Husband broke down last night

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DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:24 am

I'm sorry you and your husband are going through this and hope his surgery goes well!*hugs*
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

mpbser
Posts: 953
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:52 am

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby mpbser » Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:43 am

Thank you, all, for reading my post and weighing in.

We just can't seem to catch a break. The liver surgeon could not do the "chip" of the left lobe and the RFA of the right lobe that was planned for today. He called me to tell me this just as the colorectal surgeon was getting started on the colon resection. I'm waiting for that to finish as I type this.

Basically, the tumor on the left that he thought could be "chipped" out (something that can be done laparoscopically) was too large to remove that way (and apparently was not a candidate for RFA) and can only be removed surgically in open surgery. So, husband needs to come back to MGH for ANOTHER surgery, and this time it will be open.

Will update more later. CANCER SUCKS, and that puts it mildly. This is hell.
Wife 4/17 Dx age 45
5/17 LAR
Adenocarcinoma
low grade
1st primary T3 N2b M1a
Stage IVA
8/17 Sub-total colectomy
2nd primary 5.5 cm T1 N0
9 of 96 nodes
CEA: < 2.9
MSS
Lynch no; KRAS wild
Immunohistochemsistry Normal
Fall 2017 FOLFOX shrank the 1 met in liver
1/18 Liver left hepatectomy seg 4
5/18 CT clear
12/18 MRI 1 liver met
3/7/19 Resection & HAI
4/1/19 Folfiri & FUDR
5/13/19 HAI pump catheter dislodge, nearly bled to death
6-7 '19 5FU 4 cycles
NED

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:47 am

I'm so sorry the liver surgeon couldn't do the "chip" of the left lobe and the RFA of the right lobe that was planned for today!*hugs* I hope his colon resection goes well!*hugs*
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby NHMike » Mon Aug 21, 2017 12:16 pm

mpbser wrote:Thank you, all, for reading my post and weighing in.

We just can't seem to catch a break. The liver surgeon could not do the "chip" of the left lobe and the RFA of the right lobe that was planned for today. He called me to tell me this just as the colorectal surgeon was getting started on the colon resection. I'm waiting for that to finish as I type this.

Basically, the tumor on the left that he thought could be "chipped" out (something that can be done laparoscopically) was too large to remove that way (and apparently was not a candidate for RFA) and can only be removed surgically in open surgery. So, husband needs to come back to MGH for ANOTHER surgery, and this time it will be open.

Will update more later. CANCER SUCKS, and that puts it mildly. This is hell.


It feels like cancer is about disappointments - time, energy and effort consuming stuff.

Hopefully the remainder is uneventful along with the recovery.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

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LPL
Posts: 651
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2016 12:49 am
Location: Europe

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby LPL » Mon Aug 21, 2017 3:29 pm

mpbser,
Totally understand the feeling! Disappointed is a polite word. I hope your DH will recover fast from the surgery today.
I said I understand, because at my DH's 2nd surgery (open) it was planned to take care of the liver at the same time. Did not happen. Oh it felt like... :cry: He had to have 4 chemo first and then a 3rd surgery (open) and then 8 more chemo. But after reading other members stories I feel grateful that his liver mets were resectable.
Sending strength to you both. /LPL
DH @ 65 DX 4/11/16 CC recto-sigmoid junction
Adenocarcenoma 35x15x9mm G3(biopsi) G1(surgical)
Mets 3 Liver resectable
T4aN1bM1a IVa 2/9 LN
MSS, KRAS-mut G13D
CEA & CA19-9: 5/18 2.5 78 8/17 1.4 48 2/14/17 1.8 29
4 Folfox 6/15-7/30 (b4 liver surgery) 8 after
CT: 8/8 no change 3/27/17 NED->Jan-19 mets to lung NED again Oct-19 :)
:!: Steroid induced hyperglycemia dx after 3chemo
Surgeries 2016: 3/18 Emergency colostomy
5/23 Primary+gallbl+stoma reversal+port 9/1 Liver mets
RFA 2019: Feb & Oct lung mets

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Shana
Posts: 401
Joined: Sun Jul 30, 2017 9:45 pm
Location: Sonoma, CA

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby Shana » Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:34 pm

mpbser wrote:Thank you, all, for reading my post and weighing in.

We just can't seem to catch a break. The liver surgeon could not do the "chip" of the left lobe and the RFA of the right lobe that was planned for today. He called me to tell me this just as the colorectal surgeon was getting started on the colon resection. I'm waiting for that to finish as I type this.

Basically, the tumor on the left that he thought could be "chipped" out (something that can be done laparoscopically) was too large to remove that way (and apparently was not a candidate for RFA) and can only be removed surgically in open surgery. So, husband needs to come back to MGH for ANOTHER surgery, and this time it will be open.

Will update more later. CANCER SUCKS, and that puts it mildly. This is hell.



My heart goes out to both of you, I hope his recovery is smooth and you get a break from hell. Cancer takes a lot out of the patient and the entire family. I've been on the roller coaster for 8 months now. Everyone here understands what you and he are going through. Wishing you the very best, will be waiting to hear some positive news. Yes, Cancer sucks big time!
DX - 12/16
MSS - KRAS wild
Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma at splenic flexure
Stage IV CC with liver mets
5FU - Failed twice - 1/17 and 3/17
Irinotecan + Cetuximab: 8/17
Irinotecan and Erbitux ran it's course. CEA rising
Primary tumor invaded tail of pancreas and spleen. Liver mets major concern
Y-90 radioembolization on 9/17/18, liver enzyymes have dropped. 10 Radiation treatments to primary tumor completed too. CT scan Nov to assess overall situation...

TXLiz
Posts: 249
Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2016 3:31 pm

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby TXLiz » Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:53 pm

Sorry the surgery wasn't successful. That's disheartening to say the least.

You are a great champion for your husband, he is very lucky in that regard.

Take care and hopefully the next surgery will be successful.
Vomiting and blockage 9/19/16 46 y F
R hemi colectomy 9/20/16
Stage 3 B CRC, located in cecum
3 out of 16 lymph nodes positive
perineural invasion/lymphovascular invasion
infiltrating, mod differentiated adenocarcinoma with a mucinous component
separate tumor nodules present in pericolonic adipose tissue
MSI-high
Baseline PET scan clear 9/16 CEA 0.5
FOLFOX 10/16- 3/17
April 16th, CT scan clear. CEA 1.1
Lynch "inconclusive"
Colonoscopy 10/5/2017 clear

mpbser
Posts: 953
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:52 am

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby mpbser » Wed Aug 23, 2017 11:36 am

Thanks, everyone. The liver surgeon came to visit husband this morning and I was there for the conversation, thankfully. There is a lot of information to digest but right now we have to take things one day, even one hour, at a time. He's getting out of the hospital tomorrow and we have a 4+ hour drive home. Once he is home and able to get decent sleep, his head will be clear enough to take it all in.
Wife 4/17 Dx age 45
5/17 LAR
Adenocarcinoma
low grade
1st primary T3 N2b M1a
Stage IVA
8/17 Sub-total colectomy
2nd primary 5.5 cm T1 N0
9 of 96 nodes
CEA: < 2.9
MSS
Lynch no; KRAS wild
Immunohistochemsistry Normal
Fall 2017 FOLFOX shrank the 1 met in liver
1/18 Liver left hepatectomy seg 4
5/18 CT clear
12/18 MRI 1 liver met
3/7/19 Resection & HAI
4/1/19 Folfiri & FUDR
5/13/19 HAI pump catheter dislodge, nearly bled to death
6-7 '19 5FU 4 cycles
NED

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LPL
Posts: 651
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2016 12:49 am
Location: Europe

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby LPL » Wed Aug 23, 2017 1:29 pm

One hour, one day at a time sounds like a good plan.
I hope getting home tomorrow will bring peace of mind.
Sending good vibrations and healing thoughts. /LPL
DH @ 65 DX 4/11/16 CC recto-sigmoid junction
Adenocarcenoma 35x15x9mm G3(biopsi) G1(surgical)
Mets 3 Liver resectable
T4aN1bM1a IVa 2/9 LN
MSS, KRAS-mut G13D
CEA & CA19-9: 5/18 2.5 78 8/17 1.4 48 2/14/17 1.8 29
4 Folfox 6/15-7/30 (b4 liver surgery) 8 after
CT: 8/8 no change 3/27/17 NED->Jan-19 mets to lung NED again Oct-19 :)
:!: Steroid induced hyperglycemia dx after 3chemo
Surgeries 2016: 3/18 Emergency colostomy
5/23 Primary+gallbl+stoma reversal+port 9/1 Liver mets
RFA 2019: Feb & Oct lung mets

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LeonW
Posts: 358
Joined: Sun May 03, 2015 4:59 pm
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby LeonW » Wed Aug 23, 2017 5:55 pm

mpbser wrote:liver surgeon could not do the "chip" of the left lobe and the RFA of the right lobe that was planned for today. He called me to tell me this just as the colorectal surgeon was getting started on the colon resection . . .

Are you saying that the colon resection was also cancelled, that you're driving home without anything having been done?

Take care, best wishes
L
Dec 2012 - CC 2 unresect liver mets, CEA 41.8 (MM 65yrs)
Jan 2013 - colectomy @ spleen 2/26 nodes IVa T3N1bM1a
Feb-Jul - 1x Xelox-7x Xelox/Avastin, shrinkage from #3
Aug - 2x PV embolization (both failed)
Sep 2013 - R liver resect, 25d hosp (liver failure/delirium, lung emboli, encephalopathy), no living cancer (pCR)
2014/15 - recovery, scopy: 2 polyps
2016 - new town/life
2018, scopy: 2 polyps
2018/20 low (1.0-1.4) CEAs/clean CTs: 4x2014, 6x2015-17, 3x2018-20
next June 2021!

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby NHMike » Wed Aug 23, 2017 9:17 pm

LeonW wrote:
mpbser wrote:liver surgeon could not do the "chip" of the left lobe and the RFA of the right lobe that was planned for today. He called me to tell me this just as the colorectal surgeon was getting started on the colon resection . . .

Are you saying that the colon resection was also cancelled, that you're driving home without anything having been done?

Take care, best wishes
L


Could you go home two days after a resection? My surgery calls for 3-4 days in the hospital afterwards but a resection could be simpler.

A trip like this is a lot of work. The drive, staying at a hotel, parking, etc. Sometimes the hospital rooms have a sofa for relatives to sleep in (Brigham and Womens had these in their cardiac care rooms) which can make things a little easier. Caregiving is tough, tough work.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

mpbser
Posts: 953
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:52 am

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby mpbser » Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:03 am

Leon, The liver plan was aborted but the colectomy happened. When the colorectal surgeon told us on Tuesday that he might go home the next day (Wednesday), he was still in excruciating pain, hadn't had a bowel movement, had only passed one little tiny toot of gas, no one had been using a stethoscope to check his peristalsis, so it seemed to us that going home under these conditions would be wrong. Actually, husband was really pissed at the idea so that set me off. I didn't say anything but when my blood boils, my facial expression tells it all. Anyway, the resident and surgical team was awesome about it and made sure that they checked in with him yesterday to see if he was ok to go and he was not. He said "maybe tomorrow" referring to today. So he spent last night there. The day yesterday went very well. He had a bowel movement in the afternoon and the pain was brought under control.

They are going to make sure that he gets discharged today before noon so I can pick up his meds at the hospital pharmacy, get him, and then return to the hotel to check out and get our dog. I can check out by 1pm, so everything is working out, amazingly. Otherwise, I would not be able to handle both having the dog and doing these things at the hospital at the same time b/c apparently the wait on line at the hospital pharmacy can be 30 minutes or so. Too hot to leave the dog in the car.

Mike, MGH charges $400 for a private room. Those are the only rooms that allow overnight guests. Insurance doesn't cover it. We are of very modest financial means so that is way out of our reach.
Wife 4/17 Dx age 45
5/17 LAR
Adenocarcinoma
low grade
1st primary T3 N2b M1a
Stage IVA
8/17 Sub-total colectomy
2nd primary 5.5 cm T1 N0
9 of 96 nodes
CEA: < 2.9
MSS
Lynch no; KRAS wild
Immunohistochemsistry Normal
Fall 2017 FOLFOX shrank the 1 met in liver
1/18 Liver left hepatectomy seg 4
5/18 CT clear
12/18 MRI 1 liver met
3/7/19 Resection & HAI
4/1/19 Folfiri & FUDR
5/13/19 HAI pump catheter dislodge, nearly bled to death
6-7 '19 5FU 4 cycles
NED

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby NHMike » Thu Aug 24, 2017 5:25 am

mpbser wrote:Leon, The liver plan was aborted but the colectomy happened. When the colorectal surgeon told us on Tuesday that he might go home the next day (Wednesday), he was still in excruciating pain, hadn't had a bowel movement, had only passed one little tiny toot of gas, no one had been using a stethoscope to check his peristalsis, so it seemed to us that going home under these conditions would be wrong. Actually, husband was really pissed at the idea so that set me off. I didn't say anything but when my blood boils, my facial expression tells it all. Anyway, the resident and surgical team was awesome about it and made sure that they checked in with him yesterday to see if he was ok to go and he was not. He said "maybe tomorrow" referring to today. So he spent last night there. The day yesterday went very well. He had a bowel movement in the afternoon and the pain was brought under control.

They are going to make sure that he gets discharged today before noon so I can pick up his meds at the hospital pharmacy, get him, and then return to the hotel to check out and get our dog. I can check out by 1pm, so everything is working out, amazingly. Otherwise, I would not be able to handle both having the dog and doing these things at the hospital at the same time b/c apparently the wait on line at the hospital pharmacy can be 30 minutes or so. Too hot to leave the dog in the car.

Mike, MGH charges $400 for a private room. Those are the only rooms that allow overnight guests. Insurance doesn't cover it. We are of very modest financial means so that is way out of our reach.


Glad to hear that the resection got done and that he's feeling better.

I find that doing things in Boston can be quite a challenge in logistics.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

ashima2016
Posts: 36
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2016 10:56 am

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby ashima2016 » Thu Aug 24, 2017 9:53 am

[quote="mpbser"][/quote]

Try to get some rest when you can, even 15 min or 30 min. There is a lot on our shoulder as caregiver, we need to take care of ourselves.

Hope your trip back home smooth.

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LeonW
Posts: 358
Joined: Sun May 03, 2015 4:59 pm
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Re: Husband broke down last night

Postby LeonW » Thu Aug 24, 2017 10:03 am

mpbser wrote:Leon, The liver plan was aborted but the colectomy happened.


Thanks for confirming. Am happy that it seems to have helped getting his pain under control. Let us know what your docs come up with next.
Take care / greetings to DH
L
Dec 2012 - CC 2 unresect liver mets, CEA 41.8 (MM 65yrs)
Jan 2013 - colectomy @ spleen 2/26 nodes IVa T3N1bM1a
Feb-Jul - 1x Xelox-7x Xelox/Avastin, shrinkage from #3
Aug - 2x PV embolization (both failed)
Sep 2013 - R liver resect, 25d hosp (liver failure/delirium, lung emboli, encephalopathy), no living cancer (pCR)
2014/15 - recovery, scopy: 2 polyps
2016 - new town/life
2018, scopy: 2 polyps
2018/20 low (1.0-1.4) CEAs/clean CTs: 4x2014, 6x2015-17, 3x2018-20
next June 2021!


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