So, Went to my husbands oncology appointment today and it has been decided that they are going to stop his chemotherapy for now. The reason being that it has been shown on his CT scan that his bowel cancer has progressed into his pelvis and that he has a slight decline in his kidney function. I am absolutely numb and am in shock. I genuinely thought that the combined Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin were working but obviously this is has not been the case. Given that he fell quite ill 2 weeks ago the oncologist is reluctant to try him on any other kind of treatment at this time because his kidney function has decreased slightly. The oncologist thinks that this is quite unusual for this to happen through the treatment and more or less said it has never been known. He has a build up of fluid in his legs and his feet have began to swell a little. The oncologist examined his legs and he thinks there is a build up of fluid there and has given him water tablets to take for a week and to see him again in 2 weeks time when hopefully he will feel a bit better and they can maybe plan a new form of treatment. He said a slight nodule was spotted in one of his lungs but didn't seem too concerned about that. He has had what we consider to be a big drop in his weight he has gone from 133kg to 127kg which is a lot. He always has been a big chunky bloke and could do with losing some weight but not like this. We've even started to talk about the future now when he won't be here I have told him my wish already to move house. At the moment we live in an upper flat which has a main door and a staircase leading up to it and its been getting a little bit harder for him to manage the stairs and that was the first thing I said to him was we need to move. At first he wasn't for it and asked how he wouldn't manage the stairs and asked if I was a doctor then later he asked where would we go if we were to move and we would need to rent somewhere like assisted living somewhere because both of us are in our 60's and no way would we get another mortgage or may not be allowed one due to Jay's (my husband's) condition. Which is a catch 22 situation. We would need to pay rent because we would have savings from the sale of our house. I just do not want to be in this house when and if he eventually goes we have always said this if one of us goes the other would move elsewhere so while he is still here for ever how long that may be we are getting the ball rolling. I can't even think of Christmas now and keep wondering if he will be here next Christmas. My head is just all over the place just now and we can only hope for a miracle.
Vicky