The news you don't want to hear.

[olive14]

I posted recently regarding my husbands recovery since having his Ivor Lewis in September last year. He has never made any real recovery due to the fact that he has to have regular dilations and other post op difficulties. He's had what he describes as a new pain in his stomach and side for the last two months. He had hounded the doctors as the pain was so bad , he prescribed him more pain relief but my hubby wasn't happy as something felt wrong. He had blood tests and an ultrasound scan hi enzymes for found in the blood test and the ultra showed he might be starting all gallstones. We felt relief after fearing the worst. His specialist order a CT scan which he had last Thursday. Yesterday he phone the GU nurse to see if the results were back yet. They we're and they weren't good, something had showed up on the scan and we were to wait for a call back later that afternoon as they were having a group meeting and would be discussing the matter. We felt sick all day with worry. When the nurse called my hubby wanted to know straight away as he copes better than waiting. She said the cancer has returned in his abdomen. He said will he have a operation she seemed to say no, but we would be going to see the oncologist next week. My husband was never offered any post op chemo as he didn't do well on his pre op chemo. They abruptly stopped it as he developed clots on his lungs the had a heart attack. So I am finding it hard to think positive but know I must for my poor husbands sake. After having such a rough ride from the onset. And surviving and fighting for his life when his operation went wrong, which I've shared in earlier post we need to fine the strength to fight this all the way. If anybody has any experience they can share any hope to grab hold of right now we would very much appreciate it wishing you all well Helen.

[brucemillar]

Olive

This is indeed the news "you don't want to hear". I read your post last night. I wanted to pause before attempting any response. I am eighteen months post op now. Like us all ( I suspect) we live in fear and dread of this. All I can offer is my sincere best wishes to you both at this time. Nothing I could say would give any meaning to any of this.

From myself and my family, please know that we are thinking of you both.

Bruce & Carol

[olive14 in reply to brucemillar]

Thankyou kindly. We are starting the budwig diet today. My husband was so poorly last time he had chemo they abruptly stopped it. We have nothing to lose by giving this diet ago. Will keep you all up to date . Best wishes to you and your family Helen x

[The_OPA Partner]

Please give us a call on 0121 704 9860 we can help you.

[brucemillar]

Olive

I also did not tolerate the chemo after my op. It had to be stopped but only after they tried different types and methods of getting it into me. I lasted about a month post op but started to lose my eyesight and was pretty much confined to my bed (involuntarily).

I elected then than if it were to return I would not attempt chemo again. I know that this is all of little help to you. Somehow I wish it were. Good luck with the diet and do please keep us posted of your progress.

XX

[olive14 in reply to brucemillar]

Thanks Bruce I will keep you posted on the diet, and see what oncologist says on Tuesday x

[Bananas5]

Hello Olive

I only pop into this forum occasionally to see if I can offer any help or support for chronic pain or those on welfare benefits.

Your story moved me and I wanted to reply last night but like Bruce I waited a bit. Trying to find the right words. There aren't any.

All I can say this is sent with all the love in the world and a great big virtual hug for you both from a stranger.

Pat x

[olive14 in reply to Bananas5]

Thankyou Pat it means alot to hear your kind words. I started him on the budwig diet of flaxseed mixed with cottage cheese. He's going to have to give up his sugar and butter poor love he's never been able to eat properly since his operation and what little pleasures he has left have to go for now. We have to follow the diet to the T from what I gather. But its given me a little hope after reading so many positive testimonies from other stage 4 cancer patients. Thanks for the hug. You take care love and best wishes x

[malcolmk]

I sympathise as I am in the same boat, had the operation (13 months ago Feb 2015) and started post op chemo which had to be stopped due to making me so ill. Apart from not being able to eat most of the foods I had enjoyed previously I felt things were on an up. Then the sudden unexplained extra pain in the left shoulder of all places; pain killers having a job to control it and eventually they gave me a scan. cancer had come back in the abdominal wall, they said no chance of an operation to remove it (if it comes back then it's in your system and will keep recurring is what I was told) I was given 6 months and that was 3 months ago.

I was offered chemo simply to try and extend life by 2 - 3 month they said but, like your husband my last experience of chemo nearly killed me in itself so no way was I going through that.

It seems complication after complication comes flooding to you, I have had 4.5 litres fluid from a lung drain and 3 litres from an abdominal drain in the last month and a half. It is so frustrating to get a recurrence before you have even recovered from the op.

The thing is; when we get to this stage what more can you do? I wish I knew.

Maybe I am lucky in that I believe in god and that he has the power to help and I pray constantly for relief from him.

I have come to accept that the cancer is not going away and time is limited but I am determined to take each day at a time and find something to enjoy about it. Even the wonder of a nice sunny day although I am not yet able to get out and about in it (too cold for me) I have a good palliative team and pain is more or less under control and no one knows just how long we have, it's purely guesswork so I think acceptance of the situation is vital although it's hard; the hardest thing in the world to accept that you don't have much time but I have turned to prayer and a determination to see something in every day to enjoy. I know it's no encouragement and maybe you are not a believer in god? After all how can god abandon his followers to so wicked a disease; I have gone through it but my mans very nature I feel we need something to give us hope, some belief that we will be one of the miracles we read of .

I don't know what to say except that I will pray for you. You are not alone.

Malcolm.

[Bananas5 in reply to malcolmk]

Can I hold your hand malcolmk and pray with you? In a few weeks time itwill be 5 years since I lost my beloved brother. He like you found good in every day and just loved life. I too believe.

And a gentle hug from a stranger

x

[olive14 in reply to Bananas5]

Dear Malcolm, my heart is breaking for you. Like my husband who has only just starting to be able to eat hasn't really had the chance to make any real recovery. The sad thing is his last dilation seems to be the most successful and he is enjoying being able to swallow without food getting stuck for hours on end. We are fellow believer's in god and get alot of comfort from prayer and discussing the teachings of Jesus. I don't know if you have heard of Dr budwig. She was a German doctor very high up in the field of looking for cures for cancer. She discover cure that has help many cancer sufferers including stage 4 to make a full recovery. The budwig diet protocol of flaxseed and cottage cheese and juices and cooked veg had shown to have really results. I have started my husband on it and he is really enjoying it and feeling more positive. It is esp good for people who can do chemo as she believed that chemo and radiotherapy interfered with the results. You can get all the info and diet on the web. There are support groups and forums full of people who have been cured by this diet. We told our oncologist that we are doing the diet and he was quite happy for us .....but had never heard of it. It has shocked me that non of the medical people we have spoke to about this diet have never heard from it. I do the protocol with my husband but at lower doses of flaxseed oil as it protects againt heart disease. It might be my way of coping with this horrendous situation but has given me more hope. You will be in my prayers Malcolm and miracle's do happen. God bless you Helen and Graham x

[olive14 in reply to olive14]

I ment to say, people who can't do chemo.