Hi, thanks in advance to anyone who reads this, as I need to get it off my chest and wonder whether anyone has a similar experience. My brother is 40, and has a lovely wife and 5 year old son.
About 3.5 years ago he was diagnosed with rectal cancer, we thought they'd removed it and he had a stoma fitted. Unfortunately, it spread to both lungs and liver. Various rounds of treatment later and quite recently it was looking more positive, with talks of him taking part in an NHS immunotherapy drug trial at the Royal Marsden and the tumours showing minimal growth.
Then a week ago, he had headaches and sickness. A GP, who clearly didn't read his notes, prescribed him painkillers. My eldest brother forced him to go to the hospital and a scan confirmed that it has spread to his brain and he has two lesions, one around 3cm and one 9mm in the right frontal lobe.
We are all beyond devastated and I can't stop crying about my lovely brother and the idea that
we actually might lose him to this horrible disease, which I assume is now advanced incurable. He is being positive as can be. My parents, who have always been heavy drinkers, are turning to this and being angry with the rest of us, understandably I know but they have a history of alcoholism. His wife, who attends all the appointments, thinks he can be cured but my sister and eldest brother both know this is unlikely but don't know how to even broach this with my parents.
Unfortunately I live a couple of hours away from them all but have offered to attend appointments as I'm on mat leave.
Sorry for the essay as I suppose I was wondering if anyone else any experience of anyone with secondary stage 4 brain cancer who defied odds or what we should expect realistically?
Thank you to anyone who reads and replies.