How to cope, husband's lung cancer has spread to brain

I no there is lots of people in the same situation as I  am find my husband has been fighting lung cancer for two years he has a tumour never smoked but yesterday we was told it's gone to his brain I just don't know how to cope with it now my family are so supportive but I feel so alone.

  • Dear willert . I truly am sorry for the devastating pain you are all suffering, it is so cruel and unbearable. I know this because my husband 60,and brother 52, passed away from lung cancer jan ,and feb this year . My world is in bits . You have a terrible time ahead , I am so sorry to say this. Losing your husband is so devastating. My brother fought cancer for years , since a teenager, but it went to his lungs 2 &1/2 years ago , the same time my husband was diagnosed, they were both incredibly brave and fought hard to stay with us . My brother had four tumours in his brain, went to Newcastle for lazer treatment, didn't work . My husband was stage 3b on diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, nothing worked , he worked up to first lockdown, but then had to shield, that's when he really deteriorated, it went to his brain . He began falling over as lot , then we were told he had a very aggressive tumour at the top of him lung , a pancoast tumour, which basically invades your body so fast and so aggressively, he was in agony, had morphine, methadone , steroids, loads of other tablets, because diabetic, he couldn't get out of bed or do anything for himself. I cared for him at home . He was in and out of the hospice, but wanted to die at home . I still didn't take in that he was dying . Christmas Day he stopped eating, he couldn't take his meds . It was awful, he had a catheter fitted , he fought and on the fifth January they put the driver on , it didn't help him , he had nurses out all night for pain and secretions . Dreadful, they fitted a second driver for methadone, I never slept from Xmas , the strength you find . Heartbreaking. His heart was going so fast , he was gurgling, so me and my daughter in law, lifted his pillows , so he was sat bolt upright, but as we did he took a large breath and stopped , I said no darl I haven't sat you up to die , he took two more breaths , and he passed, but honestly he had a smile on his face , as if the pain had lifted , I felt my life drain away from that moment. He was cremated on the 25th jan , and my brother passed on the 3 feb , I believe he felt ok to go , after my husband passed . I can't tell you , you will feel ok or that you won't cry every day , I've just started saying I take every day as it comes . But I cry constantly, and I sleep with my husbands ashes , it's a comfort to cuddle them and talk to him , we have had loads of signs , true signs to let us know he's here . I get comfort in that . I'm so sorry for pouring all this out . You must take every minute of every day and make memories, I believe we will be together again , but it's the pain of not having him here with me , it's all consuming. But nobody knows how it feels until they go through it , which is so very sad . I am sending love and strength to you . I hope I haven't upset you , that honestly isn't my intention, it's just such a really awful dreadful disease, cruel, for the person, and the family. Be kind to yourself, people told me that.  When I felt guilty eating and sleeping, but you need your strength, to be strong for your husband. Take care . 

  • Ohh lassie 

    my ️ Stopped  I read this you have gone through so much with your husband and brother my husband of 33 years has had chemotherapy radiotherapy just finished his  6 sessions immunotherapy this is when  he has had his first seizure 2 weeks ago  3 days ago his  dr said it had gone to his brain  so will take every day at a time thank you for you reply

  • I truly hope you find strength and comfort on this site , you find a lot of people are going through the same emotions as you . At the time it is surreal, you find yourself asking why us , honestly you will be able to gather strength to cope , family and friends will want to be there for you both , let them in , you will need their love  and care . I am so so sorry that you both are going through this , I know my husband was really scared , I feel so sad that we can't rewind the clock . Life can be so cruel. I have made sure we talk about them daily , just something small , even in jest to the grandchildren,  memories are what life is about. But I haven't really accepted that it's happened yet , still in shock. If you need to rant or talk , please feel free to message at anytime, it helps just to put it out there . Take care. 

  • Hi love sorry to her about your hubby may I ask how he got to find out about is lung cancer has my friend  had a normal chest X-ray for lung cancer but northink shows up. Was it a normal X-ray.

  • Hi hun yes 2 years a go tomorrow he had a little cough only had it for 2 weeks so I sent him to the dr were they did a x ray the same day 2 days later dr ask him to come back in they had seen a shadow she said it may be nothing or something think so we were sent to hospital were they confirmed it was a tumour the sen him for a more intense one  so he had a 35 day of treatment morning chemo afternoon radiotherapy weekends off that didn't work so they put him on more treatment in the results is were we are to day waiting for another scan to see what's next I hope this helps a bit to understand a little but remember every one person is different I found this out by listening to other going through the same as my husband please take  care