Incurable cancer - need hope

[RonnIeAl77]

After having a stage 4 rectal cancer diagnosis and 5.5 weeks of chemo radiation last autumn, there was still some disease so I had to have an APR in July. I thought having a stoma was the worst of my problems. Now it’s spread to my liver and due to where it is, liver resection is not possible. I was told last week it’s incurable and the median life expectancy is 20 months. I started chemo on Friday, which I’ve been told is pallative. I’m broken. My girls are 10 and 14. I’m 47. My husband and I are more in love than ever. Trying to keep Hope with private liver transplant (family donors) and private immunotherapy. This feels like I’m writing about someone else. My family and friends, husband are amazing. I just don’t know how to put one foot in front of the other some days. Everyone tells me how brave I am. All I can do is hate myself for not recognising symptoms earlier. I am jealous of everyone else’s problems. How do I do this? Anyone experienced a miracle? Or experience with private clinics or immunotherapy? Thanks in advance

Thank you all - so much love and I really appreciate it. Loads of questions but no bandwidth to reply separately. But! Private liver transplant - I’ve no idea if it’s a thing. But I’m trying to make it one! 🤣 There are clinical trials here in Scotland which I have been referred to, but I’m looking at the private route too. Someone asked if I was Catholic - I am, but I feel totally let down. But I’m going to revisit my faith for sure. There’s loads of food for thought here - so thank you all so much for the love xxx

A few thoughts.

A recent study showed that immunotherapy was unsuccessful for those with certain poor gut bacteria so I would start by getting the Genova comprehensive gut test carried out.

You need to be referred through a practitioner for this.

Diet detox and supplementing any deficiencies also play a big role

Would you consider anti parasitics like Fenbenzadole/Menbendazole or Ivermectin? My husband has had great success on these but it’s worth joining the Facebook groups and doing lots of your own research given its controversial.

Lastly there is evidence that having a positive mental approach is important to recovery from most illnesses. Really bloody hard though.

My cancer is considered terminal. I have esophageal cancer and it has a 15% five year survival. I had no symptoms whatsoever. Don’t beat yourself up about what you may have missed. From what I’ve read immunotherapies are extraordinary. I unfortunately had an allergic reaction (we have those drug commercial here and the small type side effects are I real thing in my case). After this round of chemo ends I will be tried on targeted therapy but once again the side effects will be terrible. Could you have radiation for the tumor on your liver? I don’t have any Mets yet but I have PET scans every 3 months or so and I hold my breath each time. There’s a thread here on MN “cancer support thread #97” that I have found so hopeful. The posters have cancers of various kinds and stages. Don’t give up hope!!!

I’m so sorry.

My sister was dx with stage 4 breast cancer in 2017 and given a poor prognosis but is on those new oral drugs in lieu of chemo/surgery and still leading a relatively normal life.

Pursue new options with urgency. And remember those survival rates are calculated with data from before the breakthroughs of the past handful of years.

Best of wishes for you 💐💐💐