waiting for diagnosis

[sandra]

Just found this web site and just need to get as much info as I can.

My husband has been ill since last October after a "tummy bug", he has lost over 2stone and is so so tired, (washing a couple of dishes exhausts him). He is also in alot of pain day and night especially when lying down. He does not want to eat and when I insist he runs straight to the toilet.

Anyway after many tests including cameras and scans he was told on 29/03/07 it may be cancer of the pancreas. So now we are waiting to be referred to Belfast for more tests.

Just wondered if anyone can tell me what to expect when we get to Belfast.

Sandra

[sandra]

Thanks for replying. Very hectic day, had phone call late this afternoon to say he has an appointment in Belfast tomorrow morning. We have to collect his notes from our local hospital on the way.

He hasn't been prescribed painkillers but I shall ask tomorrow as he will forget with all that is going on. He has been taking Creon since last Thursday and is managing to eat small amounts of food, he is also managing a couple of glasses of Complan each day.

He has had an endoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, after which we were told there was definately no cancer so this threat of cancer has come as a bit of a shock. He then had a CT scan and I presume this must be now why they think it is cancer of the pancreas.

Anyway a friend is going into Belfast tomorrow and has kindly offered to drive us to the hospital so hopefully we will know more tomorrow. We're off up to Donegal for Easter and the weather is looking good so that helps.

Many thanks again for your reply

Sandra

[sandra]

Had phone call on Wednesday to go to Belfast on Thursday, not good news. As expected my husband does have Pancreatic cancer and the surgeon told us he cannot operate, this was an awful shock and I was very upset. We are to be referred to Derry where chemo will be offered to give him "a few more weeks". When asked how long he has left we were told 4-12 months. So now just waiting to go to Derry. Our GP gave him morphine tablets yesterday so at least the pain has eased.

We are staying positive and plan to enjoy our last few months together.

Many of our friends have been to visit and I have told them they can only visit if they have a smile on their face!!!!

Thanks for the support, this web site has been a great help to me

Sandra

[sandra]

Thanks for reply. Decided not to go away for Easter as we have a 17 year old daughter and didn't want to leave her alone. Looking forward to lots of other weekends before he gets too ill.

Sandra

[looloo1]

Hi I am so sorry to hear of your husbands diagnosis.

I do hope that the pain is relievable and that you both enjoy some quality time together with family and friends. You take care of yourself too!

Regards

xx

[Guest]

Hi there. My Dad finally got the dreaded C news on Friday 20th April after months of the same pain your husband has been suffering. It was devastating as you hope and pray that it has all been due to something nasty they may have eaten. My dad is 67 and is like a frail old man now compared to how he looked before this all started around December 06. His health is pretty bad and he is severe diabetic so OP is no go. My heart goes out to you. I have an older brother and 2 older sisters and our lives have now changed forever. Good luck to you both. Lillian.

[sandra]

Hi to everyone

Tahnks for all your replies, it is such a support.

Lillian, so sorry to hear of your Dad's illness. My husband is 69 next month, he is alot older than me. I know what you mean about hoping it was something other than cancer. Pete is also looking very frail and he is so upset about losing so much weight as he has always been quite chunky.

I'm sure you and your siblings are a great comfort to your Dad, Pete's daughters visited from England last week and he really enjoyed having them here. My son has also been wonderful, as is our 17 year old.

We are just making the most of the time we have left.

Is your Dad being offered any treatment? We are expecting the Macmillan nurses tomorrow and hoping to see the oncologist in Derry soon

Please keep in touch and you and your Dad will be in our prayers

Sandra