Triplets

[MsRosaIsBitter]

I saw your message on OJ's thread, but I didn't want to hijack so I thought I would start a new thread. I just wanted to tell you that my brother was diagnosed just over four years ago with the same thing that Harry has. His lesions too were all on one lobe of his liver. He had bowel surgery, liver surgery, chemo and something called radiofrequency ablation to remove the final lesion from his liver that it was not possible to remove surgically. His last treatment was two years ago and he has been clear of cancer since, and has just gone from three-monthly to six-monthly CAT scans. We all believe that one important factor was that he was given Avastin as part of his chemo regime. AFAIK here in the UK it has not yet been approved as a first-line treatment for bowel cancer (on cost grounds) but it is worth asking your oncologist about.
But mainly, I just wanted to reassure you that it is possible to recover from this and treatments have improved immeasurably in the past few years. Wishing you the very best.
Rosa

Triplets, I left this message for you last night, don't know if it is of any help, but I wanted you to know that there are positive outcomes to what Harry is facing.

ROsa,
thank you so much for this, as this is so shockingly new to us we just do not know where to start. Any other info would be so gratefuly rec`d. Does your brother live out of the Uk then? Will tryand fnd out more about Avastin, oh thank you for bringing me a little hope tonight. I feel mentaly and physically exhausted with it all, and so terribly upset for the children, we have been honest with them as it has been so hard the last few months pretending etc. They know its cancer of the bowel, and will need surgery and chemo, but we felt at this stage we did not need to tel them abot the sceondaries. Thank you xxx

I, too have been following your story on OJ's thread, Triplets. You have had a lot to bear. Thinking of you very often; please keep us posted.

xxx

Thank you, just desperately trying to stay sane and positve and cope with 3x`s 10yr olds at my age !

Wishing you strength triplets.

Wishing you and Harry all the best triplets.

Be kind to yourselves triplets, do what has to be done and delegate leave the rest.
After the initial shock we found we felt better once the 6 weeks of daily chemo & radio was started, it gave us a focus ans a reason to get up in the morning and i guess it was something we thought would help.
i have to go out now but will be back later.
xxx

Triplets, I'm so sorry....just seen this thread. Will be thinking of you and DH, and sending wishes for strength and solutions ahead. Hats off to you for telling the children, thinking of them too xxxx

Triplets, it is Rosa again. My brother lives in the US and was treated there. I am sure he would be very willing to talk to Harry if he wanted to talk to someone else who has been through it, maybe in a while when Harry has had a chance to get his head round it all. Avastin is a new type of drug which cuts off the blood supply to the tumour - it had just come off clinical trials in the US when my brother had it. I am not sure what the situation in the UK is with it, I heard that it had been approved for second-line treatment, but not for first-line on cost grounds but my info may be out of date and his oncologist will know better.
Some info on Avastin

i also left you a message on oj,s thread so dont know if you have seen it,It was a message to give you hope as my aunt had bowel cancer 11 yrs ago and is still going strong cancer free.She was actually put on a chemo trial which the results wont be known for another 4 yrs ,the day of her op they started 24 hr chemo for 7 days.Yes it is a very scary thing but there is a lot they can do for your dh and hopefully he will have the same result as my aunt.Sending you both all my good wishes for a successful outcome.

Trips - just leaving my broad shoulders here for you to have a cry on - thinking of you, as always

Triplets, I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you, Harry and your children. Nothing prepares you for a blow like finding out you have cancer. What Rosa & Lin have said is very positive and its good to hang on to the hope that they bring. xxx

Hi,
Been very low for the last few days, been tough trying to accept this news, tough trying to stay sane with the kids. I spoke to our GP yesterday who really made me feel there was no hope. He said he had Harrys notes, all the surgery staff had been put in the picture and then said you know there is no cure. I took that immediately that it must be terminal and that he knew more. He said we could expect it to come back after the liver resection, and talked of possible 5 year remission. I came out feeling terrified. Am I just being nieve, thinking that they will remove the primary, 3 months chemo, liver resection, further chemo, then fingers crossed he will be ok? I know it wont be that easy, but felt sooooo hopeful that he must have a chance.

Trips - dont go honey, just let me read your post quickly

Please listen to me sweetheart - you and I know so well that we dont know what is going to happen in an hour never mind a day, or a week, or a year.

I knew how you were feeling because you were so quiet. I want to physically be with you to try and make you smile and give you a hug. I am no expert in this field but I do know that positive thinking helps any situation. Yes, I know, so easy for me to say but I know, with all my heart, that it is true.

You are so important to me that I know when you are feeling very low. You have picked me up so many times over the years please let me try to pick you up.

Matthew would want you to hold your head up high, put a smile on your face and grab the 'dash' - he would want you to grab the dash and bloody run with it my love. None of us know how long we will be here or what we will experience whilst we are - good job really - I dont think we would go through all this if we knew what the 'plan' for us was.

I feel sure that H is going to be ok. I think it will be a long and sometimes difficult road BUT I know it will be ok. Please smile for me honey. Im so glad I 'met you' all those many years ago and I need you to be here for me and for me to try to help you.

Sagapo xx

youtube.com/watch?v=EyIMuG5jIVE

I can't imagine how you must be feeling, Triplets. So frightened and confused. But it isn't over 'til it's over, and that could be such a very, very long way off.

Try to focus on today - or the next small step. There is so much that could happen to keep H alive, and you'll just be a wreck if you keep trying to anticipate the end point, because you just can't know it.

Don't forget your own needs in trying to be strong for everyone else. You need to look after yourself as well.

Lots of love and strength.

xxx

Triplets, it is so hard for you all and as you know we never know the future, which in some respects is probably a good thing cos we wouldn't be able to focus on or enjoy the here and now.
I can't pretend that I know exactly how you feel right how as we are all different but I know some of the thoughts and feeling you are dealing with.
I am here for you triplets in whatever way you need me to be, feel free to email me I am around most evenings on MSN too.

Triplets,

(((((hug))))). Why do medics always have to say things in such a blunt fashion. We had exactly the same when Dh was diagnosed. They can only tell you what they thing might happen but they cannot say for sure. I know its soul destroying to hear words like 'no cure' but no one can predict the future. I had a friend who got diagnosed with lymphoma (with secondaries as well) just before my Dh and he was told a number of times that he only had a few months to live. In fact he lived for over 10 years afterward and died in a motorcycle accident. I don't want to give you false hope but I do want to just encourage you that the worst case scenario doesn't always happen. I know that doesn't make things any less painful of worrying for you right now. Thing & praying for you, Harry and your family. xxx

Hi,
Just wanted to say thank you, thank you for your words of love and hope and support, all of you. Dh was realy upset last night, still cannot believe the cards and phone calls are about him, cannot accept he is so ill when he looks and feels so fine. At supper he banged his fists on the table and half crying said it isn`t fair, said he just wants to be here long enought to see these kids grow up, we never got to see Matthew grow up, oh it just cut me in two. Never seen him look so vunerable and scared. We are off in the morning to Holland for a few days, should have been going at the end of May, not possible now. This break was planned six months ago to visit an old friend who has cancer! Life.............love to you all, wonderful wondeful Mums xxx

Triplets. You are not being naive to think it might be OK. It might be OK. My DB's cancer has not come back yet and we are telling ourselves that it won't. It is four years since his diagnosis and two since he finished his treatment and he is as good as ever. Things are moving on all the time and the treatment they can offer now is very good. There is every hope that Harry will beat this.
Never mind the GP, what does the oncologist say? Have you had an appointment yet?

Think I am going to leave a few lines on Trips thread each day whilst she is away, then she knows I was thinking about her.

You are well on your journey now for your hols. Thinking about you all and hoping you have a calm, wonderful break. Oh yes and dont forget some good grub, good alcohol and plenty of laughter. xxxx

What a lovely idea.

I logged on first thing this morning, Triplets, to see how you are. Sorry to hear about Harry last night - really hope that your holiday provides a little light relief!

Morning Trips - hope your holiday is going well.

Its so cold up here in the frozen North, and, raining!! Well we are only 10 miles from Manchester.

OJ's DH came home yesterday - she sounds very happy.

Lot of smutty talk going on in the Multiples thread - mainly talk about mommas DP. You will be pleased to know I'm not taking part!!Just lurking in the shadows and giggling.

Hope you have a wonderful time. I will come each day and fill in my diary page for you when you come home. That way you wont have to trawl through everything

Thinking of you, Triplets. Hope the weather is better in Holland than it is in France.

Love. xxx