struggling to get help

Hi, this is my first post, so I apologise if I'm posting an existing topic or I've posted to the wrong spot. My partner is 2.5 years into this diagnosis with bowel cancer. He is post-surgery and post treatment, however emotionally he has crashed in the last 4-5 months in a big way, and he is struggling to get any help in regards to counselling. He plucked up the courage to ask for him, which was a huge step for him. In the intervening months he has been pushed from pillar to post, been assessed at least 5 times, but not actual counselling itself, he is extremely depressed and I am pulling my hair out trying to find someone who will just give him ACTUAL counselling and not just make him repeat his fears and worries 5 times over, to different people and then leave him to sit and wait for the phone to ring. 

  • Welcome to the forum witsend although I'm sorry for the reason it has brought you here.

    It's great that your partner had come through surgery and treatment for bowel cancer but I'm sorry to hear that he is struggling emotionally at the current time. Many of our members who have made it through surgery and treatment after a cancer diagnosis will definitely understand what your husband is going through and will hopefully pop by soon to offer their advice and share their experiences with you.

    In the meantime I have found some information about counselling on our website that may help. Just click here to find out more. We have a list of bowel cancer organisations and counselling organisations that specfically cater for cancer patients that might be useful as well. It may help your partner to speak to others who have or had bowel cancer so you could try and find out if there are any support groups for cancer patients in your local area and see if he would be willing to attend.

    If you have any further questions do give our nurses a call. They are specialist cancer nurses and will be more than happy to discuss your partner's situation with you. If you're in the UK you can call them for free on 0808 800 4040 Monday - Friday between 9a.m-5p.m.

    I hope this helps.

    Best Wishes, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator