Bowel cancer CARERS, FAMILY & FRIENDS chat

Omg what a lot of stress everyone is under

Billy had his chemotherapy and radiotherapy in a different hospital to his operations both not too far one about 20 minutes drive the other 30 minutes drive and I drive and quite confident driving so count myself lucky compared to some of you my heart goes out to you all 

The parking is awful in both hospitals mind .

Billy seems brighter in the morning but by teatime his so tired and looks awful I start to panic is the infection back

stay strong everyone  

Hi @Kleigh. Please give the support desk a ring as they will be able to advise you on any grants you can apply for or help with travel costs?

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/benefits-and-financial-support

Take care

Karen x

Hi Misprint!

That resonates so much with me. Jay has never been one for going to the GP hospitals etc in all his 50 years of working and now in the last 4 years it has been mostly an everyday occurrence. I always nagged him about taking the bowel screening test and as I said it was I'll do it later but of course later never came. Then he would say he was scared with what they would find and I said are they not better finding out if there is anything there and they can catch it quickly and hopefully stop it in it's tracks but of course call it `male pride` ` a man thing` or whatever it just never got done and though they got it all first time round it came back again. I'm so bitter and angry that no post surgery chemo was offered just because `they got it all` which they obviously didn't and stray cells were obviously left behind to fester and form again where I think post chemo would maybe have caught those cells but at the time you are just so elated about the cancer being taken away and cleared you're going to believe what the specialist tells you as they are the experts and if they say it's gone, it's gone and so therefore you don't give it a second thought that it may come back.I'm just waiting to hear if my test will be ok now. Take care 

Vicky xx

Morning All!

Today is another day. Going up to hospital today. My sister is a bit better today. He actually phoned me this morning but his voice is just so laboured that I could hardly make out a word he was saying. I think that this is the process of him now `going`. I don't want it to be and don't want it to go. but I know I just have to face reality and that it is going to happen eventually This may sound really stupid and I know a lot of people say they are `cranks` and `con merchants` but I have been doing something I have never done before and consulted with a psychic. This one though is really accurate and some of the things she has told me already have actually happened whether its just all coincidence or not I don't know. I would like to think there is something in it though. Don't how much I have prayed in the last months also and I don't really consider myself to be a religious person. I suppose if you're desperate and just want answers you will try anything. Speak to you all later. 

Vicky x

Hi Vicky do what ever helps you through I must admit after I lost my brother I went to see psychic Sally but she didn't give me anything they related to him but i really wanted her to. Think what ever comfort you get anywhere is good xx

Kleigh87 first of all I was where you are in December 22 Simon was in hospital in and our until March 23 had operation his cancer had spread to 8 Lymph nodes try 1 chemo but effected his heart and he is self employed and I don't work because I look after grandchildren. That is the problem we have to wait for any benefits when you need help straight away I think you can also apply for a grant from macmillan go on the website for help with cost of living I also rang my utilities and water basically any problems you have paying any bill ring them explain . I have a puppy as well  but things do settle it is just a different life not one we want but I am just grateful he is still here  rather then what we should be having and doing 1 day at a time and ask family and friends to help I hated my sister buying me food my daughter and my mum sent me money but people want to help sending hugs 

Reading all the posts this morning makes me so so sad. I can’t believe we have to virtually bet for help with money etc. Les does not get his pension until next year but has 2 private pensions.  

I am just watching Les and he just seems so frail walking and will be worse in a couple of days when the steroids stop. He is forgetting a lot as well. Went to the front door and he had forgot to shut it. It was wide open. He starts one thing and then forgets. It is just horrid.  He gets annoyed with me as well. I keep stumpt so he does not get stressed.  

today not such a good day but like you we will get through it.  Huge hugs to everyone maggie xx

Sorry your having a bad day think it's part of our journey good days and bad I Find I have moments it hits then the puppy will do something or have evil eye biting but today he is sleeping a lot and that's when I look at Simon and think wow how has our live comes to this makes me sad also we tend to bicker but considering he used to work 18 hour days think I need a bloody medal lol hugs to you we are all amazing xx

Yes, we were told about the Macmillan grant by the financial advisor that volunteers at the hospitals charity. At the time we declined to apply and said we’d save it for a rainy day. I turned up at the hospital today to find out they’d done a double Nephrostomy on him, so there’s no talk of him coming home yet and they won’t start the chemo until is renal functions are working. The fuel costs are crippling , so we may have to apply for the grant sooner rather than later. Then to top it all off the Oncologist has said today it is a fast growing tumour. We were told 4 weeks ago that it had been there a long time and was slow growing. Feel like I want to drown myself in a bottle of wine this evening! 

Hi Kleigh87. Oh my you are really having a hard time at the moment and to find out it  is maybe a fast growing tumour must be very worrying. Definitely apply for the grants and have a glass of wine. At the moment it appears you are in need of as much support that is available. Sending big cwtches your way. Pauline x