NCLC

Thank you Donna. It helps talking to someone who has already been through it. It’s so difficult for me watching him suffer but I can’t let him see how bad I feel cis I want him to focus on getting through it. He’s starting chemo next Thursday. It’s gonna becso difficult for him and me and I’m trying to just take one day at a time. I had breast cancer 20 years ago and had radiotherapy but I never suffered the kind of pain he’s getting so this was a shock for both of us. 

Thanks for the private message comment but to be honest I don’t know how to do that I really struggle with this chat line I don’t find it straightforward at all and I’ve alwsys thought I was quite good with tech!!

it was nice to hear from you and I hope you keep well. We will chat again soon I’ll update after his chemo (really not looking forward to that). 

Tessa

Hi Tessa,

It is so hard watching our loved ones go through painful, intrusive treatment. I hope your husband recovers quickly.

At one point my husband needed a massive dose of emergency radiotherapy to burn a channel through his totally blocked airway/lung. The procedure knocked him for six and also left him with a visible dark patch on his back!! We believe it was caused by the radiation rays aimed at the front of his chest seeking an outlet. No one had told us to expect that as a result of radiotherapy!

Hopefully the pain your husband is experiencing as a result of radiotherapy will be temporary. And that chemotherapy will be kind to him with little to no side effects.

Remember to look after yourself

Mym x

Hi Tessa 

I'm here if you need to chat, treatments have come a long way in recent years so while treatment is a bit rough it can be worth it in the end. 

You are doing fine with the chat forum so don't worry about what you put up, believe me it gets understood and someone will always respond. 

Everyone's pain levels are different and we all cope in different ways and your husband will learn to cope with his. Make sure he. Gets all of the help and support he needs and don't forget to look after yourself in all of this.

Hugs 

Donna

Hi Hamhat and all.  Just thought I’d give an update. I hope you are all well and coping. 

My husband had his first cycle of chemo/immuno therapy 8 days ago. He was fine for the first 2 days then he got extreme tiredness nausea constipation no appetite etc. He also has extreme lower back pain which he has had since just after he was diagnosed (they have assured us this is a separate issue and is not cancer). After about 5 days of suffering he started to gradually feel a bit better and slowly started to eat etc. However his back pain is worse and the pain killers cause constipation. We took him to a chiropractor who has massaged him etc (no bone cracking due to his condition) and he has a further 2 appts next week. To be honest I was expecting the side effects to be far worse so I’m grateful for that. His next cycle is in 2 weeks hopefully he will have the same side effects or even less (fingers crossed). The back pain is excruciating though and we need to get that sorted. Thank u all for your support. 

Hi

I am glad you have had the 1st cycle now and that the side effects were not to bad (apart from the back pain).

My sister was the same after her 1st cycle (minus back pain) but not good at all after her 2nd cycle.

She was had severe nausea and tiredness and also got a chest infection. We called the district nurses this time and they were amazing and came out about 3 times.

She's couldn't go ahead with her 3rd cycle (which should have been last weds) as she had lost so much weight and was too weak. They are scanning her on Tuesday, consultant next week and 3rd cycle pencilled in after that.

I would say to get your husband eating as much as he can and making the most of the well times in between treatments. I do hope the second cycle goes well for him and the side effects are not to bad for him. It's so hard watching your loved ones experience this.

It's all such a rollercoaster of good days/hours and real low times.

My sister is on steroids now and is doing ok this week and has been trying to get her strength back up.

Simone x

Aw bless her I hope she feels better soon. My husband (apart from back pain) is very close to his normal now and he’s not good with suffering so I hope the next cycle doesn’t get worse. How do younk it works? If they don’t suffer overly with the first cycle do they make the second one stronger?  He’s got loads of painkillers for his back but unfortunately they make him constipated no mattew good he eats/takes laxatives and the constipation increases his pain. Yes absolutely awful watching him suffer and secretly had a lot of good cries to relieve my own stress.  They all get through this without too much agony. Take care I hope your sister continues to improve. We CAN all beat this