Husbands Cancer Diagnosis

Hi All, I find myself here again, looking for a little support. I’ve been really struggling the last few days. My husband has now had 5 Pembrolizumab infusions every three weeks and had a scan two weeks ago with results tomorrow. 

He has been doing ok on pembro, it has interfered with his thyroid and is now has hypothyroidism but this is thankfully being controlled with tablets. His lymph nodes by the large tumour in his neck have also increased in size since starting Pembrolizumab. However, my husband feels his swallow has improved slightly since starting immunotherapy. 

Deep down I want to believe it’s working and truly hope with all my being it is but I want the consultant to tell me this (but I also dread finding out too).

At the initial consultation my husbands consultant said they don’t really take the first scan into consideration as there maybe something called pseudo-progression? I
 just hope they don’t go back on there word and decide to stop treatment after 3 months.

All these worrying thoughts - what if the scan shows new cancerous growths? (Currently in tonsil, base of tongue, lymph nodes in chest and right hip) What if the immunotherapy hasn’t done anything at all?

I think I’ve buried my head in the sand the last three months and as a family just carried on with this new normal life. Now on the eve of the scan results is as if I’ve gone straight back to square on with my anxiety and emotions. 

My husband however has taken everything in his stride and his moto is ‘we only do positivity’ 

Thanks for taking the time to read.

Bexx85 said:

I think I’ve buried my head in the sand the last three months and as a family just carried on with this new normal life. Now on the eve of the scan results is as if I’ve gone straight back to square on with my anxiety and emotions. 

Hi Bex. That’s  self defence and you’ve done well there. You can’t worry about something outside your control all the time. 
Now today is different. Results tomorrow and how you are feeling is normal. Again, there is nothing you can do to alter events so all I can offer is a big hug and crossed fingers. 
scanxiety is a big thing. It’s horrid but tomorrow will come and it’s a new day. 
More hugs. 

Hi Bexx try to follow your hubbys lead. But it’s good you can vent on here and you’ve done the right thing in doing so. Tomorrow’s results could be giving the consultant a baseline to work from I wouldn’t think they would stop after 3 months . Sending hugs it’s the waiting that eats away at everyone. We’re all with you tomorrow. It will come and it will go  

hugs Hazel 

Thank you Dani. I’ve been doing pretty well with trying to live each day as it comes and not to think to far into the future but the thought of tomorrow has thrown me into anxiety hell.

Hi Hazel. Thoughts and anxiety are just so overwhelming. All I can do is hope and pray and just get through tomorrow! 

What time is your appointment? 

11am, nice and early which is good.

Good. You will both be in my thoughts. Give your husband a forum hug from all of us. 

Afternoon All, husband's appointment has come and gone. scan has shown slight progression in the chest area and the neck tumour. Hip bone stable no change.

The consultant has said they will continue with immunotherapy for the next 3 months in hope that the progression is actually psuedoprogression. That cannot say for sure. 

I hope and pray for improvement at the next scan! 

Thank you to all who took the time to support me yesterday. 

Hi Bex

That’s better than you expected. Lots of people having immunotherapy don’t get an immediate response. Fingers crossed for you. Hugs.