Effing cancer is an effing effer, frankly
Discussion
Bernie_78 said:
First immunotherapy tomorrow, nervous but by so glad we're starting something as twiddling thumbs the last 2 weeks has been no fun.
Been warned it can get unpleasant, 50% chance of hospitalisation circulates my head a lot but well worth it if it gets rid.
Onwards!
I never had any immediate issues with immunotherapy, used to drive myself there, couple of long term effects since but none of horrible side effects.Been warned it can get unpleasant, 50% chance of hospitalisation circulates my head a lot but well worth it if it gets rid.
Onwards!
Got my 2 and a half year CT scan results today, still all good
Hope you have an easy time!
mike13 said:
I never had any immediate issues with immunotherapy, used to drive myself there, couple of long term effects since but none of horrible side effects.
Got my 2 and a half year CT scan results today, still all good
Hope you have an easy time!
I'm getting Opdivo/Vervoy, what did you have? I know ow everyone us different so hoping to be a lucky oneGot my 2 and a half year CT scan results today, still all good
Hope you have an easy time!
Bernie_78 said:
mike13 said:
I never had any immediate issues with immunotherapy, used to drive myself there, couple of long term effects since but none of horrible side effects.
Got my 2 and a half year CT scan results today, still all good
Hope you have an easy time!
I'm getting Opdivo/Vervoy, what did you have? I know ow everyone us different so hoping to be a lucky oneGot my 2 and a half year CT scan results today, still all good
Hope you have an easy time!
Opdivo or Nivolumab as it's also known.
An update on my dad who found out a couple of months ago about a tumor on the liver (also has cirrhosis).
They've just been to the hospital to discuss treatment, it sounds like they'll give him immunotherapy treatment, but it may cause side effects so they aren't sure if it'll work.
If the treatment does work then he may have 18 months or longer. If it doesn't work then he's likely got 6 months.
Goodness knows how they're taking this, especially my mother. Just have to try and remain positive, hope for the best and stay strong.
They've just been to the hospital to discuss treatment, it sounds like they'll give him immunotherapy treatment, but it may cause side effects so they aren't sure if it'll work.
If the treatment does work then he may have 18 months or longer. If it doesn't work then he's likely got 6 months.
Goodness knows how they're taking this, especially my mother. Just have to try and remain positive, hope for the best and stay strong.
TRD, my thoughts are with you and your dad.
My dad was diagnosed with liver cancer at the start of this year. His 80th birthday was in September and the medical staff prepared us to the likelihood that he wouldn’t see that birthday.
He did and I am really pleased that he is off to the UAE soon to watch the Abu Dhabi F1. He may be in a wheelchair but it is so pleasing that he is still able get out and live life.
Enjoy the time you have , make the most of it. You may plan for the worst but remember the medical prognosis is only an estimate, don’t let it get you down.
My dad was diagnosed with liver cancer at the start of this year. His 80th birthday was in September and the medical staff prepared us to the likelihood that he wouldn’t see that birthday.
He did and I am really pleased that he is off to the UAE soon to watch the Abu Dhabi F1. He may be in a wheelchair but it is so pleasing that he is still able get out and live life.
Enjoy the time you have , make the most of it. You may plan for the worst but remember the medical prognosis is only an estimate, don’t let it get you down.
Scrump said:
TRD, my thoughts are with you and your dad.
My dad was diagnosed with liver cancer at the start of this year. His 80th birthday was in September and the medical staff prepared us to the likelihood that he wouldn’t see that birthday.
He did and I am really pleased that he is off to the UAE soon to watch the Abu Dhabi F1. He may be in a wheelchair but it is so pleasing that he is still able get out and live life.
Enjoy the time you have , make the most of it. You may plan for the worst but remember the medical prognosis is only an estimate, don’t let it get you down.
Thanks Scrump, I'm trying not to dwell on things and try and stay positive, after all worrying constantly won't change anything anyway, and we just have to hope for the best. My dad was diagnosed with liver cancer at the start of this year. His 80th birthday was in September and the medical staff prepared us to the likelihood that he wouldn’t see that birthday.
He did and I am really pleased that he is off to the UAE soon to watch the Abu Dhabi F1. He may be in a wheelchair but it is so pleasing that he is still able get out and live life.
Enjoy the time you have , make the most of it. You may plan for the worst but remember the medical prognosis is only an estimate, don’t let it get you down.
TameRacingDriver said:
An update on my dad who found out a couple of months ago about a tumor on the liver (also has cirrhosis).
They've just been to the hospital to discuss treatment, it sounds like they'll give him immunotherapy treatment, but it may cause side effects so they aren't sure if it'll work.
If the treatment does work then he may have 18 months or longer. If it doesn't work then he's likely got 6 months.
Goodness knows how they're taking this, especially my mother. Just have to try and remain positive, hope for the best and stay strong.
Thoughts with you and family. I know my folks are putting on a brave face.They've just been to the hospital to discuss treatment, it sounds like they'll give him immunotherapy treatment, but it may cause side effects so they aren't sure if it'll work.
If the treatment does work then he may have 18 months or longer. If it doesn't work then he's likely got 6 months.
Goodness knows how they're taking this, especially my mother. Just have to try and remain positive, hope for the best and stay strong.
I'm 1 week after my first infusion, was fine until a takeaway curry (a very mild one) set off some stomach inflammation and nausea. Hope this means its working on the melanoma .
Forgive me for posting here as I haven't really contributed in here but my dad is back in hospital.
I posted a bit back about how he'd been poorly. Ended up in hospital where they operated on a bowl blockage which turned out to be cancerous. There was some shadows on his liver which turned out to be cancerous and then they found he had cancer of the lymph nodes. He's no spring chicken (80 in 2 weeks).
He's been having immotherapy as that was the least evasive considering he'd had a stroke a few years previous and balance and speech weren't his strong points.
He's now back in hospital as he has ascites (fluid in the stomach which is now pushing on his lungs causing breathlessness) so they are going to drain that off and hopefully that will make him more comfortable. He's not been eating much so weight has fallen off him and his balance is so bad now that he doesn't really move around his flat that much
A scan revealed the liver cancer had "progressed".
I guess its up to him now as to whether he wants to continue treatment. Whilst we are all trying to stay positive, we all know the writing is on the wall.
Having the wobbles myself and getting upset about it all, probably doesn't help that I also lost my mum to cancer back in 2015 and my nan back in 1997, so know what's coming.
Also doesn't help that my NHS admin job is very quiet at the moment, not much doing in terms of work but maybe the silver lining there is the opportunity to work from home more and maybe have a bit more flexibility in what I'm working. As my dad lives in Kidderminster and I'm in Stafford and Worcester hospital being a fair old run down the M6/5 but too much boring time in the office, somewhere i don't really want to be at the minute isn't a great feeling so going to see where the land lies with that tomorrow.
I think he will probably make Christmas (which i have no interest in at the best of times let alone now) but after that, I think time is going to be pretty limited.
Apologies for the long post. Feels better typing it out here rather than sitting here festering in my thoughts!
Best wishes to everyone on this thread
I posted a bit back about how he'd been poorly. Ended up in hospital where they operated on a bowl blockage which turned out to be cancerous. There was some shadows on his liver which turned out to be cancerous and then they found he had cancer of the lymph nodes. He's no spring chicken (80 in 2 weeks).
He's been having immotherapy as that was the least evasive considering he'd had a stroke a few years previous and balance and speech weren't his strong points.
He's now back in hospital as he has ascites (fluid in the stomach which is now pushing on his lungs causing breathlessness) so they are going to drain that off and hopefully that will make him more comfortable. He's not been eating much so weight has fallen off him and his balance is so bad now that he doesn't really move around his flat that much
A scan revealed the liver cancer had "progressed".
I guess its up to him now as to whether he wants to continue treatment. Whilst we are all trying to stay positive, we all know the writing is on the wall.
Having the wobbles myself and getting upset about it all, probably doesn't help that I also lost my mum to cancer back in 2015 and my nan back in 1997, so know what's coming.
Also doesn't help that my NHS admin job is very quiet at the moment, not much doing in terms of work but maybe the silver lining there is the opportunity to work from home more and maybe have a bit more flexibility in what I'm working. As my dad lives in Kidderminster and I'm in Stafford and Worcester hospital being a fair old run down the M6/5 but too much boring time in the office, somewhere i don't really want to be at the minute isn't a great feeling so going to see where the land lies with that tomorrow.
I think he will probably make Christmas (which i have no interest in at the best of times let alone now) but after that, I think time is going to be pretty limited.
Apologies for the long post. Feels better typing it out here rather than sitting here festering in my thoughts!
Best wishes to everyone on this thread
Sorry to hear that James, I'm in a vaguely similar position as my dad is also nearing 80. They have found recently something "sinister" in his prostate and also want to do a bone scan and various biopsies which are a bit of a worry, he has surgery in a few weeks to remove some suspicious growths on another part of his body but it doesn't sound good all combined and the picture is looking less than rosy. Having gone through cancer treatment myself in 2022 we know what to expect and I don't know whether this is making it harder or easier for him. He's a tough bloke and had a very tough childhood, but he sounds very (understandably) worried, it's early days of it all of course, but we are crossing everything.
Hi All
Just posting here to say thank to all the members who have contributed to this thread, its both sad, shocking, cathartic, uplifting and helpful all at once.
I'm posting incognito for privacy despite being a long time member - at the end of the summer I noticed a swelling in my testicle which unfortunately despite a quick Orchidectomy, I didn't catch in time to stop metastasis to the lymph nodes and lungs. Currently in the midst of a Chemotherapy programme, the 2nd of 4 sessions of 5days in hospital / 16 days recovery starts again soon. Feeling Ok at the moment but obviously very worried for both short and long term future, more for my wife and son than myself which feels mad to say.
Best wishes to all of you also going through this, its a real test of mental strength that's for sure.
Just posting here to say thank to all the members who have contributed to this thread, its both sad, shocking, cathartic, uplifting and helpful all at once.
I'm posting incognito for privacy despite being a long time member - at the end of the summer I noticed a swelling in my testicle which unfortunately despite a quick Orchidectomy, I didn't catch in time to stop metastasis to the lymph nodes and lungs. Currently in the midst of a Chemotherapy programme, the 2nd of 4 sessions of 5days in hospital / 16 days recovery starts again soon. Feeling Ok at the moment but obviously very worried for both short and long term future, more for my wife and son than myself which feels mad to say.
Best wishes to all of you also going through this, its a real test of mental strength that's for sure.
DETTRB26 said:
Hi All
Just posting here to say thank to all the members who have contributed to this thread, its both sad, shocking, cathartic, uplifting and helpful all at once.
I'm posting incognito for privacy despite being a long time member - at the end of the summer I noticed a swelling in my testicle which unfortunately despite a quick Orchidectomy, I didn't catch in time to stop metastasis to the lymph nodes and lungs. Currently in the midst of a Chemotherapy programme, the 2nd of 4 sessions of 5days in hospital / 16 days recovery starts again soon. Feeling Ok at the moment but obviously very worried for both short and long term future, more for my wife and son than myself which feels mad to say.
Best wishes to all of you also going through this, its a real test of mental strength that's for sure.
Hi DETTRB26Just posting here to say thank to all the members who have contributed to this thread, its both sad, shocking, cathartic, uplifting and helpful all at once.
I'm posting incognito for privacy despite being a long time member - at the end of the summer I noticed a swelling in my testicle which unfortunately despite a quick Orchidectomy, I didn't catch in time to stop metastasis to the lymph nodes and lungs. Currently in the midst of a Chemotherapy programme, the 2nd of 4 sessions of 5days in hospital / 16 days recovery starts again soon. Feeling Ok at the moment but obviously very worried for both short and long term future, more for my wife and son than myself which feels mad to say.
Best wishes to all of you also going through this, its a real test of mental strength that's for sure.
I'm sorry to hear this. There are a few of us on here that have had testicular cancer, which you may have seen from earlier in the thread. I was very fortunate in that mine was caught early and I elected to have a single round of chemotherapy post surgery, so I can empathise with your situation but can't offer much advice I'm afraid. I hope that your chemo continues to go reasonably OK, and I am sure that you are aware that the long term prognosis for TC is overwhelmingly good.
You mention the mental strength, and I agree. I have taken advantage of some post-treatment counselling which I have found helpful, but ultimately it is a hugely stressful experience and I have been told that TC in particular hits people quite hard, perhaps because it tends to affect younger men who may not have faced ill-health before.
Don't hesitate to post anything here that you feel like - I have found this thread to be very helpful, and I doubt that anything you are feeling or thinking hasn't been felt or thought by others before you.
You have my very best wishes.
billflin said:
Hi DETTRB26
I'm sorry to hear this. There are a few of us on here that have had testicular cancer, which you may have seen from earlier in the thread. I was very fortunate in that mine was caught early and I elected to have a single round of chemotherapy post surgery, so I can empathise with your situation but can't offer much advice I'm afraid. I hope that your chemo continues to go reasonably OK, and I am sure that you are aware that the long term prognosis for TC is overwhelmingly good.
You mention the mental strength, and I agree. I have taken advantage of some post-treatment counselling which I have found helpful, but ultimately it is a hugely stressful experience and I have been told that TC in particular hits people quite hard, perhaps because it tends to affect younger men who may not have faced ill-health before.
Don't hesitate to post anything here that you feel like - I have found this thread to be very helpful, and I doubt that anything you are feeling or thinking hasn't been felt or thought by others before you.
You have my very best wishes.
Thanks, I did read your experiences and noted that you had some support which is an option to me via my critical illness cover as well as the usual charities etc. Right now I have very supportive wife and family and am keeping pretty upbeat. I have some concerns about aches in my other ball, everything still 'works' so to speak which has 100% helped with the loss of part of me, but I think its the longer term prognosis that's hanging over me. Cannot control that now so just focussing on recovering after each chemo session, the initial week was tough with brain fog, tinnitus, slightly blurry eyesight and very painful stomach cramps, but after about 6 days all was much better. No hair loss or sickness so far so am mentally ready for the next one and feel lucky / guilty in some ways that it hasn't hit me as bad as some other folks.I'm sorry to hear this. There are a few of us on here that have had testicular cancer, which you may have seen from earlier in the thread. I was very fortunate in that mine was caught early and I elected to have a single round of chemotherapy post surgery, so I can empathise with your situation but can't offer much advice I'm afraid. I hope that your chemo continues to go reasonably OK, and I am sure that you are aware that the long term prognosis for TC is overwhelmingly good.
You mention the mental strength, and I agree. I have taken advantage of some post-treatment counselling which I have found helpful, but ultimately it is a hugely stressful experience and I have been told that TC in particular hits people quite hard, perhaps because it tends to affect younger men who may not have faced ill-health before.
Don't hesitate to post anything here that you feel like - I have found this thread to be very helpful, and I doubt that anything you are feeling or thinking hasn't been felt or thought by others before you.
You have my very best wishes.
DETTRB26 said:
Hi All
Just posting here to say thank to all the members who have contributed to this thread, its both sad, shocking, cathartic, uplifting and helpful all at once.
I'm posting incognito for privacy despite being a long time member - at the end of the summer I noticed a swelling in my testicle which unfortunately despite a quick Orchidectomy, I didn't catch in time to stop metastasis to the lymph nodes and lungs. Currently in the midst of a Chemotherapy programme, the 2nd of 4 sessions of 5days in hospital / 16 days recovery starts again soon. Feeling Ok at the moment but obviously very worried for both short and long term future, more for my wife and son than myself which feels mad to say.
Best wishes to all of you also going through this, its a real test of mental strength that's for sure.
Hi DettRB26 Just posting here to say thank to all the members who have contributed to this thread, its both sad, shocking, cathartic, uplifting and helpful all at once.
I'm posting incognito for privacy despite being a long time member - at the end of the summer I noticed a swelling in my testicle which unfortunately despite a quick Orchidectomy, I didn't catch in time to stop metastasis to the lymph nodes and lungs. Currently in the midst of a Chemotherapy programme, the 2nd of 4 sessions of 5days in hospital / 16 days recovery starts again soon. Feeling Ok at the moment but obviously very worried for both short and long term future, more for my wife and son than myself which feels mad to say.
Best wishes to all of you also going through this, its a real test of mental strength that's for sure.
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. From what I have been told by the team I am being seen by the cure rate is still very high if there is spread but I am sure you are well aware and have all the information applicable to your prognosis.
Like Billflin I was diagnosed with Seminoma in May last year but luckily there had been no spread on the initial CT Scan and subsequent MRI's, I too had the single dose of carboplatin to reduce the chance of recurrence. I am now under surveillance at The Royal Marsden and have my 2 year scan in May/June next year with bloods and X-Rays at 4 month intervals in between.
I have found the mental side horrendous, I really do feel for you. I have had counselling for a number of years, prior to the TC, as I have anxiety but it has helped me massively through this period.
For what it is worth my remaining ball ached for a while after the orchidectomy, I was told this is fairly normal, doesn't stop you worrying though and worth bringing up at appointments to put your mind at rest.
I wish you all the best with completing your chemotherapy. Please do use this forum, I have found it very supportive.
Well I come back here with sad news. My dad lost his battle this morning. He had gone downhill in hospital really and it became apparent he wouldn't be coming out.
Saw him yesterday and he didn't look good. Kidneys had started to fail, liver was buggered, looked very yellow, struggling to communicate due in part to the stroke he had a few years ago and the fact he was on oxygen.
He wanted to go home to pass away, so everything was arranged and fast tracked for delivery to home tomorrow but had the dreaded call from the hospital this morning that he had deteriorated overnight and to get there ASAP. Unfortunately it was a 20 Mile trip and by the time we had made it. It was too late, but at least we both saw him yesterday.
So yeah, title of the thread is very accurate.
To put the icing on the cake, the car him and his partner shared, and the car she was using to go to the hospital, the clutch went two days ago. Absolutely sods law it would go now of all the times in the world for it to go! Doesn't help that no one seems to want to take the job on. Can only thank the lord that I was around to help with transport duties. £250 shed peugeot to the rescue.
So I've now lost two parents before the age of 40 to this s
t disease. My dad would have been 80 on Sunday.
Can't express enough my best wishes to anyone and everyone going through this. It really is stter than st. Love to all.
Saw him yesterday and he didn't look good. Kidneys had started to fail, liver was buggered, looked very yellow, struggling to communicate due in part to the stroke he had a few years ago and the fact he was on oxygen.
He wanted to go home to pass away, so everything was arranged and fast tracked for delivery to home tomorrow but had the dreaded call from the hospital this morning that he had deteriorated overnight and to get there ASAP. Unfortunately it was a 20 Mile trip and by the time we had made it. It was too late, but at least we both saw him yesterday.
So yeah, title of the thread is very accurate.
To put the icing on the cake, the car him and his partner shared, and the car she was using to go to the hospital, the clutch went two days ago. Absolutely sods law it would go now of all the times in the world for it to go! Doesn't help that no one seems to want to take the job on. Can only thank the lord that I was around to help with transport duties. £250 shed peugeot to the rescue.
So I've now lost two parents before the age of 40 to this s
t disease. My dad would have been 80 on Sunday. Can't express enough my best wishes to anyone and everyone going through this. It really is s
tter than st. Love to all.
James_N said:
Can't express enough my best wishes to anyone and everyone going through this. It really is stter than st. Love to all.
F**k James, I am really sorry to hear that. My thoughts are with you and your loved ones. I realise that some random bloke off the internet might not mean much, but I hope you can gather some strength from the fine people on this thread, as I have during the roller coaster since the loss of my wife.tter than st. Love to all.Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff