Postby seasnail » Sat Aug 17, 2013 7:35 pm
Hi everyone.
I can't even believe I'm here, but happy to have found this place all at the same time.
Last week my fiance was diagnosed with Stage IV rectal cancer with mets to his liver (3) and a few small inflamed lymph nodes nearby.
He is in his mid fourties, in good shape, and had no symptoms up until a couple of months ago where his bowel movements were inconsistent and he had a bit of bloating/cramping. No appetite issues, weight loss, fatigue, etc. Just diarrhea which made it hard to leave the house. All preliminary blood and stool tests came back normal. It was the surprise of our lives when they even said the word cancer after his colonoscopy, and then that it was Stage IV. We've been together for almost 10 years and are both in complete shock. It's weird to think of our lives just a few weeks ago, where everything was normal and we had plans for marriage, children, and buying our first home. Now we're scared to even think of kids and he is worried that if we get married I will be 'on the hook' financially should anything happen to him. I am still stuck on the diagnosis all together and can't believe there's even the possibility that he won't be around. I don't even want to think of it.
Currently we are scheduled for tests a pet scan and a port placement next week. Then the following week he will begin Folfiri and Avastin. We had a previous family doctor that didn't have a specialty (he did colorectal, breast etc) that we were seeing who wanted to do Foxfox and Avastin but we switched to a cancer center with a better reputation and a doc who work specifically with this and are hoping we made the right choice. I don't know why he wanted to change the meds but how have people done on either of these combos?
Also as it is, he is going through a lot of pain in his rear. I think inside, where the tumor is, and his outer muscles because he's always clenching...he has to go to the bathroom (usually just gas/mucous) like every 15 minutes. He said the only place where it feels good is in water (showers, baths...sometimes with Epsom salt, the lake, whatever). Any suggestions on other relief? Can the doc prescribe stronger pain meds than over-the-counter Tylenol? Home remedies? I know that alcohol also makes him not have that pressure/feeling but I've heard that is worse for the cancer itself (especially mets in the liver).
Finally, anybody have general advice and/or can think of any questions we should be asking our doc between now and then? We've bought Anticancer and are trying to look into all avenues in terms of diets/remedies to assist with the chemo to give us the best chance and for him to feel the best (he'd love to be working during all of this). I know everyone is different with treatments, symptoms, reactions, etc but coming from a place where cancer was the furthest thing from our minds, any and all info is welcome.
Thanks!!
Caregiver to dh
Diagnosed 8/13 stage IV 3 liver mets 1 lobe age 46
8 rds Folfiri/Avastin/5FU 9/13-12/13
Rad 1/14 (28 days) w/ADAPT
Surgery 5/1/14 temp ileo
5/13/14 pathology, complete response in liver
6/14 ADAPT for next 1.5-3 years
7/14 clean scan
9/2/14 ileo reversal
12/14, 2/15, 7/15 clean scans, fingers crossed!