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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....

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loubieloo4 · 20/01/2021 00:33

Oh for those of you that wanted to see dds hair

Dh stage 4 bowel cancer
Dh stage 4 bowel cancer
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echt · 20/01/2021 01:27

My goodness! so beautiful. An absolute river.

Pucca123 · 20/01/2021 07:49

That is amazing, you must be so proud of her. She has such a beautiful soul.

notapizzaeater · 20/01/2021 19:26

Aww that's amazing 🥰🥰

Well done your daughter - she's beautiful x

loubieloo4 · 24/01/2021 17:31

Thank you 💜 she is currently outside building a 6ft snowman ☃️ I forget sometimes how young she is but then moments like this remind me of how grown up she has been since dh was diagnosed. It makes me happy that she can have glimpses of childhood innocence still.

Dh had chemo on Wednesday, he seems to be doing really well again. He has two more cycles then a ct scan. His oncologist has said he needs at least a 6 week break regardless of what the scan shows. I after so many cycles (19) his body must need the rest. We are booked to go back to Center Parcs the week after his last chemo at the end of February but that doesn't seem likely at the minute. Covid is stopping so many people enjoying their lives 😡 without sounding selfish it's taking away time and memories for us, we were hoping that things would be back to normal by now so we could enjoy a holiday or two whilst dh is on a chemo break. Sitting in a nice village square somewhere warm with a cuppa, people watching sounds perfect. Oh well hopefully in the summer!

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HitthefloorforTaintedLove · 14/02/2021 15:07

What a beautiful girl inside and out your daughter is Loubie.
What you are going through due to cancer is a horrible bloody thing and the restrictions on top because of covid are just the bitter icing on a very shitty cake.
I really hope you can make some of your plans a reality, and in the meantime cherish your time together. Xx 💐

loubieloo4 · 23/02/2021 20:32

Been at the breast clinic today finally, looks like the news isn't great. I had a mammogram, then a ct of the breast followed by an ultrasound. They found the lump in my breast and a enlarged lymph node so have taken biopsies of both. Saw the consultant after who said it doesn't look good but didn't want to give a definite answer. So now we wait for the results of the biopsies.
The biopsy of the breast lump was fine but the lymph node one was a bit more painful as they had to dig around a fair bit.

Dh has finished chemo for six weeks and had a ct scan last week, all in all just waiting around for results.

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HitthefloorforTaintedLove · 26/02/2021 23:05

Oh FFS Loubie!! I'm so sorry you now have another worry to contend with.
I hope at the very least that the results come back quickly - obviously hoping for good news for you. I know it's such a cliché but life really is horribly unfair at times, you have more than enough on your plate.
Sending hugs xx 💐 (and gin and chocolate)

ibelieveinangels · 28/02/2021 10:24

So sorry to hear you are going through this now as well. Hope the wait isnt too long for the results. Thinking of you Flowers

notapizzaeater · 02/03/2021 11:44

@joystir59 just read your other thread. You're absolutely right trying to move forwards. My DH talked about this and he wanted me to. You're far to young to just sit around. I'm not in the headspace yet but know that long term I will be.

loubieloo4 · 03/03/2021 19:07

I read an article today, that the covid vaccine is causing some people to have enlarged lymph nodes show up on mammograms and ultrasounds. I did have some side effects of the vaccine that lasted nearly a week. Maybe just maybe that's what's caused my lymph node troubles? I did have the vaccine in the other arm though....

I have an appointment for the 17th March.

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notapizzaeater · 03/03/2021 19:27

That's funny that as two of my friends had enlarged lymph nodes after the jab. Let's hope so. Fingers crossed for you x

HitthefloorforTaintedLove · 14/03/2021 01:52

Hi Loubie just wanted to send best wishes for your appointment on Wednesday.
Have been thinking of you and your family 💐

Wingingit15 · 16/03/2021 20:21

Also sending good wishes x

loubieloo4 · 17/03/2021 05:14

Good news!

My biopsies were clear 🎉 phew

AND

DH's scans are stable, he's having six weeks off then a blood test to check his CEA level.

In shock, not sure how to deal with good news 😂

Thank you all for thinking of us 💜

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HitthefloorforTaintedLove · 17/03/2021 11:53

Oh that's wonderful Loubie!!

I think you and DH were long overdue some good news, hope he enjoys the break. X

ibelieveinangels · 17/03/2021 13:35

That is such good news. What a relief for you.

Glad your DH is having a break also

HitthefloorforTaintedLove · 07/04/2021 18:45

Hi Loubie, just sending good wishes, hope your family had some time together over Easter 💐

loubieloo4 · 07/04/2021 19:03

Today marks another year since diagnosis! Currently slightly Merry on Dom 🤣

Dh stage 4 bowel cancer
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HitthefloorforTaintedLove · 07/04/2021 19:21

Well cheers🥂 you definitely deserve that, enjoy xx

Theyvallgone · 07/04/2021 19:54

Amazing! Enjoy that fizz!

notapizzaeater · 07/04/2021 21:41

Whoop, enjoy !

Drivingmyselfcrazee · 08/04/2021 20:53

Enjoy every sip. You deserve it.

HitthefloorforTaintedLove · 01/05/2021 17:50

Just sending a few hugs your way Loubie.
Have seen lots of publicity from Bowel Cancer UK during April of younger people with bowel cancer and thinking of you and your family 💐

LuvMyBubbles · 10/05/2021 21:10

@loubieloo4

Good news!

My biopsies were clear 🎉 phew

AND

DH's scans are stable, he's having six weeks off then a blood test to check his CEA level.

In shock, not sure how to deal with good news 😂

Thank you all for thinking of us 💜

Love this update 😍