I know there are a few of us with DHs or other relatives suffering from cancer. Anyone want to join me in a support thread?
I'll kick off with something positive as DH is doing really well at the moment. The radiotherapy he had over the summer has eased his symptoms so he's able to swallow well and eat almost normally. Still has to avoid certain foods and has to eat slowly but at least he can eat! One of the secondary tumours on his liver had grown slightly but not enough to need treatment. He'll have another scan in December and we're hoping for no change again. If and when he does need more chemo, there's a clinical trial we're hoping he can take part in. Only one in four people are suitable, though. He's had the blood test to see if he is suitable and we're waiting for the results of that.
Sadly, my Dad isn't doing so well. He's been in hospital on and off since June, first having his stomach feeding tube fitted, then he got an infection which turned into c. difficile. He was only home for ten days after that when he started coughing up blood and ended up back in hospital. Thankfully, he's back home again and doing okay though they had to stop his chemo when he got the infection and he's still too weak for them to start it again.
We're approaching Christmas with mixed feelings. Positive regarding DH. This time last year, he was very ill and hadn't been diagnosed. He could barely eat at all and Christmas was awful. This year he's so much better and we're looking forward to a much better Christmas. However, we're sad about Dad as it looks very likely that this will be his last Christmas with us. Plus he's unable to eat or drink at all now so what sort of Christmas will he have? Or my mum who feels guilty eating in front of him and definitely won't be making a Christmas dinner for herself or buying any Christmas goodies.
For anyone who hasn't read any of my threads before, DH and Dad both have cancer of the oesophagus. Dad was diagnosed five years ago, DH in February.