hi Pam Sorry to hear about your daughter. I myself am 49 and have just had my first treatment. My treatment includes a 46 hour infusion at home but your daughter may not be on the same treatments as me. Some people do not have this they may take pills. I am in the same position as your daughter. It is too widespread in my liver and on both lobes to resect so the hope is the chemo will shrink the tumours enough and then they will try to resect liver in two stages removing the left lobe first and allowing regrowth before resecting the right - if all goes to plan. The issue is they also need to resect bowel and do not want to do this at same time but do not want to put me through 3 major operations either. It is just wait and see. I hope your daughter is responding well to chemo and that she has a positive outcome. Carole ... View more

Thank you Gail. I hope your husband is doing well. ... View more

Thanks for your response Graeme. It's nice to hear from someone who has had the same treatment. The idea of a pocket is a great one, I will get something made up. I am in Adelaide. Thanks for the advice on listening got your body, I am trying to do that, if I had perhaps listened in the first place I wouldn't be here today but I was pretty much symptomless apart from some fatigue which was put down to my hypothyroidism. I hope that you are all clear and remain so and am keeping my fingers crossed that the folfox/avastin will shrink the tumours enough to resect. Take care. ... View more