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Dh stage 4 bowel cancer

335 replies

loubieloo4 · 15/10/2019 01:37

It's shit and I am very fucked off at the world right now.

I think I'm just wanting to write it down and talk about with people who don't know me or us. It will probably be very long sorry.

Dh (38) and met when we were 16 (true childhood sweethearts) and in the 24 years we have been together, married for 21, he has only ever been to the drs once. He was a very health person, eats right, never smoked, regular gym goer, occasionally has a drink but only a few times a year. Perfect weight for his height and very fit.

In March he had a few aches and pains in his lower back that made me think of a uti, sent him off to the drs who said no uti but possible ibs Confused a few days later he was in lots more pain that was then in his stomach, took him to our local walk-in centre who sent him to our local surgical admissions unit in our local hospital.
They did a ct scan the next day and diagnosed diverticulitis, with a pin prick sized perforation in his bowel. Sent him home a few days later with a high fibre diet. Then later that week at 11pm he started violently vomiting and was rolling around in agony. I called 999 explaining he had a perforated bowel, the ambulance never showed up so after an hour of waiting I somehow managed to get him in the car.

A&E were fantastic, sorted his pain out straight away, then sent us back up to the surgical ward. Eventually a junior dr came to see him at 5am, he was asleep so she spoke to me, I asked about him having a new ct to see if the perforation had grown (I'm a nurse but not surgical, so have a general gist of things) to be told as his mother it wasn't up to me as they can affect sperm later on. I told her as his wife we didn't care about sperm issues and demanded to see someone more senior. The ct went ahead and he was told he would be sent a date for a colonoscopy date to confirm the diverticulitis diagnosis.

On 7th April 2019 the day of colonoscopy, changed our lives forever. They found a mass in his colon that they thought was cancerous. They took several biopsies and told us we would be sent a date to speak with the consultant.

In May we met with the worst consultant, he said that they had caught it early and it wasn't even classed as a stage one! All good, we can deal with this..... until he starts talking to the nurse about dh peritoneum, which I knew was the lining of his stomach, questioned him and he said he wasn't sure but there could be something there. At that point I lost faith in him and requested to see an amazing consultant at the hospital I work at.

2 weeks later at a meeting with the new consultant we were told that not only had the tumour broken out of the bowel wall, wrapped around his small intestine, they could also see some in a lung and the peritoneum. So stage 4 Confused

22nd May dh had a 10hr long operation (cytoreductive & HiPec) known as the mother of all surgery. After a couple of days in itu dh did amazing and came home 9 days later. He had a scan a couple of weeks later before he started his chemo, sadly the scan showed a very aggressive spread to both lungs, liver, chest wall, bone and lymph. Given 18 months with treatment or 6 months without.

He has had 2 cycles and has had to stop due to the side effects. There are no more treatments that's it.

My amazing children are going to lose their daddy and I am going to be left without the reason I live and breathe. It's all just the biggest pile of bollox. How can we plan for a life without him....

OP posts:
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MoreCookiesPlease · 15/10/2019 01:47

Oh OP. I couldn't read and run, yet I just don't have any words. I'm so sorry for everything that you're going through. You're all in my thoughts and prayers... Flowers

DramaAlpaca · 15/10/2019 01:50

I wish I had something helpful to say, but I have no words other than to say I'm so sorry you are in this situation. It's just not fair & it really is a pile of bollox Flowers

You'll get support on here, this bit of MN is wonderful for that. Post & vent as much as you need to.

ShippingNews · 15/10/2019 01:59

So sorry, OP. What an awful situation for you and your family. Sending hugs to you .

zsazsajuju · 15/10/2019 02:05

So sorry to hear that op. Flowers

Willowkins · 15/10/2019 02:15

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I quite understand you needing to get all these feelings out there and this is a safe space to do just that. Plus lots of support. You most definitely are not alone.

WhatTiggersDoBest · 15/10/2019 02:19

That's really, really shit and unfair for all of you. I don't have any advice but I didn't want to read and run. Flowers

ExhaustedFlamingo · 15/10/2019 02:27

Huge hugs to you. What an utterly shitty situation.

I'm sure you'll get lots of empathy on here and rightly so, but here's a few practical tips.

Make memories, take lots of video footage while he's well and how you want your girls to remember him. Go to places while he's well and still can. Maybe book a photo session with all of you if he's up to it. Help him to enjoy the time he has left to the absolute fullest while creating precious memories for you and your children.

Get practical. Make sure there's a Will and your finances are in order. Make sure you know everything that you need to know to be able to cope.

Try and live in the moment. Do your best not to look too far ahead but really centre yourself in each minute, and live each one. After the inevitable happens, that's how you'll cope then too. Minute by minute, hour by hour, until you find a way to deal with the intense loss.

I'm so sorry I can't offer more, you must be going through sheer hell right now. Sending all the love in the world.

Wilmalovescake · 15/10/2019 02:32

I’m so sorry. That really is the most shitty unfair thing.

Mummaofmytribe · 15/10/2019 02:37

I'm so very sorry. You poor loveFlowers

LuvMyBubbles · 15/10/2019 02:37

Sending you hugs. Terrible news. Xoxo

Zoflorabore · 15/10/2019 02:40

Oh op this is really shit and very unfair. I’m so very sorry for you all.
How old are the children?

Is there a plan in place yet over what happens next?
I think you absolutely need this as your safe place to come and vent, cry, scream and anything else you need but please don’t bottle it all up in the real world, you need support too.

Thinking of you, your lovely husband and children xxx

Livedandlearned · 15/10/2019 02:43

That is so unfair op Thanks

readingnc · 15/10/2019 02:46

So sorry to you all x

Frikonastick · 15/10/2019 02:59

my DH is stage 4 kidney cancer, spread to lymph nodes.

kidney cancer doesnt respond to chemo or radiation, so is incurable.

i get the anger. sometimes i feel dizzy with the sheer effort not to fall into it.

he is the best man i know. that my child will be robbed of his presence is such a monstrous injustice i am still surprised that the weight of it hasn't tipped the world on its axis

i hear you

cakeandchampagne · 15/10/2019 03:06

How very sad & difficult for your whole family. Flowers

Monty27 · 15/10/2019 03:09

I'm so very sorry OP @59Frikonastick I cannot comprehend where you'll find the strength. I hope you have a good network of support. Flowers

fallfallfall · 15/10/2019 03:20

Flowers horrible horrible news

minesagin37 · 15/10/2019 04:16

I'm sorry op. This is so unfair. Sending you a big hug Thanks

ConstanzaAndSalieri · 15/10/2019 05:07

That’s just fucking shit. I’m sorry.

flapjackfairy · 15/10/2019 05:14

@loubieloo and @Frikonastick.
So v sorry to hear your stories. Life is v unfair at times. There are no words to make it better but sending love x

redcarbluecar · 15/10/2019 05:18

OP and Frikonastick. Very sorry to hear your sad news. What an absolute bugger. It sounds as though your DHs are surrounded by love. I wish you strength in the coming months.

notapizzaeater · 15/10/2019 16:56

@loubieloo4

Come join us on the calm before the storm thread.

My DH of 26 years was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in May this year, incurable - it had already spread to his lymph nodes and pleural sac. We have been told 6/9 months without treatment, 1/2 years with treatment but treatment options limited as type 1 diabetic for 40 plus years and already has reduced (18%) kidney function.

It's shit ! Like really really shit .....

Minxmumma · 15/10/2019 19:57

Didn't want to read and run. So ruddy sorry Flowers

whydoesitalwaysrainonmee · 17/10/2019 10:08

Sending you lots of hugs Thanksit is just awful, I'm in tears reading xx

percheron67 · 17/10/2019 10:15

So sorry to read this. My thoughts are with you.