Ourlas - partner has advanced terminal bowel cancer, found out prognosis could be 2 years. Struggling to process this news

My partner had terminal bowel cancer that has spread to his lungs, recently we were told he has the BRAFF mutation making the cancer more aggressive and not as good prognosis, last week the oncologist spoke to us and my partner asked for a time scale, they said it could be 2 years could be more , could be less , they don’t know .

Im still trying to process this, even though I knew the prognosis wasn’t going to be great it’s still a shock when your told a timeframe, my partner is very unemotional, he just gets on with it , but I’m really struggling , as are my two grownup children. 

I just wondered what other people’s experiences are on similar situations and any advice for trying to get through this nightmare we are being faced with would be really appreciated.

I just want my partner to try and enjoy the time he has left and I don’t want to be a blubbering emotional wreck all the time.

Jayne

  • Hi Jayne,

    I'm very sorry to hear of the incredibly tough time you are going through. I am sure this must be so difficult to process.

    It's good that you have reached out here for some support - try to get support from any and all avenues, as this will be what will be most helpful for you, particularly in terms of speaking to others about what's going on and how you're feeling.

    I hope that this forum can be of some help to you. My reply will give your post a little boost so a few more people should see it and hopefully you'll get more replies. You can also use the search bar at the top of the page to find other discussions and people to connect with.

    You may also wish to explore other options, such as Maggie's, who also have local support centres. Macmillan have a helpline if you want to chat at any point, including with regard to any practical matters.

    Speaking with friends and family can also be helpful - but it can also be difficult speaking to those close to you. And if so, hopefully some of these options can help.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Thankyou so much for replying to me, yes I am reaching out for support wherever I can , I’m lucky I have a good support network around me.