Hi just joined here tonight , probably should have done months ago. This year has been hellish for everyone and adding a cancer diagnosis has compounded it. Brother in law started feeling not well Sept 19 fluish, sore arms and legs, he has spondylitis so doctor thought either viral or connected to neck. Eventually with no tests Doctor referred b in law to physiotherapist, she took one look at him as by this stage he had lost 4 stone, and put him back to doctor for blood tests these showed only slight white count elevation. Doctor then referred him to consultant whom he saw end of February. Consultant requested immediate ct which showed a mass on his throat. By now b in law was beginning to struggle to swallow solid food. Again urgent appointment for a scope was requested and undergone start of March by which stage we were still hoping that this was going to be nothing to untoward. Consultant who performed scope and biopsy told b in law there and then that it was cancerous and that he required a stent which consultant had to hand to be fitted immediately.
To date we still actually haven't had details of the biopsies but letter from consultant to doctor and b in law, stated stage 4 oseophageal cancer with spread to stomach lining and lymph nodes.
The stent had been placed at the top of the stomach's the largest growth was blocking the entrance.
B in law was offered 6 rounds of palliative chemotherapy, a triple dose. Which started in March he managed 3 rounds which thought scans showed effective reduced his white count and gave b in law a neutrophile aspiration pneumonia and a 2 week stay in hospital, after this b in law tried the 4th course of chemo but it has been too harsh so on balance he decided to stop the chemo.
Through the year its been my husband and myself who have been helping and caring for b in law as he wouldn't accept help prior to this he'd never had a hospital visit on his life. Thankfully now we have nhs carers in 3 times a day. But b in law has lost that much weight that we also need the support of district nurses as he has pressure sores and edemas.
We've found it hard to source help from macmillan, I think in part due to covid, my b in law isn't the most talkative old school and just gets on with it.
Hes no appetite these days and unable to swallow unless its liquids and then only small amounts.
Sorry for rambling
One of the things I'm looking for advice for is how to keep him comfortable, hes quite skeletal and is finding it so uncomfortable he has a blown up cushion and longer one for his bed but is there anything else anyone can recommend
Hi Wickscorrie
I don't think your post is rambling, it is open and honest and a true reflection on how difficult this condition is.. Making someone comfortable is not an easy thing, it seems that you are both already trying most things. I wonder whether additional clothing layers would help also? but maybe this would cause another discomfort in being too warm.. though breathable garments may help with this.
Just typing my thoughts as I respond, but I do hope that some comfort can be found for you all..
Lowe'
