Today I received a phone call from the specialist cancer nurse at my local hospital with the news that bowel cancer has been diagnosed.
I already half knew. The colonoscopy I had a week ago showed a polyp that the endoscopist said looked very suspicious.
Somehow I have to work my way through this. I have an appointment with the surgeon next week and I'm told there will be a 4-6 weeks wait for surgery. I will be doing prehab during that time.
My main concern is not me. I am caring for my husband who underwent radical cancer surgery having an oesophagectomy 5 weeks ago. His recovery is estimated at 4-6 months.
It looks very much like my surgery/recovery is going to coincide with his follow up chemo. Neither of us has age on our side. We are both 76, and I have to be able to care for him. My family have been brilliant all this year taking hubby to all his appointments and transporting me to visit while he was in hospital. I feel awful that I am going to have to rely on them again for transport and support.
Is there anyone I could talk to about managing the double whammy and how to cope when neither of us are fighting fit.
Sorry for the long post, but I don't want to be a burden on my family.
