Stressed out - husband has advanced bowel cancer and is a hospital in-patient

My husband has advanced bowel cancer. He was a fit and healthy person prior to his diagnosis. he remained fit and well even after his first session if chemo last year. He has since had scans etc and eventually had some radiotherapy at the end of May 2026. Since then he has become very tired, very breathless and in pain going to the toilet. Last month he was admitted to the cancer hospital with "an infection". He was kept in overnight, given antibiotics intravenously then discharged with antibiotics tablets. No follow up was done.  A couple of weeks later he had an appointment with GP who admitted him to hospital with low blood oxygen levels.  That was 2 weeks ago. He is still in hospital with a chest infection and on high dosagee intravenous antibiotics but he isn't making any improvement. His blood pressure is in the low side and he is on water tablets now as his feet and legs are swollen. I am so drained and stressed out as I cant see the situation getting any better.

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  • Hello Auntiesand,

    its a hard place to occupy watching a loved one suffer and feeling helpless to have any control of future outcomes.Living life between the pit of dispair and the horizon of hope becomes a pressure cooker for the mind and a tiring slog on the body.

    Whilst you are never able to detach yourself from reality, you do need to find yourself some form of temporary escape in order to recharge yourself sufficiently to stay in the struggle.Their is no guilt involved in finding moments of self freedom,just a lot of commonsense and freedom from the crushing everyday.

    Their is always more than one sufferer in any cancer diagnosis, be sure to look after yourself so you can look after the other,

    best wishes from one that pulled back from the brink of a stage 4 colon journey,

    David

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  • Hello Auntiesand,

    its a hard place to occupy watching a loved one suffer and feeling helpless to have any control of future outcomes.Living life between the pit of dispair and the horizon of hope becomes a pressure cooker for the mind and a tiring slog on the body.

    Whilst you are never able to detach yourself from reality, you do need to find yourself some form of temporary escape in order to recharge yourself sufficiently to stay in the struggle.Their is no guilt involved in finding moments of self freedom,just a lot of commonsense and freedom from the crushing everyday.

    Their is always more than one sufferer in any cancer diagnosis, be sure to look after yourself so you can look after the other,

    best wishes from one that pulled back from the brink of a stage 4 colon journey,

    David

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