Husband is a survivor of bowel cancer....
So we thought.
2013 at the age of 50 hubby diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Cycles of Capecitabine and oxalipilatin followed by radio, surgery stoma and reversal gave us thirteen years of thinking life was normal.
Forgot about 2 nodes and that mop up Chemo was discouraged. In fact I expressed my thoughts on that in a blog I wrote at the time. Only recently revisited.
Last December ( 2025) husband had a cough. Hit the App land of appointment making.
1st of May gave up on trying for GP and went to A&E.
Xray escalated to respiratory. Here we go again doesn't prepare you for the words. Mass in lung causing collapse. They were looking for a primary lung cancer. With spread to nodes and adrenal.
Turns up that Bob the Bum cancer is back having taken a scenic route to the lung.
So at the tender age of 63 the oncology consult today hit us with it.
A three drug IV starting 2nd June (PICC line to be fitted prior to treatment) Ironotecan with 5FU and folinic acid, Cetuxiimab. Fortnightly. until it stops working or he can't tolerate it any more. One of the drugs is left attached and taken home to be pumped for 48 hours then back to hospital for removal. PICC line clean in between before bloods and go again. At 12 weeks a scan than go again.
For rest of life.
Maybe two and a half years.
Without the drug maybe 12 months. So he's doing it. Is it worth it? He knows how bad the chemo was before.
His little family are Canadian. Amazing daughter with a fantastic Son In Law and a little wee grandson of a whole 6 years of age. Trying to carve a place in life.
The consultant didn't hold back on the potential side effects. Will there be a quality of life?
Feel a bit broken at the moment so thank you if you took time to read this.
Oh, and the kicker ....
In 2020 Husband went to A&E due to blockage in the stitched up bit. They did a full CT scan. Three weeks ago the lovely lung consultant made us aware that a note was made with reference to said scan that showed a small shadow that was a apparently noted as being so small as to not be note worthy and declared to be phlegm.
Todays Consultant - Oh you had 13 years.
Me - You guys mussed up!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for taking time
