Hi all - thank you for including me. I am the partner of someone going through cancer treatment, we don't have family to help us so we're a bit on our own with it all. My partner had a bowel resection in March, it went well and he was recovering, then he started chemo. The first round is just finishing, but he began to suffer with a high temperature and upset stomach. He was sent to a surgical assessment unit on Thursday night 10pm, and he's been on the same unit ever since. Being a Bank Holiday, there's not a specialist team available and the staff don't have chemo experience. He's having 6+ bouts of sickness and diahorrea (lots of green bile - sorry for the details...) hasn't eaten or drunk and his temperature is still high. They have given him paracetamol in a drip, and sometimes fluids but the fluids seem to make his tummy swell. We tell the staff each time he has a bout of sickness/diahorrea but it doesnt seem to be reaching the record system as the next team and the doctors are often unaware of what's been happening. I have no experience in cancer treatment and don't know how normal any of this is. If anyone can advise what I should be asking for/looking out for I'd be really grateful - I am worried about how much he seems to have deteriorated since he was admitted. What should I be doing? Thanks folks
Hi Gil and a warm welcome to the Macmillan Community but I am sorry to hear about your partners diagnosis.
I know from experience having been on my cancer journey for over 26 years with two very rare, hard to treat types of Non Hodgkin’s Lymphomas (one incurable), Asbestosis and Prostate Cancer that navigating this journey can be such a stressful and challenging time but talking with and getting support from people who have walked or are walking the ‘exact same' journey can help a lot.
I will say that having experienced being in hospital following a heart attack a day before a Bank Holiday weekend back in 2022 was rather scary due to the reduced staffing levels and specialists…… but keep asking questions, point out your concerns to the ward manager and let’s look for improvement soon.
The Community is actually divided into dedicated Support Groups (Discussion Rooms) so can I recommend you look to join and post in our dedicated…….
Bowel (colon and rectum) cancer
……. support group.
This group is a safe place to talk to others who may have a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support from family members who are navigating the same support journey.
As for the practical and emotional challenges of supporting your partner and indeed yourself you may benefit from joining and posting in our general cancer……
……. support group where you will connect with a wide range of members navigating the exact same support challenges.
To connect with a group click on the “Bold Links” I have created above …… then once the group page opens click in the [Black - Click to Join - Banner] that appears at the bottom of the page and this will then confirm that you have joined the group.
When you are ready……. you can introduce yourself by putting up your very own post by clicking [+ Create new post] or [+] in the top right of the group page.
You can copy and paste the text from this post into your new post.
It is an emotional time supporting family so you might find this Macmillan information your feelings when someone has cancer helpful as well as this link getting help with your emotions.
As always the Macmillan Support Line is open between 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00…… this service provides cancer information, practical information, emotional support, benefits and financial guidance or just a listening ear.
Talking to people ‘face to face’ can be very helpful so do check to see if you have any Local Support in your area, do also check for a local Maggie's Centre as these folks are amazing.
Do get back to me if you need further help navigating the community ((hugs))
