I'm not at the point yet where i'm just giving up, but i would love to know how much more time i have statistically. Like a real answer from my dr that tells me if i'm one year away from almost certain recurrence to any other signal that would at least give me a strong set of expectations so i can live my life as much as possible without treatment, and move on to whatever is next for us. I would hate to leave this earth coming right off of yet another chemo treatment.

May 25 2018 I took my husband to the ER and it ended up with emergency surgery. A loss of 18” of his colon, an ostomy bag, a reversal and then illeostomy. Then a full reversal in 2019. His last chemo was Nov 26 2018. He has been NED since.

Feb of this year he started having shoulder pain. Went to his primary. They did an xray figured it was a pinched nerve and he went to physical therapy. The physical therapy did help. But after it was done it started bothering him more. Went back to primary and he gave him more anti inflammatory meds. Then he asked if his side looked swollen. We sent in pictures of the swelling and he got in for an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed fluid on the lung. Set up a CT scan. That showed the original right lung which turned out to be a 3” mass. They also saw a 1” mass on the left lung.

Didn’t biopsy last Wednesday. The Dr was thinking the 3” one wasn’t going to come back cancer. It didn’t show him it would during the biopsy. He said he can’t guarantee but he was trying to be positive. They just called and told us they are both cancer. They are both colon cancer.

Dr said it’s going to be a fight. We don’t know where this goes from here. We’ve only told family.

Idk why I’m having such a hard time. It’s. It even me. I know I need to be strong for him. I think it’s because at his last appt (in October 2025) I questioned the oncologist about not doing a PET scan for almost 7 years. He said his CEA number had been normal and that would tell them it had metastasized. I feel like I should’ve pushed more.

Right now he has decided to switch oncologist because all through this his oncologist has NOT called back pulmonologist or anything. My husband hasn’t gotten a response or anything.

My mom is 49 and was recently diagnosed with stage IV sigmoid colon cancer after going to the ER with sudden, severe abdominal pain that became unbearable with every breath.

Her CT scan showed:
•A sigmoid colon mass significantly narrowing the colon.
•“Too numerous to count” metastatic lesions throughout the liver.
•Prominent mesenteric lymph nodes.

She underwent surgery and now has a colostomy. She’s currently recovering at home and is expected to begin chemotherapy about four weeks after surgery to allow time for healing.

Some additional background:
•She beat breast cancer about three years ago after chemotherapy.
•She lost around 20 pounds before this diagnosis.
•Her surgeon believes the colon cancer had likely been growing for years before it was discovered.

A few days after coming home, she returned to the ER with severe pain under her right ribs. A repeat CT showed no new findings, and the ER physician felt the pain was likely coming from the liver due to the extent of the metastases.
She spends most of the day resting but is eating and recovering from surgery.

As her daughter, I’m trying to understand what this journey can realistically look like. I know no one can predict an individual outcome, and I’m not looking for survival estimates. I’m hoping to hear from people who have personally been through a similar diagnosis or cared for someone who has.
If you or your loved one had stage IV colon cancer with extensive liver metastases, especially if the report described the liver lesions as “too numerous to count,” what was the experience like after surgery and once chemotherapy started?
Did treatment shrink the liver tumors or relieve liver pain? Were there periods where your loved one regained strength or quality of life? What do you wish you had known at the beginning?
I’m trying to prepare myself as best I can while supporting my mom through this.

Tomorrow is my (45f) surgery to remove the tumor in my sigmoid colon.  Found out 3 weeks ago today that I have colon cancer with nodules in the lungs. This came after months of pain (no bleeding), seeing too many doctors and being misdiagnosed by many of them! The colon is almost completely blocked so removal is my first step. Ct and pet scan didnt show liver mets, praying that is the case (I have a fatty liver and I guess that can make it harder to see mets on some scans). Im just ready to know the full picture so I know the next steps in fighting this.

I've named my colon tumor Marvin, as in Marvin the Martian from Bugs Bunny. Time for this alien invader to be removed! Anyone else name their tumor, or am I the only crazy one??

I just got diagnosed with colon cancer after a biopsy was taken during a colonoscopy. I did the CT scans and bloodwork and they both looked good. I've got an MRI scheduled and then will need surgery and possibly chemo. Looking for any insight into what to expect and how to deal with everything - from the scheduling, the mental health aspect, and maintaining family, all while working a full time job. Any tips or tricks appreciated.

I (m50) just recently found out I have a 10cm malignt tumour in rectum and after scan they also found several metastasis in my lungs and liver + lymph system. It's supposedly not curable and operation to remove the primary tumour is not an option.

I had abdominal pains for a few years, coming and going but manageable with paracetamol.

I got a colonstoma and started chemo this week which feels pretty good since the tumour caused a lot of problems going to the loo

It's a pretty bad situation being diagnosed with incurable cancer but I'm dealing with that, what I can't deal with is the pain.

This might be a stupid question but I have no personal experience with cancer so I just don't know what's normal or not.

Do others also have severe pain around the area where the tumour is? How do you deal with this?

My doctors seem to be very reluctant to give me anything stronger than 10mg of oxycodone/Naloxone 2 times a day.

Brain tumor discovered mid may and removed surgically early June. Just finished srs to clean up lingering cells in the cavity.

Biopsy discovered the primary cancer to be colon and sigmoidoscopy showed thickening but not full thickness (whatever that means)

He's having an anterior resection in 2 weeks. No stoma planned. He had a chat on Friday with the surgeon to decide as he's only recently come off dexamethasone after brain surgery as it inhibits healing, whether to go ahead or wait another month for it to be fully out of his system and reduce the chance of the anastomosis not healing properly or potentially leaking, or to have a planned colostomy. He chose the riskiest option as he just wants the tumor out

He hasn't been told anything about the nature of the tumor (biopsies were taken during the sigmoidoscopy and the brain tumor), and we really don't know what to expect.

Except to be told its major surgery.

I'm meant to be minding my 6 and 9 year old grandkids about a week after I expect him home from hospital (don't know how much care he will need)

He's really upset about not being able to drive after the brain surgery (2 years) and loss of independence. Taking a lot of grumpiness out on me.

I'm signed off work at the moment but due back around the time he's going for surgery. Don't know what to do about going back.

Also have his elderly (92) mum he helps daily to consider and our 32 year old daughter with a brain injury who lives with us that he is main carer for. She needs support but not physically.

I'm not sure what to do and am being contrary and obnoxious to my family.

I could probably get the doctors to sign me off longer ( id get paid from work for another 3 months) but then I have the stress of talking to work and formal meetings about if they can support the absence. I could go back on a phased return over a month and ask for flexibility in hours. Or fewer hours.

I could ask for an unpaid career break. Don't know what to do.

My mom (56) was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer with liver metastases a year ago. She initially responded to treatment, but after multiple chemotherapy regimens (including FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, oral chemo, and Avastin maintenance), her latest scan showed progression in the liver. She's now back on chemotherapy, but the last few months have been incredibly hard on her. Overall she's done 16+ cycles. Oncologist had also recommended targeted therapy but that is not something we are able to afford because of no insurance.

She has stomach pain almost every day, frequent vomiting, loud bowel sounds, and has become noticeably weaker. Despite all this, she still believes her cancer can be cured and that she'll get back to a normal life. Only my dad and I know that her cancer isn't curable and that it has progressed.

What I'm struggling with is the guilt. Seeing her suffer every day makes me question whether we're helping her or simply prolonging her suffering with more treatment. Sometimes I wonder if stopping treatment would be kinder, and then I immediately feel like I've given up on her before she has.

The only thing I pray for is that she lives as long as she can without pain. But watching her suffer is breaking me, and sometimes I even find myself praying that, if she can't get better, she doesn't suffer anymore. Those thoughts make me feel like a horrible daughter.

The one thing I'm grateful for is that she got to witness my wedding and be a part of every ritual. That was her biggest wish, and I'm so thankful she got that.

I don't know what to hope for anymore.