Hi Betsy, how are you going? Things not too good for us. My husband went into the hospice today, we were allowed to stay in as there is a spare bed next to his but tricky with the kids too so came home instead. We live an hour away so alot of travelling. We have been told the cancer is progressing at great speed and probably only 3 weeks or so now...only 44, so depressing. We will hopefully bring him home in about a week when they have stabilised his pain med and drained his stomach of fluid, such a sad time for all, thinking of you

Hello there, so sorry to hear you devastating news it's truly heartbreaking. Derek still at home and trinity nurse calling today to discuss stronger pain relief and Derek has requested to stay at home and pass away at home - but easier for us as we have no children it's absolutely dreadful for you and your family. I'm still just getting through each day and making the most of quality time in between sleeping and no pain - usually grab 10 mins here and there!!!! Anyway stay strong and positive and try  to remember your happy times and things you shared together and be glad you had your time together. Take care speak soon xxxx

This is my story too

My husband had been feeling tired and run down since Christmas but thought nothing of it. Thursday 6th Feb he came home from work complaining of back ache and had swollen feet and ankles. Over the weekend, his belly started swelling up. Monday 10th Feb, he saw the GP and was sent for blood tests and a stool sample. Bloods showed anaemia and abnormal liver function markers. Stool sample tested positive for traces of blood but nothing visible to the naked eye. A CT scan was ordered and an appointment with a gastroenterologist was booked. As luck would have it, both fell on the same day, Tuesday 25th February. A day that changed our lives forever. The CT scan showed a massive liver growth. Cancer on the colon and growths in the lungs. We were told then that the liver tumour was too large to operate on. That he was likely already past the point of being offered chemo.

Last weekend, his breathing deteriorated and he was taken into A&E. Lots of things suspected - infection of the ascites, blood clot on the lung, pneumonia He's still in hospital and Thursday just gone (12th March) we saw the oncologist who confirmed the info we'd had from the gastroenterologist - no surgery, no treatment, palliative care the only option and prognosis in weeks, not months

He's only 47. We've got two young daughters, aged 4 and 10. The bottom has fallen very quickly out of our world. I just want to get him home, to make the most of our remaining time together but it's looking less likely by the day

Hello there just read your post and I'm absolutely devastated for you and your lovely family it's truly heartbreaking. Very similar to my husband regarding symptoms and prognosis - he too initially had blood tests which showed anemic and high liver enzymes!! My husband asked the GP to test him for prostate cancer so A week later on the 31st Jan 20 further blood test resulted in the CEA cancer count being in the thousands (and should be below 10) and on examination discovered a large bowel/rector cancer and on feeling his liver could also feel legions. He was fast referred to the specialist within 2 weeks who requested CT scan and colonoscopy. He had CT scan on 15 Feb and colonoscopy on the 25 Feb where were informed the Bowel cancer had spread to the liver and the liver damage was fatal as it was two thirds diseased and as such would only have weeks left to live as you can not survive without your liver! Also it would cause more harm than good to offer any chemo etc. My husband decided he just wanted to spend whatever time he had left at home with me and that's is what we are doing. The trinity nurses have been in touch and call round to the house weekly at the moment but guess that will increase in the very near future as and when he requires nursing care. At the moment he can still get up and is managing to eat small amounts of food. He has started on the morphine tablets now every 12 hours so he sleeps a lot. We have come to terms with it but it's such a shock as it happened so quickly. The specialist said he would have had the bowel tumour for several years without knowing as he had no viable symptoms!! So so cruel - we only got married last year. Truly heartbreaking my thought and prayers go out to you and your family. Stay strong and take care xx

This is the CT scan conclusion. Also the type of cancer is an adenocarcinoma.

Deep rectal carcinoma with innumerable liver metastases, necrotic lymph nodes in the porta hepatis and tumour-affected
lymph nodes in the anterior mediastinum. Ascites and pleural effusion as possible representions of a peritoneal /
pleural tumour affection. 

Hi, I am in a very similar position to you, my girls are 8 and 12 and my husband is 44. He has been in  the hospice now for a week and is getting more frail every day. It hurts so much to see a healthy man wasting away into a skeleton, so awful for me and the kids to watch. He is in so much pain and they cant sort it, he has a pain pump and they have tried all sorts in it  it hes still in agony. This is the worst thing I have ever been thru in my life and i dont know how I will get thru it... the hospice is an hour away and I have noone to stay with the girls so have been driving in every day but he thinks now he may only have days left and isn't going to come home(  I think hes wrong, they said less then a month but we don't really know). I am going to try and go and stay tomorrow night and take kids with me., we are allowed to sleep on the floor. Not sure how I will feed my kids, a cafe but no cooking facilities and they have allergies to gluten so cant eat there. But he needs me and no sign of them letting him out till pain stabilizes ( which has had no improvement in a week). His feet and ankles are huge, stomach swollen like hes pregnant, they tried draining it but it came straight back. They've made it clear there is no hope, liver tumors taking over and growing aggressively, want to bring him home but they won't allow it...its a complete waking nightmare..