Hello.
This is my first post here. I'll try to update my signature later with all the details, but to hit the high points- after 2 years ( ) of intermittent bloody stools, my 41 year old husband finally got a colonoscopy in September. They found a large polyp that was positive for adenocarcinoma. The CT scan did not show any metz with the exception of a question of a tiny, questionable spot in his lung. He's been a firefighter for 17 years and no one at the hospital or cancer center was very concerned about it. He had a colon resection 2 weeks ago and they found a spot where it has spread to his liver. The nodes were negative (0/10) although the surgeon said they didn't get as many as he would have liked for whatever reason. So T3 N0 M1, I think. We briefly met with the oncologist after the post-op appointment but have another appointment with him Tuesday after they present his case to the tumor board. Right now it looks like port placement and starting chemo (Folfox) the week after Thanksgiving.
My question is, how can I best support my husband? We are both healthcare providers and understand that the statistics aren't good. How do I make him believe that he is not the numbers? He gets so caught up in the statistics and percentages. We have 2 small children and he's terrified of dying and that they won't remember him. I'm sure this is all a part of coping and the grief cycle. But what did people do or say to best support you when you were first diagnosed?
Thank you in advance for your help.
~Amy