R0 Resection for Recurrent Liver Metastasis After Colon Cancer Surgery: Standing by My Husband Through His Cancer Battle | Patient Story

The greatest treasure in life is never a smooth, untroubled path, but rather having someone hold your hand tightly when the storm hits, standing by you through it all.

This is a true account of an ordinary family’s cancer journey: a loving couple of twenty years, navigating from rectal cancer to liver metastasis, seeking hope in despair, and holding onto deep affection through illness.

We were once two people spoiled by life. He was the "fertile soil" that sheltered me from wind and rain, and I was the "greenhouse flower" living in his love.

A sudden colon cancer shattered our peaceful years; months later, liver metastasis plunged us into deeper darkness.

But love has never been about sweet words in good times; it is about unwavering companionship in desperate moments.

Along this road, we have cried, feared, and struggled, but we have never given up.

I dedicate this article to record our journey of fighting for life against cancer, and to every family standing firm through illness. May every journey have a safe return; may every deep love eventually find fulfillment.

Author丨Xiao Diao

Editor丨Zhong Lala

Reviewer丨Guang Guang

「 I. Twenty Years of Warmth: I Was Once a "Greenhouse Flower" Spoiled by the World 」

Mr. Wotu and I have been together for twenty years. Both of us came to Beijing from other places to chase our dreams, and we have a beloved 12-year-old son. Our days were filled with three meals and four seasons, peaceful and smooth.

He worked hard to build a worry-free life for our family, while I held a relaxed job at a state-owned enterprise, embracing life through fitness, reading, and travel. Our parents took care of all household chores, earning the nickname "model worker parents" from neighbors. I was pampered like a "little princess" by the whole family, never having to lift a finger in the kitchen even as I grew older.

Surprises on anniversaries and tenderness in daily life—he wove romance into every morning and evening. I often joked that I was an "old greenhouse flower," and he was the fertile soil that kept me peaceful year after year. Back then, I never imagined that this quiet happiness would be quietly shattered by illness.

「 II. Avoiding Medical Care: Ignored Warning Signs 」

Mr. Wotu has always disliked going to the doctor, preferring to tough out any discomfort.

Five or six years ago, when I had a gastroscopy and colonoscopy, I urged him to get checked together, but he firmly refused. Later, he suffered from long-term constipation, only relieving it with laxatives from a community clinic. Even when they stopped working, he refused systematic examinations. Despite many arguments, nothing changed.

In late August 2024, while I was on a business trip in Shenzhen, he sent me a colonoscopy appointment slip. I advised him to schedule a gastroscopy at the same time, which sparked another argument.

On September 13, I accompanied him to Beijing Jishuitan Hospital for the examination. The doctor asked about hospitalization during the procedure, and we simply assumed it was a difficult-to-remove polyp.

It wasn't until the clinic emptied out and the doctor spoke with us privately that the diagnosis of rectal cancer struck like a bolt from the blue, crushing all our hopes. He insisted on waiting for the pathology results before being admitted. The ride back was filled with heavy silence.

On the way to work that afternoon, the moment I sat in the car, I could no longer hold it back. I cried out loud while driving, overwhelmed by fear and helplessness.

「 III. Seeking Medical Help: A Dilemma at the Crossroads of Life and Death 」

People truly grow up overnight when faced with life and death.

For over thirty years, I had been a fragile person shielded by my parents and my husband, never having to worry about basic chores or face any storms.

But in that moment, with elderly parents above, a young child below, and a critically ill husband by my side, I had no retreat and could not fall.

Save him was the only thought in my mind.

I wiped my tears and raced against time: studying European, American, and Chinese oncology guidelines and countless academic papers; visiting top experts at Cancer Hospital CAMS, Peking University Cancer Hospital, and Peking Union Medical College Hospital through both online and offline consultations; organizing medical guides to find the most suitable treatment plan.

The pathology report came back: T4aN2a Stage IIIB, locally advanced with vascular tumor emboli and microsatellite stable (MSS).

Treatment presented a difficult choice: prioritize surgery to quickly relieve intestinal obstruction, allowing better postoperative tolerance for subsequent chemotherapy; or start with neoadjuvant therapy to shrink the tumor and clear hidden micrometastases, creating better conditions for surgery, with only a stent needed to relieve the obstruction.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays approaching, hospital schedules slowed down. Every minute of waiting became torture.

「 IV. Meeting a Good Doctor: A Firm Choice, Running Toward Hope 」

At our most confused moment, I unexpectedly secured a last-minute appointment with Director S at Peking University People's Hospital on October 1. After reviewing the reports, he immediately said we could be admitted as soon as possible.

Mr. Wotu, always decisive, made the call on the spot: Right here, surgery first! The heart that had been tangled for days finally settled.

Through a fellow patient's recommendation, I also joined "Panda Group," China's largest grassroots colon cancer support community. Through shared experiences, professional education, and warm encouragement from fellow patients, my once lonely and helpless medical journey gained support and confidence.

On October 5, we traveled 70 kilometers from home to the Tongzhou campus, stepping into this life-and-death trial.

On October 11, a surgery lasting seven and a half hours stretched from early morning to late night. I waited outside the operating room, restless and anxious. Every second felt like a year. My only thought was: he must be safe.

Fortunately, the surgery went smoothly, and the tumor was completely removed. However, to allow the rectal anastomosis to heal better, a temporary transverse colostomy was created during the procedure. The postoperative pathology was updated: pT4aN1bM0, with 2 out of 15 lymph nodes positive.

Chemotherapy became the next essential step in his treatment.

「 V. Half a Year of Perseverance: The Daily Trials of Chemotherapy and Ostomy Care 」

Before this, our fear of chemotherapy came entirely from extreme scenes in TV dramas: hair loss, severe vomiting, and rapid physical decline. Only when we actually started treatment did we realize that modern medicine has greatly reduced the suffering of chemotherapy.

The doctor prescribed an 8-cycle XELOX chemotherapy regimen. Because the Tongzhou campus was far, I chose the closer Peking University International Hospital, using imported drugs with a 21-day cycle to minimize travel and discomfort.

The most noticeable side effect was numbness and tingling in the hands and feet caused by oxaliplatin. Even more grueling than chemotherapy was the half-year of ostomy care.

After the doctor demonstrated it twice, I took on the responsibility alone. Cleaning, applying medication, changing the ostomy bag, and repeatedly handling sudden issues like inflammation, ulceration, leakage, and odor. From initial clumsiness and trembling hands to later proficiency and calmness, I became Mr. Wotu's dedicated caregiver.

There were no earth-shattering moments, only day-after-day cleaning, medication, and bag changes. It turns out that the most touching love is simply me caring for you, you cooperating with me, and us getting through the hardest days together.

In May 2025, Mr. Wotu successfully underwent ostomy reversal surgery, completely freeing himself from the ostomy. His physical indicators gradually returned to normal, and his condition steadily improved.

In June, our son successfully transitioned to middle school, and Mr. Wotu's recovery continued to improve. Finally, our family let go of all worries and traveled to Yantai and Penglai.

He carried our luggage the entire trip, walking tens of thousands of steps with us every day. Looking at the two people I love most, one big and one small, my heart was filled with peace and security.

At Changshanwei, we watched the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea gently embrace; at Jiuzhangya, we conversed with cliffs millions of years old, feeling the meeting of ancient times and the present. Holding your hand, growing old with you.

The most romantic thing I can imagine is growing old slowly with you.

That week, our brows were relaxed, and life seemed to return to its peaceful state before the illness.

On September 13, 2025, the first anniversary of his diagnosis, I wrote on WeChat Moments: One year. We have crossed one hurdle after another. The terrifying waves we once thought insurmountable are now behind us, and we stand firmly on the other shore. Those fears and anxieties did not consume me; instead, they turned me into a lighthouse in the dark.

Happy anniversary. The light boat has passed ten thousand mountains. To myself, to courage, and to every warrior forging ahead on the battlefield of life.

「 VI. A Bolt from the Blue: Colon Cancer Metastasizes to the Liver! Peace Shattered, Back into Hell 」

The peaceful days lasted only a few months.

This March, routine follow-up results delivered another heavy blow—colon cancer progression with liver metastasis.

Holding the report, Mr. Wotu carefully hid it from me, afraid I would break down or worry, wanting to bear all the pain alone.

But after more than twenty years of living together, every glance and every deliberate cover-up was clear to me. How could he possibly hide it?

The moment I saw the report, my whole body trembled, and my mind went blank. I have never been a strong person; I had always been protected by Mr. Wotu. This time was no different. He endured his pain and comforted me instead.

Yet this time, I didn't shed a single tear. Instead, I felt more determined than ever.

I embarked on the medical journey again. Appointments were impossible to secure, and waitlists were endless. I went back to studying materials and returned to the Panda Group. Fellow patients unanimously told me: Go to Peking University Cancer Hospital, find Director X! The top expert in colon cancer liver metastasis!

We split up: I went to People's Hospital for consultation, while he tried to get an appointment at PKU Cancer Hospital.

Although People's Hospital accepted us and ordered a Primovist MRI and genetic testing, the first attempt to get an appointment at PKU Cancer Hospital failed.

But in my heart, I remained firm: I must go to PKU Cancer Hospital. I must give him the best chance.

We argued several times over the choice of hospital. He felt sorry for my traveling back and forth and wanted simpler treatment; I insisted on the best plan and refused to compromise.

That Thursday, against his wishes, I went straight to PKU Cancer Hospital early in the morning. From 10 AM to 8 PM, I waited for over ten hours, standing until my legs went numb, as the hospital went from bustling to empty.

When Director X took the report and calmly said four words: "Surgery is possible."

All exhaustion, grievance, and torment vanished instantly. Hope is more precious than gold.

Through the hospital's first-visit green channel, Mr. Wotu completed all examinations within a week: fewer than 5 liver lesions, all under 3cm, with only 1 close to a major blood vessel, making the surgery manageable; genetic testing showed a KRAS A146T mutation, with corresponding treatment options available.

Although this result wasn't ideal, the availability of targeted treatment meant that with active cooperation, there was still hope for survival.

This once again proved that my initial insistence on transferring hospitals was correct. All persistence and dedication will eventually bloom into hope.

「 VII. Fighting Colon Cancer Again: A New Round of Treatment, We Face It Together 」

Director X set the plan: three cycles of chemotherapy first, then surgical evaluation. Regimen: Irinotecan + Capecitabine + Bevacizumab.

This new round of chemotherapy brought heavier side effects than before: nausea, fatigue, and body aches. He couldn't eat or sleep well. Mr. Wotu still endured it silently, never complaining once.

I stayed by his side, bringing water and medicine, caring for him meticulously, preparing nutritious and tasty meals, massaging his aching limbs, and accompanying him through every difficult moment.

Watching him suffer filled me with anxiety, but I could only stay by his side, step by step, gritting our teeth and persevering.

During those days, there were no grand vows, only the warmth of mutual support; no dramatic rushes, only the steady flow of companionship.

The cancer journey is never a solitary battle, but a shared perseverance between two people. In this simplest way, we fought the illness side by side, holding each other's hands tighter.

Heaven rewards the diligent. After three cycles of chemotherapy, the first follow-up CT scan finally arrived, showing: the liver metastases had shrunk. In that moment, I knew: hope had arrived.

After all examinations were completed, Director X conducted a comprehensive assessment and confirmed he was fit for surgery.

On May 28, I accompanied Mr. Wotu to PKU Cancer Hospital for admission, completing all preoperative preparations.

On June 1, he successfully underwent partial liver resection combined with intraoperative ablation.

The postoperative pathology confirmed the stage: pT4N1M1, Stage IV.

The entire surgery proceeded smoothly, achieving an R0 resection. Postoperatively, Mr. Wotu experienced no significant discomfort, and his recovery speed far exceeded expectations. He was successfully discharged on June 5.

The follow-up treatment plan has been initially set: continuing the original chemotherapy regimen to complete eight cycles of consolidation therapy.

Having successfully passed the second surgical hurdle, we know the road ahead still holds long-term treatment. We are clear that this battle against illness is not yet over.

「 VIII. Trust and Commitment: Walking the Future Path Together 」

Since the diagnosis, days have passed quickly through chemotherapy, surgery, more chemotherapy, and more surgery.

From start to finish, Mr. Wotu rarely asked about his condition. He entrusted everything to me, with complete trust.

I love his relaxed acceptance, yet sometimes feel frustrated that he leaves everything to me. But I understand: this is his unique tenderness, a deep affection that entrusts his very life to me.

In the dead of night, I would look at the city lights and ask myself: Why us? Why must we endure so much suffering?

Gradually, I came to understand: life is inherently a journey toward death. Storms are not frightening, illness is not frightening; what is truly frightening is having no one to stand by your side.

Every remaining day is incredibly precious. Life has sunk costs. If we drown in sorrow and anxiety, we will miss the morning sun, the evening glow, and the gentle moments of companionship. If we live in daily pain, we will betray this lifetime's encounter and staying together.

Rather than sinking into suffering, it is better to live in the present with courage and love, cherishing every minute and second with him.

Even if the road ahead is full of thorns, even if the years occasionally bring chill, we will hold each other's hands tightly and walk through all the difficult times together. The helplessness is real, but so is the love and perseverance.

No matter how fate tests us, I will give my all to walk toward the sun and live toward the light with him, responding to these twenty years of companionship with year-after-year dedication, living up to our time together and the rest of our lives.

Mr. Wotu's treatment continues, and the future remains unknown. Life is vast; love and hope endure...

This is the little story of Mr. Wotu and me. If you are also in a difficult situation, may these words give you strength; if you are enjoying peace, please cherish the person in front of you.

To protect patient privacy, names in this article are pseudonyms.

Images containing patient portraits have been authorized by the patient and may not be used without permission.

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