4 posts shown.
crimsoncanyon3 said:Such a heartbreaking story—please stay strong.
You can find more information regarding colorectal cancer here: https://www.oncology.org/colorectal-cancer
I would absolutely recommend having genetic testing performed on the tissue samples already available from his surgery—it's vital for determining if he might be a candidate for targeted therapy!
Thank you! It seems to me that his genetic testing has already been completed—but no one has actually told us what the purpose was, or if he qualifies for any advanced treatments!
I suppose that is something his oncologist should be asked?
Rachel Garcia said:Hello. I’m joining this thread too. My dad has esophageal cancer with liver metastases. My brother and I are on our own—our mom passed away—and we both have our own families now. Since my brother lives with him, he handles most of the day-to-day care, while I come by whenever I possibly can, though I moved out of the house a long time ago.
Once I find the strength, I’ll write more about his condition. This hit both of us hard—especially my brother, since he hasn't really had to care for a sick loved one before, whereas I spent years looking after my immobile grandmother. My brother has taken quite a psychological hit, and it's only been four months since we got the diagnosis. Neither of us is young, nor are we old—we both deal with our own health issues. But beyond the physical toll, Dad is struggling mentally; he’s terrified. Is it the medication, the tumor itself, or something else entirely? I worry that if we break down, what happens then? I just don't know.
I want to be active here; I've read everything, and our family truly needs the support. Just to note, Mom had breast cancer that was successfully treated because it was caught early and removed, but she eventually passed away from heart failure.
Hello! I am so incredibly sorry you are going through this—I truly understand where you are coming from. Accepting the illness itself is hard enough, but the way it shifts the entire family dynamic is overwhelming. Personally, I’ve faced many dark moments while my husband fights this battle; unless you've lived it, you can't possibly grasp the sheer fear and suffering an entire family endures. However—and I mean this with all my heart, as Angela Wright said—you have to take it one day at a time. If you are feeling mentally depleted, perhaps seeking professional help or a psychologist wouldn't be a bad idea? During my last crisis, I reached out to a specialist because I simply couldn't carry the weight alone anymore! I tend to be a very private person, and my husband doesn't like talking about his illness, so I can honestly tell you that just being able to open up to someone and truly cry helped me immensely. Even reaching out to this forum, where there are so many kind people offering selfless advice, provides a sense of relief. We have to stay strong for our loved ones—it is vital that we remain brave pillars for them, because they are the ones facing the hardest fight. Wishing everyone strength!
Hello everyone! I’ve been reading through your posts for about two years now—not that our battle against this fierce enemy has ever truly paused. Our story began when my husband was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer in his 40s. Naturally, he had to undergo surgery, and he's currently living with a colostomy bag.
Right now, I am in a very dark place mentally because the weight of it all is just crushing me; we are currently waiting on a follow-up CT scan. That period of waiting... it honestly drives you insane.
Originally, they found two metastases—one in the lungs and one in the liver—which responded to Chemo. The last CT result was merely "so-so," according to the oncologist, so he was moved to a milder Chemo regimen involving one day at the outpatient clinic and pills to take at home. Lately, he’s been dealing with frequent abdominal pain and vomiting, which we suspect might be dietary issues, yet that underlying fear of disease progression is always lurking there. I want to ask those of you who act as the backbone for your loved ones: how do you handle all of this? How do you keep from falling apart? There are simply days when I am completely overwhelmed by anxiety—this terrifying question of whether I can actually do this, whether I can mentally endure it all, because I *have* to be strong for him and for our little one. Please, I need your advice; I have tried to stay strong, but I feel as though my own walls are finally crumbling.
He is the one going through the worst of it, but he doesn't complain—he is so incredibly brave and strong.
I am also wondering about alternative options. How can I best support him? I was terrified of doing anything on our own, so we bought some beta-glucan, but since he is on Chemo, we aren't using it; now we are considering hemp oil... I just feel so lost in it all.
Thank you in advance, and good luck to everyone out there fighting!
I am not entirely certain if the principle is identical to what we use for thick-walled hose setups—but if you are working with a tile and bag system, here is a little tip: try warming the tile with a heat gun before you set it. Once it’s in place, I'd suggest securing it further with some medical-grade adhesive tape from the local drugstore. Good luck!