Husband has terminal oesophagus cancer

May 2023 after many long months of waiting to be seen and having biopsies and scans my husband of 55 yrs old was diagnosed with terminal oesophagus cancer. He has undergone a 6 cycle of chemo. Through this he has lost  weight.  In nov he had a scan tumour has shrunk a slight increase of 2mm in lymph node. He was looking great eating very well and feeling positive. December he started boaking at food or if eaten was sick...he has the build up drinks and does slip at these thtough out the day, he has now lost from nov 8kg , hes had a very sore back and he found a lump on his ribs this week and is awaiting an emergency scan , he is taking anti sickness tablets and pain killers.Tonight when I ordered food he became tearful and very anxious  i assured him he did not need to eat this food. Please advise me how to help him its very hard to watch and stressful. Our lives have changed so much i always cooked hearty meals and we always enjoyed socially going out for meals. He's always been quite and never really has opened up  to discuss any of his thoughts. I am struggling!

  • Hi ya. Sorry to read about your husband.   It’s crazy and sad how so many people have this terrible illness. 
    my husband sleeps really well at night now but  is still tired all day.  Is your husband on steroids?  Mine is but takes them in the morning because if he takes them in the afternoon, he can’t sleep properly. 

    Maybe speak to his consultant re the sleeping problem as they might be able to give him something.  I feel like every day now is a challenge for the men in our lives and us because all we want to do is make it better and easier for them. 


    we must look after ourselves too, I make sure I walk the pups every day for a break and listen to music a lot.  I hope you get the results you need from his scan.  Let’s keep talking everyone as we are not alone

  • Thankyou so much for replying . He is on steroids but only for 3 days after his chemo/immunotherapy begins then no more till the same on next  cycle .After day 1 it's tablets at home .Our world has turned upside down with this and the emotions floor me mainly as I'm trying so so hard to be positive for him but I'm a softy and can't hide my feelings very well . Many many times we have a cuddle and a cry then pick ourselves up and move forward . Hope all goes well for and thankyou again xx

  • Keep your chin up x 

    if we cry, so what… it’s better than bottling it up. This is one of the hardest things to go through and unless you have this situation going on, you would never understand how hard it is.  
    I can remember watching the advert on the tv stating one in three will have cancer, and dismissing it as it will never happen to us. Sadly it has, so I’m living one day at a time and if I get upset or laugh a lot, then that’s ok with me.  Try and take one day at a time and one set back or one good thing at a time xx  keep well 

  • I will and bless your heart for listening 

  • <span;>Oncologist yesterday weight  loss a total of 22 pound lost since 15th nov  to yesterday, dietician  gave a tin of powder to increase calorie into food  just need to try and get him to eat. Cancer is in skin bones and spot on liver, oncologist discussed a 4 (3 wk) cycle chemo but did say through this will be more prone to infection and possibly sepsis, hair will definitely fall out and nails damage also reminded us it is progressive and thats 1 yr now but for many he wd not suggest this treatment he said he is young and generally fit ..... gave all details away of treatment for us to read over oncologist will see my husband next week to ensure he is fit for this treatment and hear his opinion on this once he has had time to process it.

  • How’s things going? X 

    hope you are ok 

  • Is so much sleep normal when having chemo , my husband never sleeps more than 2 hrs at a time but its on and off all day abd night pretty much xx he's very weepy too x thankyou for listening and hooe you are ok xx im just so lost 

  • Hello, sleep won't do him any harm his body and mind is going through a lot, and whilst he is resting you rest too to build your strength to keep going. I am not sure how long your husband has had his diagnosis and how far into treatment he is, wither he is still able to eat take each day as it comes every day is different some can be good and very positive. X

  • Diagnosis since September lovely but I see so much change , they are talking of changing his chemo now , im glad , this one  is wiping him out xx thankyou for listening to me xx 

  • Been going through similar since husbands diagnosis May 23, I am here to listen I know how you are feeling don't feel your alone I hope you have good support around x