Cancer shock...

[aye-aye-Chris]

No, you don't want one, do you?

But here's my story, read on, for your own good.

Years ago when I was very unwell with that staph (MRSA) after all the ops, analgesics, anti-biotics and countless other medications I developed an gastro ulcer. Also, my bowels were bogged up by the analgesics and other drugs and only having movements about once a week, I had to consult with a gastroenterologist for a top & tail - gastroscopy and colonoscopy.

Yup. The ulcer was there in all of it's shining glory and down there.... yup.... polyps. Fortunately pre-cancerous, but removed for biopsy to be sure to be sure.

All was well, but... the meds for the ulcer were for life along with the anti-bots for the staph, and bi-annual top & tails were very highly recommended because of those polyps.

So... three years after the last one, it took time to find a gastroenterologist we had confidence in out here. So it was done today.

No polyps, ulcer has gone, absolutley all clear. No further invasive tests needed. Just a governent funded poop test every few years.

So I highly recommend to you, yes you... at least do a poop test, or..... have a top & tail to be sure.

You sure don't want to find out the hard way, via a cancer shock from an oncologist.

 

[TeeEm]

No polyps, ulcer has gone, absolutley all clear.

 

[misi]

Excellent news!
I hope that Okee's wife will have it soon.

 

[okeedokee]

Too late for Mrs Okee to have a test, but I had test done a few months ago and all clear.
My doc told me that only one third of people sent the test kits use them......2/3 throw them away or don't like to do the test.
Wife put it off and now has that bad news.
Good luck Chris.....good news for you.

 

[foxidrive]

That's some bright news in your medical saga of bad news, Chris.

Would those poop tests have picked up cancer in the liver, okee?

 

[okeedokee]

No, foxi. It starts off with bowel cancer and if not detected early enough, it spreads through the bowel wall to other organs....usually the liver first. If contained to the bowel, that is 'good', and is operable and curable.
It is still called bowel cancer even though it is also in the liver....as that is where it originated.
Hope I explained that right.

 

[foxidrive]

I see okee, I wasn't aware of the origin site. I was reading last night about primary and secondary cancers.

I'd like to see them all be vanquished with medical know how one day. I hope Mrs Okee was able to enjoy her little trip and that her level of comfort is going ok.

 

[foxidrive]

okee, I have a reminder on my computer about Mrs okee and I see it often. I often wonder how your wife is doing and I know there is a big impact on her family and friends from the nature of her disease.

I haven't followed up to ask again because of the privacy of the situation and how difficult it is for most people to talk about things like serious lillness in the family and also the possibilities of death and the levels of illness, and things like vomiting and other sluice gates opening, and pain and inability to be comfortable and to think clearly.

I have no such inhibitions in discussing health in very many ways but I didn't want you to feel as though you had to reply, but there was little that you could say.

Only follow up here if you feel like you have things that you'd like to say, and I will understand without any judgement if you'd prefer to keep on going with life in your home at this stage.

I will comment that the level of anguish and sorrow, and inability to express the things a person thinks about and feels, is a stumbling block in opening up to family and friends; and there is a good aspect for the psyche of a person to chat about things that are distressing in one's life.

That is the way counselors assist people in grieving and family breakdown and personal trauma. I've had discussions with a social worker soon after my Brother acquired his brain injury and she was a warm and sympathetic person and I received a great deal of compassion for the situation I was in with both my family members.

I'm rabbiting on a bit here. I must eat too much lettuce.

 

[okeedokee]

Thank you foxi.
It is so hard for me to put into words....and where to start.
Latest tests tell us it has spread to the stomach lining and liver spots have grown.

Oncologist says 'months' and there will be no more treatment.

Colleen (we all call her Coll) has a bucket list and the first is to go to Tasmania as she loves it there. We are touring Tassie for 10 days from next Saturday 10 Sept. in a 6 berth Discovery mororhome and tour Tasmania.
http://www.cruisinmotorhomes.com.au/campervan/6-berth-discovery

She is so strong and feeling ok at the moment although the old head /mind tricks don't help at all.

She has started seeing a palliative care nurse who spoke to her and will follow up during her time. This helps her a lot.

We don't seem to have that much time left together now, and I just have to give her all the help and care that I can muster. Our 4 (big) kids have been wonderful. It is damn hard to handle, but.......

Sorry to be not here much and I hope your illnesses do improve, foxi.
Thanks foxi (and all) for caring.

 

[misi]

and the first is to go to Tasmania as she loves it there.

I wish you and your beautiful wife a wonderful time together.

 

[foxidrive]

I'm so sad for you to hear that have such a short time together and your 4 kids too.

Tricks of the head and mind in me would be tears and sadness, and with chats to cancer sufferers on the Whirlpool forum I know that it includes worry and concern for partners and how they will manage, and if they have good friendship connections for their future, and for family with missing significant birthdays and births ... and life in general for them all.

It's a sad part of life in any family when a person is no longer there and for me I had eight hours of knowing our Mother would soon be gone, and even though she didn't regain conciousness from the massive cardiac arrest she was still in the world, and it gave me a way to come to terms with it in a way that others are unable to do because their loved one is suddenly not there any longer.

The palliative care is something wonderful that wasn't around in that accessible and good way many years ago. Our medical system is so good in many ways but they don't have the tools to fight cancer at this point in time.

I wonder if Colleen is able to eat ok most of the time with it spreading to her stomach, I don't have any knowledge if it causes stomach pain or indigestion or regurgitation and related things. I hope Colleen is able to enjoy your trip around Tasmania together in many good ways, and that the scourge of side effects of medicine and the cancer are minimal for her.

Colleen (we all call her Coll) has a bucket list and the first is to go to Tasmania as she loves it there. We are touring Tassie for 10 days from next Saturday 10 Sept. in a 6 berth Discovery mororhome and tour Tasmania.
http://www.cruisinmotorhomes.com.au/campervan/6-berth-discovery

It looks like a nice way to travel and to see the ocean vistas and enjoy the small towns you pass through.

I wish you both peace in your hearts as you come to terms with life changing for you both, and pleasant times with family and friends and enough comfort inside Coll to enjoy all of those things.

foxi

Thank you for your words today okee, LG has always been a bright spot in my life with such nice people and good feelings.

 

[Guess]

Okee.. and Mrs Okee.. I'm so sorry. I sincerely hope you can enjoy as much of life as you can in the short time left. Tassie is beautiful. I hope you will have memories of Tassie to treasure for eternity.

 

[foxidrive]

Time has flown and the okee's should have done the Royal Tour of Tassie and been home long enough to relax and kick back and be back with family and friends.

I hope Coll was feeling well enough to enjoy the wheels under you as the miles went by okee. Was the weather kind to you both and the views inspiring - enough to do it all again maybe?

Cairns could be a place to drive - I hired a car for two weeks when I visited and had a ball. New Zealand perhaps? Different parts of Tassie?

I hope car sickness wasn't an issue and I hope enjoyment was a good part.

It's a bit sad that the forum has wilted and people aren't here to chat to you okee. It's a time you could use a joke to read, a funny to view and a natter between friends to distract you from life for a few minutes.

The weather should improve though and blue skies are a natural pick-me-up for people so Coll's endorphins could be in better swing.

 

[okeedokee]

She had a great time foxi thank you. She travelled really well with the help of the steroids and the odd endone.....as well as the rest of the medications. Loved the antique shops too as she loves them. Saw the oncologist last Monday and they don't do much now.....just check the medications, that's all.
Thank you for asking and your interest. I wish I could reciprocate to you with all your probs, but I'm to flat for that, I'm sorry. Keep chin up and thank you again.

 

[misi]

Good to hear that the trip was a success.
All the best for Coll and you.

 

[okeedokee]

Latest news is sadder news. Not long to go now by the looks of things. She is on Fentanyl and a few other drugs.....Cannot walk and we have a hospital bed set up here at home for her and Palliative nurses here every day. They are so so good!
I won't be on here much, sorry. All the best to you all and thanks for your caring so far.
Ray.

 

[misi]

Latest news is sadder news.

It's terrible news, Ray.
Is she conscious?
I wish her an easy change of worlds, and for you all the best while she's fighting her unwinnable battle.

 

[TeeEm]

Our best wishes Okee.

 

[Guess]

So sorry Okee.. I hope I'm not sounding distasteful if I say, I hope that if she passes away, she does so peacefully . My thoughts are with you.

 

[misi]

How is Coll, Okee ?