2ww - DH and suspected liver cancer

[Lulubo1]

This is so strange and new to me. DH has been suffering from so many strange symptoms and it's taken me months to convince him to go to the doctor. He ended up in A&E last Sunday and they did a CT scan and found something on his liver. They wanted to do an MRI, but the department was closed (it was 2am Monday morning by this point). They sent him home and told him they would call him back as an outpatient. Well, he's heard his MRI has been booked for 30th April and the A&E doctor has asked for him to be referred under the "two week wait" for hepatic malignancy. DH is so calm about it, but I'm freaking out (I'm a worrier and over thinker). I hate not knowing what's ahead of us and what to expect. Everything I see online is so doom and gloom when it's the liver. I just feel very lost. I'd like to ask what should we expect, but I suppose it's different for everyone. This is not the 2ww we thought we'd be doing this year. I want to be supportive, but inside I'm falling apart and nothing has been diagnosed as yet.

How old is he? What symptoms has he been having. Feel free to keep talking on here. It’s a worrying time.

The British Liver Trust were very helpful when I was going through similar with DH. I wish you and your husband all the best 💐

He's 37. His symptoms are: extreme fatigue and no energy, weight loss, loss of appetite, blood in his stool, randomly being sick, bruising that appears from nowhere, and the strangest spots/rash on his body.
Thank you for your kindness

Thank you. I will look them up. I have never heard of them before

I don’t really know much about it but I just wanted to comment and say that I wish you and your husband the best and I hope this wait goes by as quickly as possible for you and your family 💛

Just to say, the waiting for tests and for results is the worst part. You will get through it though, you’re stronger than you think. We all are. When life throws a bucket load of shite at us, we think we won’t cope but we do.

Ah that is a worrying list of symptoms OP. Its so hard not to overthink everything. One step at a time - when you get answers, then you can plan, and not before. Not easy to do at this stage I know 🙁

Thank you all for your kind words. I appreciate it. I didn't sleep well last night, eurgh. I'm going to focus on having a fun day with DH and DD today and try and push my worries for later. I wish I could be as calm as DH. I feel rather silly being the one worrying

Can you focus on something practical to try and take your mind off it a bit op? Obviously it won't stop you worrying but distraction may help? Audio books are also good I find when I need taking out of myself for a bit.

Don't worry about feeling silly, when my other half was going through the process of being diagnosed, to my shame I felt really ill, couldn't eat or sleep- it's a shock when these things come out of the blue at you.

Hi @Lulubo1, how is your husband now? I sincerely hope you’ve had good news. Take care of yourself. 🌺

Sending you love ❤️

We still don't have a diagnosis yet and DH is awaiting more tests. He had his MRI on 30 April, but no results back yet. He has an appointment with the consultant on Friday (the consultant wants to speak to DH before the endoscopy). I'm hoping we'll get the MRI results on Friday when we see the consultant. This will be his first appointment with the consultant. Seems the "two week wait" isn't actually two weeks. I know I should be grateful that it's moving fast, it just feels slow.

Thank you for checking on me/us ❤️

@Lulubo1 the waiting is definitely the worst bit; hang in there and take each day as it comes. Sending virtual hugs!

We saw the consultant today. The good news is that the lumps on DH liver are not cancer. He has to have another scan in 3mths, and a colonoscopy for a different issue, but it's not cancer. We are so relieved. He is being tested for some rare auto immune things (sorry I can't explain more, I wasn't following the consultant and missed what he was saying) that could cause some of his symptoms. Thank you for holding my hand for the past couple weeks.

What a relief for you OP!
Sending good wishes for the tests to come 💜

Fabulous news ❤️

@Lulubo1 what a great relief! Good luck with everything x

I'm really glad you've had some good news.

If he's being tested for autoimmune liver disease, the British Liver Trust is a supportive and trustworthy source of information. Depending on which disease it turns out to be there are also support charities for some of the specific diseases.

Sadly we've had a bit of a curveball thrown at us. They have found colon cancer. They thought he just had haemorrhoids, and they weren't super concerned until the colonoscopy. So on top of his liver issues, we have this to deal with too. It's honestly floored us as it was so unexpected, we were so focused on the liver and so relieved he didn't have liver cancer. I was sobbing in the hospital car park and my almost 3yo DD didn't understand and kept saying "don't be scared of monsters mummy, it's ok". I don't know what to do right now, all I want to do is hug him and DD and never let go.

This is the worst time once he's had his staging and a treatment plan is in place it becomes easier somehow. Having a nurse specialist makes things easier as you have a point of access to ask questions to and to go to for support. Sending you love and strength

Oh no, I'm so sorry. What a horrible shock.

Have they said anything about what stage they think it might be? Colon cancer is very, very treatable when it's caught early.

Did they discuss a treatment plan yet or have they arranged a follow-up appointment?

There is different support available from Bowel Cancer UK https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/how-we-can-help/support-for-you/

Macmillan also have a support line you could call to talk to someone. https://www.macmillan.org.uk/get-support

I'm so sorry. You must be devastated and terrified. I really hope his treatment goes well.

I'm so sorry, OP. What a horrible shock for both of you. 💐

Oh OP, what an awful shock
I am so sorry
take each day at a time, an old and well-worn saying I know, but one that has always helped me through tough times.
keep strong 💐