Husband diagnosed with secondary bone cancer after emergency spinal decompression surgery - in total shock still

FormerMember
FormerMember
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On 10 March 2021 my husband became unable to walk and was rushed to hospital where a tumour was found that was causing spinal cord compression. He had emergency major spinal surgery to remove the tumour on 11 March because, according to the surgeon, he was just hours away from paralysis. Following the spinal trauma caused by the surgery, he is having to learn to walk again.

While in hospital the problem was diagnosed as secondary bone cancer, with the primary cancer later diagnosed as prostate cancer. He was told by his oncologist on 27 April that he has an average life expectancy of 3 to 5 years, and cancer treatment has started (hormone therapy while he was still in hospital, just finished 5 days of radiotherapy, and chemo we think will start next week).

Over the course of several months preceding these events, he had upper back pain that went across his shoulders and into his neck, but we had no idea it could be cancer and no x-rays or scans were ordered by our GP, which would have shown the large tumour he had growing on his spine. He's only 54 and had never had a PSA test before this happened. When measured in hospital his PSA count was 169, but he had never had symptoms of prostate cancer. He had never stayed in hospital or had an operation before. Now he has two rods and nine screws in his upper back. We are in total shock. He is an outdoor instructor and always been very robust and strong. I can only hope that this stands him in good stead as we go through the treatment journey.

  • Hi and welcome to the online community

    It sounds like you and your husband have been through an awful lot these past few months. I had a different type of cancer but I do understand how terrifying it can all be.

    I hope you don't mind me suggesting that you also post this in the prostate cancer group, which I can see you've joined, as I'm sure you'll find lots of helpful people willing to share their experiences and offer you support. If this is something that you'd like to do clicking on the link I've created will take you straight there.

    x

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     "Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to latchbrook

    Thanks latchbrook,

    I did already try posting in the prostate cancer group just after I posted in this one, but it said it was pending and then never appeared.

    x

  • That's very strange . If it happens again you could report it either in the technical support section or by emailing community@macmillan.org.uk with this information. Hopefully it was just a glitch and won't happen again Slight smile

    Community Champion Badge

     "Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"