Advanced bowel cancer

Hi Jones 

I'm very sorry to hear of your husband's recurrence. My cancer is different but I am stage 4/incurable so I have some insight into how you are both feeling. If you'd like to read my profile just click on my username. Although I have had radiotherapy for symptom control only and palliative chemotherapy, I am currently well and my cancer is stable.

Stage 4 is not always the terminal diagnosis that it used to be. If your husband is active on the Macmillan community he may be interested in joining the Living with incurable cancer group, which is patients only. We prefer to say that we are incurable but treatable. A lovely Macmillan champion once told me not to pay too much mind to the stage number as cancer is so variable. I hope the shock subsides a little and you're able to get some sleep. If you or your husband need to talk, the Macmillan lines are open and they are very helpful. Good luck with the rest of the treatment.

community.macmillan.org.uk/.../

www.macmillan.org.uk/.../contact-us

Hi Jones!

I am in the same boat as yourself. My husband's cancer returned after 5 months. He went in and got the operation to remove it last January 2022 and they got it all- or so they thought as it came back 5 months later in May 2022. We were absolutely devastated because we felt we were getting our lives back on track again. I had asked as a precaution if he needed any post surgery chemotherapy and was told no because it wasn't necessary but seems small cells hard to detect on scans can still linger and I think this is what happened with my husband so for that I was very bitter and angry. He is presently recovering from sepsis so for that they have had to stop his chemotherapy and don't know when he'll get back on it and if he will because damage has been done to his kidneys. Yes this disease is a (excuse me) a bugger and right what they say. It robs you of your plans, dreams and aspirations for the future. My Best Wishes to you. 

Vicky xx

Thanks Vicky for your reply he's responding well to the chemo this time just hope when he gets a scan after this course we get some good news and it has put the cancer to sleep for a while as one nurse put it and we can have a few good months to enjoy the summer with family all the best to you x