Hi DG, I have been feeling tired too lately, I suppose that's something we just have to put up with given the toxic stuff they pump into us. I did end up in hospital a few weeks ago! Had the flu and a temperature. Great way to spend a Saturday afternoon!! I have relatives that live in Adelaide. An uncle in Elizabeth and cousins in Paralowie and Gawler. I spent many school holidays in Adelaide, but have never been to the Barossa Valley!! I'm pleased to say my skin rash has settled down a little now as I'm having the drug that causes it every 2nd week. Saw my oncologist on Tuesday, who is happy with my progress. Says I'm managing my side effects well. Also thinks the treatment is working better than the CT scans suggest. What???? So what's the point of having them, relying on what they say in the reports, and getting upset at the results if they may not be 100% accurate???? So now he's asked for bloods to be taken to measure the CEA!! Weren't we supposed to be doing that all along?? And this is a Professor!! What's your oncologist like?? How is your family coping with your diagnosis? Do you have kids? Best of luck to you. Keep me posted on your progress. Sonya ... View more

Hi Amelia! Thanks for your reply and I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis at such a young age. I hope I haven't scared you with my previous post about the rash. I have had acne in the past and I think this has made it worse for me. My oncologist couldn't confirm whether previous acne tends to make it worse with the cetuximab or not. But did say if you don't get the rash, it's likely not working on the cancer. I hope it will work for you so you can have the second liver resection and hopefully be cured!! I'm at the stage now where I think so what if I look bad, as long as it's working and I'm looking at the long term goal. Will you be having the cetuximab weekly or fortnightly? I'm now having fortnightly and to me the rash doesn't seem as bad, and I've only missed the one week so far, so I'm hoping for it to keep settling down. Do you have a history of bowel cancer in your family? Let me know how you go, please. All the best. Sonya ... View more

Hi Cazza My story is so like yours. I have had a 2nd opinion about resection and have been told by both that resection is not an option at this stage. I am on Folfiri and cetuximab at the moment and while my cancer hasn't shrunk it hasn't grown either. Are you on avastin and folfox because your cancer is "mutant" rather than "wild" type (lm wild)?? It's great news that your tumours are shrinking!! Your CEA count is great too and encouraging!! Please keep me posted on your progress. Sonya ... View more

Hi Cancer Sucks! I'm like Carole and have bowel cancer with mets in the liver which can't be resected. I am currently on Folfiri with Cetuximab. I was wondering if your husband had the acne rash as a side effect? I have had it really bad to the point where I don't want to go out anywhere out of embarrassment. I'm glad to hear your husbands mets shrunk. Mine have not, but haven't grown either. Would love to hear from you re any info you can give. Sonya ... View more

Hi, Just wondering if anyone has had cetuximab as part of their treatment. I have it with Folfiri. I was getting the cetuximab weekly, but now cutting it back to fortnightly, in an attempt to settle my skin rash. Has anyone got/had the rash? I have had a bad case of it ie thru my hair which fell out because of all the creams and lotions I had to put on my head. The dermatologists at Westmead hospital all came and had a look at it with their notebooks at the ready. I have it on my chest and back too and now it's flared up on my neck. For those of you wondering what the rash is, think pimply teenager and times it by ten!! I am embarrassed to go out, and spend a lot of time at home (i don't work) feeling isolated and depressed. I know I shouldn't complain as there are people worse off than me. Has anyone had it and can give some hope of it clearing or settling down? I was told it would settle after 2 weeks, then after 6-7 weeks. It has been about 9 weeks and I'm still waiting. ... View more

Hi Cazza I'm sorry to hear that you are not a candidate for resection. But things change all the time, new treatments and drugs are being discovered, and you never know what tomorrow will bring. Try to stay positive, I know that's hard, and sometimes gives you the shits when people tell you that, sorry! Is radiation an option for you? I have heard of SIRT (I think that's what they call it) it's like radiation, but if you have it, you can't be ressected later, unfortunately. Keep us posted on your progress with the maintenance chemo drugs, please. Sonya ... View more

Hi DG Thanks for the best wishes, and all the best to you. We need to beat this parasite! I wake up in the morning and for about 30 seconds, I forget about the cancer, and its so nice to feel that way, and then reality kicks back in. Does that happen to you? I went for my 2nd full treatment yesterday, and my neutrophils were low, but had it anyway. My white cell count was good due to the steroids I'm taking to settle my acne like rash. Did you get the rash? I'm told its a good sign that the treatment is working, and I'm hoping they're right. How are you doing? Where do you live? I'm in Sydney. You sent me a friend request, but I'm not sure how to accept. I'm a bit technologically dumb!! Sonya ... View more

Hi Cazza, you sound just like me. I have too many mets in the liver (over 50-did someone seriously sit and count them??) to be a candidate for surgery. And like you are praying and hoping that chemo works well enough to change that. What chemo are you on can I ask?? ... View more

Hi! I'm new too, and have the same as you, stage 4 colon cancer with mets in the liver, lymph nodes and looks like the ovaries/ pelvic area. I had two rounds of oxallyplatin with xeloda tablets at home. But now I've changed to Folfiri of which I had my first treatment yesterday. I'm tolerating this better even with my take home pump that I have to have connected for two days. I'm scared too. I have 3 kids who I want to see grow up but don't think I will as I've been told I cannot be cured. Has anyone got any stories or words of encouragement as I'd love to hear them ... View more