Husband Newly Diagnosed and am now in Despair

[kittycat]

Hubby had been unwell for a number of months but on a recently holiday in Yorkshire he was admitted to hospital with Jaundice. Within 2 days they had diagnosed the problem and the news was absolutely devastating - inoperable PC! He has taken the news reasonably well but doesn't want much information about his condition and seems very positive, but I am in despair! He is currently waiting to have a PICC line fitted and further CT scan prior to chemotherapy, but although his appetite is good at the moment, he only weighs 7st and I am worried that he won't be fit enough for treatment. I'm OK when I'm with him as I need to be strong to help him through this, but when I'm alone, I'm absolutely in pieces and don't know what to do as nothing seems enough. We're trying to rebuild our lives as best we can, but we were living the dream and now it seems we're in a nightmare. Sorry to sound so gloomy, but I just don't know what to do!!

[sandraW]

Hi kittycat, and welcome to the forum the place no one wants to be, but where you will get lots of help and support.

I think we all feel exactly the same, we pin on a coping face when they are around, but when alone as you say we crumble.its all so scary, the not knowing what will happen next, is the worst. Its good your husband has been offered chemo, its hard but my husband has had 23 bi weekly treatments over the last 18 months.and managed well on the whole.

PC is a devastating disease, and all we can do as one of our lovely ladies always says is keep on keeping on, take care sandrax

[Slewis7313]

Hi Kittycat and welcome to the forum. The diagnosis (My tumour is also inoperable) takes all of us by shock and it can take a little while to get your head around the illness and what can be done. The fact that your Hubby is being offered chemo would suggest that he is considered fit enough to tolerate it. A critical factor with weight is Enzyme supplements....has our Husband been offered these, usually in the form of Creon tablets which ensure nutrition / energy from food is properly absorbed.

Other than the support in this forum, you can phone the PCUK helpline during working hours and get excellent, qualified advice on any aspect of Pancreatic Cancer.

Good luck

Steve

X

[Cathy]

Hi Kittycat,

I am sorry to hear your news. We will all know how you feel. My partner was diagnosed December 2012 with inoperable advanced PC.

You can be sure that you will get a lot of good support from the people who post oh here. And as Steve suggests, the support nurses are here during the week and can either be called or emailed. You will get lots of great advice from them.

Keep posting on here. More than anything it will help you feel you aren't alone.

The very best if luck for his upcoming treatment. I hope he responds well

Cathy xx

[Sueoliver]

Hi Kittycat,

I am sorry to hear about your husband. I can honestly say this forum has been fantastic for me. Friends and family are great but the people on here actually understand and are supportive. The nurses are also contactable during the week and they offer some great advice.

Try and stay positive. There are some positive stories on here they are not all sad!

Ask as many questions as you can and don't be afraid to ask!

It's great he is being offered chemo and hopefully you will get some good results.

Stay positive and post on here if you need any advice or support.

Take care. Sue x

[Guest]

Hi Kitty,

Sorry to hear about your husband. As others have said, this forum is absolutely great. People in ' real life ' cannot understand what we are going through, and how things can change so incredibly quickly one way or another.

This forum can give good support.

I hope you find it comforting and informative.

Leila. xx

[kittycat]

Thank you all so much for your support, I've been reading these boards for a couple of weeks since Hubby was diagnosed and have found a great deal of information on them which is helping me to support him and make life as easy as possible for both of us - I can't tell you what a bolt out of the blue this has been! He now has most of his forthcoming appointments in place - next week he goes for one to one on the process of chemo, the week after it's the fitting of the PICC line and the Oncologist and then a date for chemo, so it's just the chemo date and that should be in about a fortnight. He's just started on Creons and Forticips which will hopefully build him up and make him strong enough for the treatment and he is more positive in his mind which can only be a good thing. Everyone is being so kind, I can't believe it, thank you.

[LMD]

Hi Kittycat

Sorry to hear of your husbands diagnosis - it's good he is keeping positive and appointments are in place. As has already been said, the specialist nurses can be e.mailed and/or telephoned for advice if and when you need it and this forum is also full of helpful information and support from others...

Thinking of you and sending lots of love and strength xxx

[kittycat]

Well, we haven't had too bad a weekend - out of 4 days we had 2 where we could go out, just down by the river or to friends, but 2 where Roger was really bad and spent quite a lot of time either asleep or feeling really poorly. Are things likely to improve when he starts the treatment - I know he may be ill on some days but can we expect more good days than bad - my goodness, this is tough but it's so good to be able to talk to people on here who know what it's like! Hopefully today will be another good day!

Sue

[jay]

Hi Sue, sorry you've had to join the forum but it has been a totally life line to me over the last year and a half. I have made a lot of friends and the Nurses are just brilliant and only a phone call or e mail away.

When my husband was on chemo on the good days he did the gardening, decorated the computer room.

Take care

love Jayne

xx

[Guest]

Hi Kittycat, how are you and how is your husband doing?