Just returned from rectosigmoid surgeon appt..

2»

Comments

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #22
    Daniellabella said:

    I just found out that my

    I just found out that my husband CANCELLED his colonoscopy appointment for next week.

    He’s in denial!

    Sorry

    It's difficult being a caregiver and then having your spouse cancel something that could help him decide the path he should take for treatment.  He might just need to take a breath, but he needs to get this done to be more accurate.  You might need to talk to his doctor and stress that he contact him to make this happen.  Hope he reconsiders.

    Kim

  • Daniellabella
    Daniellabella Member Posts: 19
    #23
    Hubby has fever of 39.5C (103

    Hubby has fever of 39.5C (103.1 F). 

     

    He will only take one Advil to suppress it.

     

    Our condo is 27C (80 F) and he’s under two winter blankets, 45 mins after taking Advil.

     

    He refuses to go to ER.

     

    I don’t know what else to do!!!!

     

    Is this a sign the cancer is metastasizing? 

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #24
    Daniellabella said:

    Hubby has fever of 39.5C (103

    Hubby has fever of 39.5C (103.1 F). 

     

    He will only take one Advil to suppress it.

     

    Our condo is 27C (80 F) and he’s under two winter blankets, 45 mins after taking Advil.

     

    He refuses to go to ER.

     

    I don’t know what else to do!!!!

     

    Is this a sign the cancer is metastasizing? 

    Sadly....

    it is a sign that something is happening, though I doubt it's a sign of metastasis. 

    I'm sorry he's being so stubborn. Just keep him hydrated, or he will have no choice but to go to the ER, in an ambulance. Well, maybe that will be the best thing, if he refuses to go on his own; but dehydration can get pretty darn serious. 

    Take care of yourself during all of this. Stress can be as bad a dehydration. 

    Tru

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #25
    abita said:

    I had the mop up chemo. What

    I had the mop up chemo. What are the percentages without it? And why isn't it zero percent to 50%. 

    I was told that the odds of

    I was told that the odds of reoccurance increased by 15% without mop up chemo. Basically, my chances of reoccurance were 50% with it and 65% without it. To me, 50% means I'm in the same boat as everyone else. Everyone alive has an almost 50% chance of being diagnosed with cancer. 

    Jan

  • Daniellabella
    Daniellabella Member Posts: 19
    #26
    Does anyone know what such a

    Does anyone know what such a fever could mean?!?!?

    Its intermittent with unknown cause....no infection per blood culture or X-ray. 

    Seems to come on in late afternoon every few days.

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #27
    Daniellabella said:

    Does anyone know what such a

    Does anyone know what such a fever could mean?!?!?

    Its intermittent with unknown cause....no infection per blood culture or X-ray. 

    Seems to come on in late afternoon every few days.

    Fever

    If it continues he needs to go in as this is not something that should continue.  Temps usually rise during evening but this is too high to keep ignoring if it is persistent.  Call the doctor or the one on call if he doesn't seem to be getting better by tomorrow.  Please let us know how he is feeling.

    Kim

  • Daniellabella
    Daniellabella Member Posts: 19
    #28
    I’m feeling very discouraged.

    I’m feeling very discouraged.

    Not only has hubby canceled the colonoscopy, but he has decided to delay radiation/chemo by 1-2 months.

    He has decided to try his own CRAZY regimen of Japanese green tea, ester-c and about 15 other things I can’t recall at this moment.

    I told him this decision is foolish, reckless and arrogant.

    He tells me I need to “walk beside him.”  How can I support this insanity?!?!?

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #29
    Medical decisions

    Every adult is entitled to make his or her own medical decisions, whether that is to receive treatment, decline it, or delay it. Those decisions may or may not hasten death, but they are his to make.  I am sure it is frustrating because his decisions are not the decisions you would make for yourself, but understand this is a complex, emotional and frightening process.  Perhaps "walking beside him" is the best thing you can do at this point in time.

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #30
    Caregiver

    You as a caregiver is probably the hardest as you have to watch on the sidelines what happens.  He has made his choice and although you can't agree with it you have to let him do what he wants.  It's hard to sit by and watch his decisions while you don't agree.  You can't really do anything but be there and let him know your feelings but let him make the decisions for his own future.  Please come back here to share your feelings - sounds like you need an outlet and this is the place to do it. 

    Kim

  • Daniellabella
    Daniellabella Member Posts: 19
    #31
    Thanks for the replies,

    Thanks for the replies, everyone.

    The surgeon called today....it’s Stage 3C...... T3, N2, M0.

    He says they may possibly do surgery first, before chemo/radiation.  

    The oncologist will make the final decision. 

    My husband seems far more open to surgery than chemo/radiation.

    Anyone have positive stories of survival about 3C?

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #32
    Staging

    From my understanding it is not possible to truly stage the cancer before the surgery and whatever they tell you in advance is just an estimate.  But perhaps my understanding is uninformed.  I think the surgery is a lot easier than the chemo, for what that is worth.  As for survival stories, I was 3b and I am doing well a year and a half after surgery.  What the future holds for me is unknown.  Be sure to communicate your desires with your doctors.  It is the patient who makes the final decision.

  • PamC
    PamC Member Posts: 9
    #33
    Daniellabella said:

    Thanks for the replies,

    Thanks for the replies, everyone.

    The surgeon called today....it’s Stage 3C...... T3, N2, M0.

    He says they may possibly do surgery first, before chemo/radiation.  

    The oncologist will make the final decision. 

    My husband seems far more open to surgery than chemo/radiation.

    Anyone have positive stories of survival about 3C?

    I just finished a one-year

    I just finished a one-year treatment regiment for Colorectal stage IIIC. I thought death was knocking at my door. I had chemo/radiation for 8 weeks, 9-hour surgery, 8 rounds of chemo with a portable 48-hour chemo bag, and then a reversal to remove my bag. (Also had a second primary breast cancer appear during the process and had to add in a second round of radiation). During surgery, it was discovered that the cancer had broke through the wall and entered my uterus which added an unexpected hysterectomy into the mix. The process from being told I had cancer to my last post-op appointment (this week) was one year to the date. My pathology report showed clear margins with T0, N0 (were T3, N3). The road was ridiculously hard and if you asked me how I was, most days I answered miserable and tired of the process. I was always honest about how I felt and that scared people. I just didn't see the point of lying but I fought every step of the way.

  • plsletitrain
    plsletitrain Member Posts: 252 Member
    #34
    I'm with sandia

    I think its the biopsy that will "officially" stage him.  I did not have a choice as mine was an emergency operation so it was surgery first then chemo after.  I was stage 3B and thought I was dying soon.  I'm actually one who delayed my chemo, I was about to start around 3 weeks after surgery but I started after two months.  I did try alternative medicine and although I have faith in conventional medicine, I think we should also not discount alternative medicine.  I did that and to be honest all results were good.  I stopped and my lung nodule grew.  I've tried to research on my own and perhaps your husband is also doing the same.  Our doctors are there to guide us, but being proactive and being the ultimate decision maker should never be lost.  Sometimes we cancer patients trust our instinct. Note that not only are we subjected to physical toil, but also mental and emotional.  His decisions might still change though but the important thing is his decision is something that he's confident in.  It will help him manage his treatment.

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,289 Member
    #35
    IIIb here, 2 nodes involved,

    IIIb here, 2 nodes involved, then reccurance in the liver 3 spots way apart. They dug them out, 2 1/2 years later, a mass again in my liver. Once again they dig it out, almost four years ago now, almost eleven years since diagnosis, I'm here, I'm NED, and I feel good.  Tell your hubby it's a doable path, and can/may get easier, but from where I sit now, it was worth the fight, and I lost a lot along the way. Tell him to read the stories of people who've walked the walk, and tell him your with him no matter he chooses, or what happens. And find time to be good to yourself and your needs...........................................................Dave

Discussion Boards