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terminal bowel cancer

MrsTuby
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My husband was diagnosed with Terminal Bowel Cancer 11 months ago at that time he was advised he had approx six months to live. He has surpassed that I’m glad to say. 
However over the last few weeks he is getting what I would call his legs giving way and on occasion's fallen. After one such occasion on Thursday where he took me down with him 
we have gone visited our GP and she is arranging blood tests and a CT scan but as this has happened slightly again over night when he was getting up and back from bathroom and today when he went to sit up at lunch table I’m wondering if this is something common or not. Can you give any advice or information please. 

THANK YOU 

AND KIND REGARDS 

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    Hello MrsTuby,

    its the waiting for tests that gets to you since the problems are now and the answers are in the distance. Given that your husbands falling seems to be more than a one off he needs to rise and move in stages allowing a few moments time in between to allow his body time to adjust rather than trying to do it in a one.

    Forward planning for an action that has previously been commonplace throughout a lifetime does not come naturally neither, so easier said than sometimes done.

    hope things improve for you,

    David

  • Hello and thanks for posting

    I'm sorry to read about your husband's situation. This must be an incredibly difficult time for you both.

    General weakness and legs giving way can happen in advanced cancer and could be due to a number of things such as the body getting weaker and losing muscle, low blood pressure, dehydration, changes in blood chemistry (blood tests will check this).

    Since your husband has fallen again , it's probably best to contact the GP again or the palliative care team if he has one, and letting them know so they can hopefully review him sooner and offer extra support.

    I’m not sure if your husband is being supported at home by a community palliative care team, often they are known as Macmillan nurses. They are experts in controlling cancer symptoms and can provide emotional support to you both. If he doesn't have a palliative care team involved in his care, he could ask his GP or hospital team to refer him.

    I hope this is of some help.. Give us a ring if you would like to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Kind regards,

    Celene

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