Mesothelioma

mesocaregiver
mesocaregiver Member Posts: 15

My husband was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in October.  In November he had his pleura, lining around his heart and diaphram removed.  He just took his third chemo treatment last week.  He got out of the bed the day after chemo but has not been up since.  He is very weak.  After much prodding from me they said it was figured as stage one epitholid plueral mesothelioma.   Is there anyone else on here dealing with mesothelioma?  It is so hard watching him suffer.  He was such a strong man before this.  Now he iis weak and sick.  He has had three chemo treatments.  The first one he was in the hospital within a week.  The second one was better.  Still tired but not as sick.  The third one has taken a toll.  The two nausea meds are not helping.  He is so tired.  He just wants to lay in bed with the door closed.  Anyone else dealing with this?  I am his wife and caregiver.  We do not have children that llive close by.  I am the only one around with no help.  I just do not know what to expect next.  He has three more chemo treatments three weeks apart.  He goes in two weeks to see if they see cancer.

Comments

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    First of all

    Please take a breath.  From your post I can tell it has been awhile since you took a breath and then exhaled.

    I know how frightening and upsetting this is.  My husband had stage IV throat cancer six years ago and now lives with the after effects of treatment

    We count ourselves blessed most days.

    You have both been through a lot.  I understand your children live some distance away.  Have you looked into home health care or a local volunteer service that would give you some respite care for your husband?  You need some time away from the stress for your own health needs, hair appointments, etc.  Your husband needs the fresh breath of air people new to the situation can bring.

    Ask your oncology nurse for local resources. Talk to your pastor or call a local church if you don't have one.  The United Methodist Church has St. Stephen's ministers who are trained to help with your specific needs.

    Come back and let us know how you are doing.  Please remember you must take care of yourself, Meso.

  • mesocaregiver
    mesocaregiver Member Posts: 15

    First of all

    Please take a breath.  From your post I can tell it has been awhile since you took a breath and then exhaled.

    I know how frightening and upsetting this is.  My husband had stage IV throat cancer six years ago and now lives with the after effects of treatment

    We count ourselves blessed most days.

    You have both been through a lot.  I understand your children live some distance away.  Have you looked into home health care or a local volunteer service that would give you some respite care for your husband?  You need some time away from the stress for your own health needs, hair appointments, etc.  Your husband needs the fresh breath of air people new to the situation can bring.

    Ask your oncology nurse for local resources. Talk to your pastor or call a local church if you don't have one.  The United Methodist Church has St. Stephen's ministers who are trained to help with your specific needs.

    Come back and let us know how you are doing.  Please remember you must take care of yourself, Meso.

    Mesothelioma

    Thanks, I do need to take a breath.  He has been in the hospital nine times since August.  I did ask about home health.  They said he did not need at this point.  I do not understand that but that is the way it is.  My pastor and church know he is sick.  They are supportive but have not visited us in several months.  If we are not in church they know he is either in the hospital or home sick.  I guess everyone is so busy with their own lives that they do not have time for others.  I had family help before my mother died.  I see now what a huge difference it makes.  We are doing the best we can.  I just want to know if anyone knows anything about mesothelioma and the chemo treatment.  I have seen many people sick in my life but nothing like this.  Thanks for the kind words.  I was hoping to find something like this online because I can't leave him to go to a support group or anything else.

     

  • cheatinlil
    cheatinlil Member Posts: 197

    Mesothelioma

    Thanks, I do need to take a breath.  He has been in the hospital nine times since August.  I did ask about home health.  They said he did not need at this point.  I do not understand that but that is the way it is.  My pastor and church know he is sick.  They are supportive but have not visited us in several months.  If we are not in church they know he is either in the hospital or home sick.  I guess everyone is so busy with their own lives that they do not have time for others.  I had family help before my mother died.  I see now what a huge difference it makes.  We are doing the best we can.  I just want to know if anyone knows anything about mesothelioma and the chemo treatment.  I have seen many people sick in my life but nothing like this.  Thanks for the kind words.  I was hoping to find something like this online because I can't leave him to go to a support group or anything else.

     

    Mesocaregiver,
    I don't

    Mesocaregiver,

    I don't know anything about mesothelioma and the chemo treatment but you are doing an amazing job.  I echo Noellesmom's thread, please get help, get a break. Ask for help and keep asking until you get some.  Don't take no for an answer.  HUGS and prayers to you!!!

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member

    Mesocaregiver,
    I don't

    Mesocaregiver,

    I don't know anything about mesothelioma and the chemo treatment but you are doing an amazing job.  I echo Noellesmom's thread, please get help, get a break. Ask for help and keep asking until you get some.  Don't take no for an answer.  HUGS and prayers to you!!!

    Yes, you can

    Leave to go to a support group.  You have to get out for awhile, Meso.  You simply have to.

    There is a link on the upper left called 'community resources'.  They are out there.  Talk to the oncology nurse or if you go to a treatment center please call and ask them for help.

    Cancer, and especially mesothelioma, is such a widely discussed disease that support networks are forming everywhere. Use them, please.

    If you care to share in a very general way (as in, I live in the New York city area), perhaps someone knows of a local resource available to you.

    I am fierce about the caregivers getting the support they need and deserve.  

    Hugs. 

  • mesocaregiver
    mesocaregiver Member Posts: 15
    Mesothelioma

    Thanks everyone for the kind words.  I will talk to his nurse next week while he is getting his next chemo treatment.  Mesothelioma is a well known word.  I have found many websites are designed to scare the person.  Many are written by attornies.  I was warned to watch out what I read on line.  That is why I am here.  I trust this site.  I will check into more resources.  If anyone is dealing with mesothelioma please message me.  Thanksl so much. 

  • mesocaregiver
    mesocaregiver Member Posts: 15
    Mesothelioma

    I just went to the resource site in upper left corner.  There are three post on there.  All from an attorney!!!  This makes me sick.  No other resources in the resource library.  I understand there is a legal side to Mesothelioma but I want the other side!  The side where people are living and dealing with mesothelioma.  Personally, I am disgusted that a cancer site would allow an attorney to advertise on it.  Yes, there is information on there about signs and symptoms but they are there because they want to make money.  I wish one time someone would say, sorry about your husband.  Is he ok?  The first thing peopel say is " did you know you should get an attorney for that"?  {Not people on here that have responded)  (You have not mentioned it)  It is the people in our daily lives.  I know people mean well and are only saying what they hear on tv EVERY DAY but it makes me sick to my stomach.  My husband is worth more to me than any amount of money!!  I am sorry if I seem ill.  I just get so sick of this!!  I want to read things that are not written by an attorney.  Thanks for letting me vent. 

  • cheatinlil
    cheatinlil Member Posts: 197
    I'm sorry you are going

    I'm sorry you are going through that.  How frustrating!  You want to help heal your husband.  It makes me want to say something sarcastic like "Wow, I didn't know attorney's were trained to heal cancer!  Thanks for that information, I will look into that!"  Yes, I get it. the only concern you have is for his health.  Oh Grumble the dumb things people say :(

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    edited May 2016 #9

    Mesothelioma

    I just went to the resource site in upper left corner.  There are three post on there.  All from an attorney!!!  This makes me sick.  No other resources in the resource library.  I understand there is a legal side to Mesothelioma but I want the other side!  The side where people are living and dealing with mesothelioma.  Personally, I am disgusted that a cancer site would allow an attorney to advertise on it.  Yes, there is information on there about signs and symptoms but they are there because they want to make money.  I wish one time someone would say, sorry about your husband.  Is he ok?  The first thing peopel say is " did you know you should get an attorney for that"?  {Not people on here that have responded)  (You have not mentioned it)  It is the people in our daily lives.  I know people mean well and are only saying what they hear on tv EVERY DAY but it makes me sick to my stomach.  My husband is worth more to me than any amount of money!!  I am sorry if I seem ill.  I just get so sick of this!!  I want to read things that are not written by an attorney.  Thanks for letting me vent. 

    I checked the site

    Entered mesothelioma and got several good references and no lawyers.  Try using that search term, Meso.  Let me know what you get.

    Hugs.

  • mesocaregiver
    mesocaregiver Member Posts: 15
    I flagged the attorney ads

    I flagged the attorney ads yesterday.  They are all gone now!  Wonderful.  Thanks guys.  Yes, my only concern right now is for my husbands health. 

     

  • mesocaregiver
    mesocaregiver Member Posts: 15
    edited May 2016 #11
    Update:  My husband had a PET

    Update:  My husband had a PET Scan last week.  It shows there is a place on two differnet lymp nodes, one on thyroid, one betwen heart and lung.  The doctor did not say the cancer was spreading but I can see it on the results of the scan they gave me.  They gave him the option of three more cheom treatments or stopping chemo for a while.  He wanted them to do the chemo.  In his mind he thinks it will make the cancer go away.  These places did not show up on the previous scan.  This is horrible.  I try to stay positive and smile.  He has no clue how worried I am about this last scan.  Mesothelioma is an awful disease.  If anyone is dealing with it please contact me.  The post on here are from 2003 and 2009.  I know it is rare so I guess it is not easy to find a person to talk to that has experience in this area.  Thanks everyone.

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    Call the doctor

    Talk with the doctor or nurse.  Get the prognosis.  Your husband may have some serious decisions to make.

    Hugs, Meso.

  • mesofighter
    mesofighter Member Posts: 2
    Mesothelioma

    I am looking after my wife with Pleural Mesothelioma diagnosed January 16. Your husband has been through a big operation and then straight to chemotherapy which should make him tired. While on chemo I am giving her one carrot and brocholli juice a week and some smoothies with banana  strawberries and almond milk.  I wanted to use supplements but they can interfere with the chemo . If the cancer has spread to further sites of the body it is stage four. With my wife the fifth and sixth chemo sessions got harder with nausea and vomiting as the chemicals build up in the system. The chemo might work the first time but the cancer can mutate and become immune to that chemo.  A woman Lou Williams ( Google) in Australia where I am has had a recovery with keytruda  made for melanomas but it is very expensive $200,000 pa. I think there is a trail in Chicago at the moment.

  • mesocaregiver
    mesocaregiver Member Posts: 15
    Mesothelioma

    Mesofighter, How is your wife.  The doctors still refuse to say it has spread.  They will just tell me places lit up on the pet scan.  Has your wife had more than one pet scan?  Has she finished her treatmet?  My husband just got out of the hospital again.  This last chemo made him very sick.  You answered one of my questions.  I wondered if the chemo got worse with each treatment.

     

  • mesofighter
    mesofighter Member Posts: 2
    Mesothelioma

    Hi She is active and doing things  but now gets tired more quickly  . My wife has had two ct scans showing no increase and a thinning of depth of cancer but may be due to draining of pleura as she had fluid on the lung . she has another friday. She finished six doses of cisplatin and permetrexed. the hospital is offering maintenance chemo of permetrexed only or having a rest for some time. Three other professionals have recommended maintenance.   I am getting suspicious of the value of chemotherapy and checking out alternatives  but need wife to agree.  As there is a lot of poison chemo and hopefully dead cancer cells in your husbands liver and colon is is important to keep gut clean with fibre. Exercize would help and as chemo kills germs in the gut I give her yakult probiotics a week after chemo. 

  • mesocaregiver
    mesocaregiver Member Posts: 15
    edited May 2016 #16
    Mesothelioma

    I am not sure about chemo either.  I think they will suggest maintenance chemo after he finishes treatment and has next pet scan in July.  Not sure what he will want.  There is not much quality of life with this chemo.  He has always been so active.  Up by 5 and off to work his job or outside working.  Now he stays in bed till 12 or later.  Once he gets up he gets in his recliner under a blanket.  It is so hard to watch.  I get so frustrated (he does not know) that he just lays around.  I wonder if it is the cheom or depression.  I also am checking into different treatmets for him once this chemo is over.  Not sure he will agree.  He really likes his doctor.  After major surgery and chemo he still is very sick.  He has been in the hospital 10 times since August.  He does go to rehab two days a week to help keep his strength up due to the chemo.  I just do not want to see him give up.  Do you have any help with your wife?  I do not.  Our kids and family live so far away.  I have been with him since August.  I have only left him 5 times since November.  It is so hard sometimes.  Thanks for the input and talking to me.  It is sad that there are so few doctors that know anything about Mesothelioma.  Have a good day.

  • mesocaregiver
    mesocaregiver Member Posts: 15
    Mesothelioma

    Is anyone out there dealing with mesothelioma? 

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    how are things, Meso?

    Have been wondering how you are.