Hello

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I'm caring for my elderly husband who was diagnosed with squamous cell penile cancer 2 years ago. He recently had to stop chemo after only 2 months as the side effects were life threatening.  He is now receiving palliative care.  

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember
    • Hi flyweight welcome to the forum and I am so sorry to hear about what is happening for you right now. It is interesting the word Palliative ? What does it actually mean? I'm.asking because lots of people can be on palliative care for symptom management and I'm.wondering if this is what is meant? Have they said anything to you both about what the future looks like at all? There are other threads on here if you wanted to also post in there "the Carers thread"  "family and friends thread". You need support for you as well as hubby hence why I am suggesting uou post in those. Sending very best wishes Gail x
  • Thank you Gail. I will take a look at those threads.  I agree the term 'palliative' can be confusing. At the moment my husband is at the stage where the team no longer think he will benefit from any treatment/interventions, apart from trying to make him more comfortable. I asked the radiologist whether the squamous skin cell cancer will spread and he said eventually it will spread to the lung and heart. I didn't ask about the time trajectory. My husband asked about 6 months ago about his life expectancy and was told 6 months worse case scenario and 18 months best case. I feel more grounded now than I did at first, though I find it difficult to stay close to my husband at times. Maybe it's nature's way of allowing you to get used to the idea that they will no longer be there. 

  • Hi Flyweight, 

    I am sorry to hear about your husband and cannot imagine what that kind of news feels like for anyone, I imagine its difficult to process. 

    Regards

    J

  • Hi im new to forum..never thought id be on laptop late at night..looking up penile cancer..my partner is a few years older than me, his been lucky enough to have retired 12 yrs now,,the last 12months have been awful.he was diagnosed with penile cancer approx 10mnths ago..had initial lesion removed,,had lymph nodes investigated,,ALL CLEAR..hallelujah..but now after passing blood in urine and 2 visits to AE,,been told he need more surgery by his consultant in Leicester..we live approx 80miles away..and has been booked in for biopsy on liver...im due to retire in november..and honestly am dreading it...I care deeply about partner but hes become such a different person since the dreaded C word was confirmed he gone from being mr,,,I on it to bit of breakie..an im just gona have a lie down..also his moods are quite nasty.at times..im sure hes quietly scared an proberly peed of that this is happening,,i can only assume thats why he lashing out,,,not physically..just verbal snipes..which just make me want to take the dogs out yet again..im sure ther is somebody out there who has been through this ,,,just wonder what the best way is to move forward,,without throttling him or completely wearing the dogs out,,,,Humour is my release,,,,,,