Effing cancer is an effing effer, frankly

[Chestrockwell]

MrHappy said:

So sorry to hear your story. We're a little further down the line with our mother (75). She had her prognosis last week and the oncologist has given her a few months at best. There were no symptoms over the summer, she was very active if a little tired, but nothing unusual given the Covid situation. A few weeks ago we noticed her skin had a yellow tinge and it all snowballed from there to the diagnosis of bile cancer which has moved into her liver (a 9.5cm tumour) plus smaller ones throughout the liver and is inoperable. One side effect of this cancer is water retention in her abdomen (like 9mths pregnant) which makes her extremely uncomfortable and affects her appetite and she won't be strong enough for chemo unless we feed her up - she's now painfully thin. She was admitted last week to drain the fluid (several litres) and she felt much better but less than a week later the fluid is returning. I had hoped that we'd be given advice on nutrition, organisations that could help etc, but it feels like she's been labelled as a hopeless case and yet a couple of months ago she had so much to live for. This evening I decided to have a scroll through this forum and this is the first thread I came across. Writing down her story and reading all the posts has helped a lot.

I’m glad it helped as it helped me.

The update on my mother is that she felt pain the same way as your mother and the doctor said she should come in as he thought it was fluids like yours however it was the tumour that started bleeding onto her pelvis and bones, that’s what caused the pain and they said she’s going to carry on deteriorating as she’s losing blood. They’re going to try stop the.bleeding and give her blood but either way her days are numbered, and the worst part is that we can’t go see her coz of fking covid. If they do send her home via a syringe full of drugs to numb the pain, it means she’s going to pass very soon, either way it’s fked.

You say 75 as if it’s years ahead but my grandmother is 75 and you wouldn’t think it. Life is cruel, it’s made me question it all, why do we exist, why are alive if we can feel pain like this and can continue to lose our loved ones over the years, i have no idea

[Sheets Tabuer]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Lost my uncle tonight, Lung cancer that spread to the brain, I wonder if I'd have a lung removed, all the chemo and painful treatment when he was dead inside of a year..

I'd like to think I'd say pass me the vodka and a packet of fags.

Bad form quoting myself from Feb 2019 but his younger brother has just been diagnosed with the lung cancer too, he used to take me everywhere when I was a kid.

[GT3Manthey]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Bad form quoting myself from Feb 2019 but his younger brother has just been diagnosed with the lung cancer too, he used to take me everywhere when I was a kid.

Most definitely not bad form and so sorry to hear the news.

Massively st disease !

Can i ask if they were/are similar ages ?

Random question I know

[Sheets Tabuer]

One was 58 and the other 54.

[GT3Manthey]

Sheets Tabuer said:

One was 58 and the other 54.

So sorry .....no ages

[CrgT16]

My thoughts are with you guys! Really sorry to hear the stories and wish all the very best for you and your loved ones! It’s a devastating disease having lost some relatives to it.

[Tumbler]

motco said:

Does anyone know how Tumbler is doing?

Thanks for asking, against the odds I am still alive.

I have no idea if I have had any progression as no scans due to COVID, other than fatigue, bone pain and a few memory issues, I feel ok, my cancer is well known for not having symptoms so fingers crossed.

The first ever drug trials were due to start in Houston this month but they have all been postponed, which is frustrating.

[GT3Manthey]

Tumbler said:

Thanks for asking, against the odds I am still alive.

I have no idea if I have had any progression as no scans due to COVID, other than fatigue, bone pain and a few memory issues, I feel ok, my cancer is well known for not having symptoms so fingers crossed.

The first ever drug trials were due to start in Houston this month but they have all been postponed, which is frustrating.

All the best to you Tumbler . Stay strong 💪

[motco]

Tumbler said:

motco said:

Does anyone know how Tumbler is doing?

Thanks for asking, against the odds I am still alive.

I have no idea if I have had any progression as no scans due to COVID, other than fatigue, bone pain and a few memory issues, I feel ok, my cancer is well known for not having symptoms so fingers crossed.

The first ever drug trials were due to start in Houston this month but they have all been postponed, which is frustrating.

I am greatly relieved, in fact you popped into my mind when I read the latest entries on here. Have a great Christmas and stay alive to get the trials drug. Thank you for the bulletin!

[Sheets Tabuer]

They say 1 in 3 will get it but in my life I've literally never known anyone have it until recently, I presume because the chances are higher the older you get. My uncle has tested positive for covid whilst in hospital and they will not now offer surgery. They promise to make him comfortable though.

We are trying to work out how we can see him, hospital are trying to come to some arrangement which involves waving through a window which I suppose is understandable, he has 4 kids under 25, damn.

[Sheets Tabuer]

Spoke to hum yesterday, seemed pretty positive with the treatment options that were being discussed post covid, hoping he can put on some weight and that could open up other options for him.

Got a call at 1am to say he's gone

[Mojooo]

I don't want to sound cold hearted but sometimes with cancer if it can't be fixed going quicker it is better than spending weeks if not months in hospital slowly dying out. I have seen it many times. I mean better for the patient and the family.

[Sheets Tabuer]

Absolutely. my other uncle had every op he could and chemo and still died within the year, I'd have to ask if I really wanted to go through all that

[CAH706]

My wife goes into hospital for her mastectomy tomorrow after 6 rounds of chemo.

So far things are looking good. The large lump pre-chemo has completely disappeared so fingers crossed the analysis after the op is good.

It’s be a hard few months. Not being able to attend appointments is a challenge and not being able to be there tomorrow is very hard. The current restrictions have meant far too much time at home not being able to distract ourselves and it’s been tricky for our 12 year old

I’ve never felt so low....losing a job of 26 years this week is the icing on the cake and I would have killed to be able to go out for a beer to talk things through with a friend!

I’m sure there is light at the end of the tunnel and providing my wife is ok things will be ok. I just need to find the tunnel now

[Stan the Bat]

Wishing you all the best mate.

[Sheets Tabuer]

That sounds awful and no wonder you feel low, fingers crossed for you, really hope everything works out.

[motco]

CAH706 said:

My wife goes into hospital for her mastectomy tomorrow after 6 rounds of chemo.

So far things are looking good. The large lump pre-chemo has completely disappeared so fingers crossed the analysis after the op is good.

It’s be a hard few months. Not being able to attend appointments is a challenge and not being able to be there tomorrow is very hard. The current restrictions have meant far too much time at home not being able to distract ourselves and it’s been tricky for our 12 year old

I’ve never felt so low....losing a job of 26 years this week is the icing on the cake and I would have killed to be able to go out for a beer to talk things through with a friend!

I’m sure there is light at the end of the tunnel and providing my wife is ok things will be ok. I just need to find the tunnel now

Mine went through a similar sequence of events starting in 1997. She's on an ongoing course of treatment which has managed the condition and its occasional recurrences successfully and is she still fit and well. There's every chance that your Good Lady will enjoy the best that NHS can offer and live for many more years. Look after her, comfort her, and be optimistic. Modern medicine is brilliant!

[CAH706]

Thanks all. I can’t fault the service from the NHS in these testing times.

[Starfighter]

stty day today.
Mate 1 (50) had a fully body scan to check progress on her second case of breast cancer.
Mate 2 (50)was in for treatment for stage 4 and treatment is not working. 6 months tops.
Mate 3 (mid 40s). Got home from an op to remove a length of bowel.
I don’t have many friends.

[GT3Manthey]

Handbag said:

After 4 weeks in hospital and multiple tests trying to put my mum in a Covid box due to low blood saturation levels and breathing difficulty, they've today realised that it's advanced cancer and she's too sick for surgery. She missed Christmas and won't see another FFS

Very sorry to hear this handbag and my thoughts are with you and your mother.

Terrible times regardless of covid which only now makes diagnosis and treatment more difficult.

I have a mate at 50 that is terminal and was diagnosed 2 years ago with life expectancy around 4 years with treatment.

How old is your mother ? Can they not give her some treatment now to prolong her life even in these difficult times ?

Sorry once again