My big brother got his results today from the MRI and CT scan done before Christmas, Unknown Primary, as suspected. No further forward with treatment plan and have to see cancer specialist, Oncologist and Pathologist next week after they have a meeting about the scans and what the next step is.
I am trying so so hard to be optimistic for my brother, and stay as positive as I can but I know the way the Doctor spoke today (and in previous appointments) that this is not good. I have done research, I know that is not the best thing to do. I just needed to get some insight on what my brother has coming his way.
So as my title suggests this post is to do with my brothers drug issues. He has suffered from Codeine addiction in the passed, he is on prescribed methadone but is slowly reducing this as he hates the stigma of being on it as you can imagine. He smokes marijuana which I know in cancer cases might not be the worst and I do not judge him at all for anything he has been through in the passed as I know he is trying his damn hardest to sort his life out at 49 and then this happens.......his second round of shitty cancer!!
The doctor prescribed him Co Codamol today for the headaches from the tumours, I asked if this would be a problem from his passed addiction and that he's not to take anything with codiene and he has been doing well with this up until now but, the doctor sad (and this is why I feel this is really bad now) he said......In this circumstance I would understand the concern but there will not be any more harm done is he takes these for the pain. Also he takes Vallium sometimes at night to fall asleep which he told me a long time ago, I think this is what helps him switch off as he has told me he had soaked his pillow with tears a few times when he cant switch off .
I wonder if anyone has a similar situation or any advice on the type of cancer he has been diagnosed with, we haven't been given a prognosis yet but I know this will be coming. I just feel it. He has severe walking difficulties, double vision, headaches, he has had a few seizures this week so they have increased the anti seizure medication, put him back on a course of steroids and anti sickness medication and as I said the Co-Codamol for pain relief. He also suffers from memory loss and confusion severely over the last few days and becomes more frustrated and having rants to himself or thinking he is talking to me when I am not there which he told me today, it worries me, I dont have the room to have him at my house all the time as much as I would love to look after him more and have him here. he still wants his independence but I feel like he is already passed that part, yet sometimes he seems like the old him,
I am lost.
Hi NicolaJD87
Sorry to hear about your brother, cancer of unknown primary just seems to create a whole new world of issues as we can see in our special group here
My wife never wanted a prognosis and I really struggled with that but in the end I am really grateful - it can only be a guess based on averages but of course once said cannot be forgotten.
For you - feeling lost is really rather normal, indeed looking at your feelings when someone has cancer I know I recognize a lot of feelings that I went through. Sometimes being able to recognize these as normal can help to make them less overwhelming.
<<hugs>>
Steve
