Elaine and I are feeling pretty miserable after our trip to oncologist, Dr J in Huddersfield this afternoon.

Elaine tried to push Dr J into giving a figure in respect of life expectancy. She was very reluctant and seemed to agree it might be two years. Although she conceded that many would survive longer. Elaine is interpreting it to be a year without chemo and 2 years with it. But we can’t really know. She did say that, at this stage there is no cure, just the possibility of holding it back.

Dr J offered Elaine the opportunity to join in a clinical trial in which she’d have a one in three chance of receiving a drug which adds another 5% to the 50% chance the chemo has of holding back the cancer for a while.

She also said that the chemo last time had a curative aim; this time it’s just life prolonging.

She’s also said that in the future if necessary she’d put a case to the PCT to fund something like Avastin as she thinks she’d be a very strong case for receiving it given that she is young (for a bowel cancer sufferer) and strong.

She also thinks that it would probably be OK to leave things for 3 months whilst Elaine sees if the alternative treatments work but of course added the rider that one never knows how fast a cancer may progress in anyone. She thinks Elaine would still be able to join the clinical trial if she delayed treatment for 3 months.

Dr J was very happy to answer Elaine’s questions. In her view, there was no doubt about lymph node involvement and it had been interpreted by an expert radiologist (Q1 – see below). There was absolutely no question of being able to have chemo at home or in Hebden Bridge. (Q4) She didn’t really answer questions 6 or 7, and we probably didn’t press her enough.

Elaine is still physically very well. She looks fit and healthy. No-one would guess she was ill.

Basically, Elaine now has think about whether to delay for three months, whether to reject the chemo completely, or whether to go for it as soon as possible. Elaine’s friend, Thling has just written to her, “I wouldn’t rush into making a decision. Mull over the various possibilities. In time, it will become clear which one is the right one for you.”

Thling also added “I would also remember that none of us knows what is going to happen tomorrow. Your oncologist has given you her expert opinion but it is no more than that, an opinion (and the courts can tell many stories of expert opinions that circumstances turned on their heads). Yes, your life expectancy is limited. But so was that of Spitfire pilots in the war and some of those are still alive to this day. Where there’s life…”