Hi people, this is just what I need at the mo.

Hiya my dad has just been diagnosed with a very similar timeline and picture to you the last 3 weeks have been just a whirl wind. he’s really struggling with eating tho so is having a stent hopefully followed by chemo it’s bloody shit and the outlook does seem bleak but I’ve read some great responses on here too so I suppose we can only stay positive and hopeful 

I hope you ok it must be so difficult to take all that news in x

Hey snake,

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis buddy, did does come as a big shock and the waiting up until the point you are now is very difficult. You know the diagnosis now and soon you will have a treatment plan in place to fight back. Being told you are inoperable is a kick in the teeth, but that can change my friend it's the oncolgists job to prepare you for the worst. I was previously told I was inoperable, but have reacted really well to treatment and we now have a plan in place to operate. I've had others reach out to me too who were told they didn't have a chance and have defied odds so keep your head up buddy.

Chemotherapy sounds really scary, but you will be well looked after. For the treatment you sit in a room attached to a drip and get fussed over by lots of lovely nurses (from my experience) it's not to bad sitting in the room playing on my laptop waiting for it to finish. Afterwards side effects vary person to person, but it is mostly tiredness, dry skin and you really need to look after your oral higene. My advice in this journey is get into Olympic fight mode and believe in the medicine, focus on getting the right nutrition and have a positive attitude. I've belived from day one that I will get better and beat this even when told I didn't have much chance and it's paid dividends. Have a read of my profile mate it's all I have learnt. If you have any questions about what's coming I am here and so is the rest of the community who are further down similar journeys.

Thanks, it is a bit of a job to take it all in as it all came through so quickly ... for me at least.

I have the option of stents etc if my eating gets too difficult but at the mo im managing

Best wishes for your dad

Thanks Vinney

Some wise words there matey.

Im really trying hard to keep a positive mental attitude towards it all... i think once things start moving forward with chemo etc i'll have a better grasp of the situation.

Will have a good browse over your profile info and take in what i can.

It's comforting to know there's so much support .

Snake I joined a charity called www.thecancerclub.co.uk which is set up to get men talking. It's free and We use a popular chat application that I cannot name in here or my post will get blocked. It's great to speak to others in the same situation and to get advice on symptoms. Takes two seconds to register mate and its a great group of lads

Thankyou -same to you and let’s hope the chemotherapy does wonders for you both  ( he’s 63) pretty fit so we have to try remain hopeful  x

Hi Snake

Welcome to the forum, I am really pleased that you have been able to stop by and say Hello. 

There are many here, who have either had the operation, going through it, preparing for it, can't have it or, not even sure yet what is what, and this is what makes it such a great place to be. 

Just to give you (and Hoping33) some more encouraement, my husband was diagnosed in May 2020, Liver, Lungs and Lymphnodes affected, on Friday he will settle in for treatment number 46, initially heavy chemo / FLOT for 5 and then Herceptin (targetted therapy) almost every fortnight and continuing.  

I think, from his experience and reading that of others' it really does depend on how You visualise your treatment being, we all know that Chemo can have some uncomfortable effects and certainly back 25 years ago, when my father in law underwent treatment it was gruelling, but they have improved so much, and monitor each patient far better with modern technology that oftentimes, I read that people are coping far better than they imagined.  My husband always says he just imagines that he is being fed Life' much like a cold beer on a hot day, very welcome... for him. 

I do hope that you find that you still have plenty of time to complete the few outstanding bucket list experiences that have yet to be tasted and that you feel you can reach out here, whenever you want, which includes calling the Macmillan team on the number below should you ever want to. 

Good Luck

Lowe'

Thank you Lowe

I think my brain (which is pickled) is still processing chemo as it was yesteryear, so am worrying myself a bit for what's to come, although the logical side of me butts in occasionally reminding me of the advances in technology ... I seem to be feeling a little more positive as days go by if im honest but my emotions are all over the place and i'm wanting to blubber at the daftest thing.

I have a Marie curie nurse coming this Friday for the initial visit, the poor girls going to be bombarded with questions... i'm really looking forwards to it though!

Do you know, it is the most important thing to allow your emotions...  blubber away and stand proud, you need to release those feelings if you can, this makes room for the next round, and the one after. 

Questions are always good, it seems to be me who does most of the questioning when speaking to Dal's oncologist, he just goes with the flow, but I am a need to know person. 

We are all different, and it is important to remember to put our thoughts and emotions as a priority at times like this...  even with me being the onlooker (for want of a better word) my world fell away from under me when I heard Dal's diagnosis, and I took to this website looking for a way for me to be able to understand things better..  Best thing I could have done. 

Good Luck on Friday, 

Lowe'