Wife Diagnosed

Have. Lovely holiday and come back fighting. Sending you both hugs xxx

Dear Dougie,

I’m really sorry to hear about your wife’s diagnosis, I’m sending my very best wishes to you both and your family. If you have any questions or anything that anyone can answer this forum is very good and has helped a lot of people, me included! Have a lovely time on holiday together, definitely good to get in before the treatment xxxx 

Hi

Welcome to our group, although it’s not one you want to join! But you will find a lot of help and support.  
There are lots of people with positive experiences here.  I had stomach cancer five years ago and now live a normal life, eating and drinking pretty much as before! I was very lucky that the cancer was found early. I had chemo and then surgery. 
It is lovely to have a holiday before starting treatment! It is important for your wife to build strength physically and mentally!

Good luck and do use this group to post any questions!

Update 24 July

Endoscopy completed today, which confirms its Stage 2b, T4.  PET scan also completed and we aaite the results of that.

Told that we may have chemotherapy prior to the operation in the hope of reducing rhe amount of stomach that will need to be removed.

Still processing at all and unsure what tp think at the moment. Our holiday is 5 sleeps away and can't come quick enough 

Hi, thank you for your update.. I know it will be hard to go away without thinking about all of it… but enjoy yourselves!! 
Take care 

Michele 

Update, 26 July

Consultant phoned to informed us that they now want to start Chemotherapy next week, as the cancer in the stomach is aggressive and could grow and spread if we left it 2 weeks till after the holiday.

This has been a very tough day, clearly health come first but we really wanted to have a holiday to prepare us for the treatment.  Now that is of the cards and the focus is now on treatment.

Not sure what to expect from it all, all the walls I ahd unplaced have finaly cane crumbling down, I have been an emotional wrexk today.

Chemotherapy will be twice a week for 6 weeks with scabs every 2nd week, an operation will follow this followed by further chemo.

Awwww so sorry to hear your holiday is now cancelled… like you said ‘health comes first’, unfortunately it takes a toll on the health and well being of you all… be strong for each other… 

Take care 

Michele 

Dear Dougie 

I’m really sorry to hear about your holiday I am sure you were both looking forward to it so much. Sending lots of best wishes and love your way but absolutely starting the chemo is a massive milestone on the way to recovery and lots of post treatment holidays and lovely times. As much as possible try to do nice things in between the chemo cycles, when the side effects weren’t too bad for mum we made sure to go out for nice meals, have people round. Maybe you can organise a nice spa day at home or make some mocktails/ play cards or whatever you like to do on holiday and try and simulate it at home for her. Sending you all my best. Xx

That must be a shock for you both.  It’s always hard to hear the cancer is aggressive and that a holiday before starting chemo is not advised!  The gold standard treatment is Chemo then surgery followed be more chemo.  It’s not advised for everyone but it does give the best chance of recovery.

Chemo can reduce the tumour..in my case it eradicated it.  My cancer was aggressive but I was lucky it was found early. 

Treatment isn’t easy but once it starts you do find ways to get through it.   There’s a lot of support on this forum.  If you have a Maggie’s centre near you, it does provide great support too.

Use the next few days to build strength physically and mentally.  Going for walks and eating well helps! Good luck!

Update 3 Aug

First round of chemotherapy done today, we both couldn't sleep last night so a tiring day for both of us.  

We are a little more relaxed now that the treatment has finally started, my wife is such a strong person its going to be hard for me to see her when she starts to struggle with the side effects.

But I will always be there for her, she has supported me through my 22 year military career its now time that I focus on supporting her