Welcome back to the forum Peakay. It's great to hear your son is still in remission although I'm sorry that your husband may now be dealing with his own cancer diagnosis.

I'm also sorry no-one was able to get back to you before your husband had his triage telephone call the other day. I hope it went ok and you were able to get some much needed answers but if you would like to discuss any of this further with one of our cancer nurses you can give them a call on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m. They're very easy to talk to and will do all they can to address your queries and concerns.

I hope some of our members who have received a similar diagnosis or cared for someone that has will stop by soon to share their experiences and advice as well.

When you're feeling up to it do keep us know what happens. We'll have our fingers crossed for a good outcome.

Kind regards,

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Steph, thank you so much for responding. He had the triage call yesterday, blood test today. Nothing definite from the call. As I was typing this, he’s had a call from the hospital, an appointment tomorrow morning, they suggest he takes someone with him.

I know the next 24 hours are going to be tough, but we are here for you Peakay and are sending you both all our strength and support.

I hope this guide we have on how to cope with waiting for news will help to steady your nerves as well.

Good luck, and whatever happens, you are not alone.

Kind regards,

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Thank you, I’ve had a look, he is actually quite good at compartmentalising things. I will come back tomorrow whatever. Thanks again, you’ve always been so supportive.

Hi, Steph, well, it’s definitely cancer, NET. It has spread ro the liver, 4cm, and the bowel. He has a nuclear scan on 29th June, I think to see if it’s anywhere else, and is to do a 24 hour urine test. He will then be referred for possible surgery and treatment. Any advice welcomed.

I'm so sorry that cancer has been confirmed Peakay. 

You and your husband must be contending with a lot of thoughts and emotions right now but as I've mentioned before you have our full support and we will be by your side on every step of this journey.

You can find out more about Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs) on our website but if it would help to have a chat about this with one of our cancer nurses, do give them a call tomorrow on the number I gave you in my first reply.

I really hope some of our members who have received this diagnosis will stop by soon to share their experiences and advice but in the meantime, be kind to yourselves and take all the time and space you need to process the news you've been given.

Kind regards,

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Thank you, Steph, he’s very upbeat, we are supposed to be away for all of September and October, he’s more worried about losing that. Probably just his coping mechanism.

i would love to hear other people’s experiences, thanks again.

Hello Peakay,

l would be on thin ground commenting on NETS spread to bowel and liver as mine was from colorectal tumours,But the upheaval to mind and life would bear a close similarity.

Positivity is your best friend and if you can combine that with a quiet stubborn determination and reduce self stress it will stand you in good stead. The early realisation that you cannot change the journey ,only how you travel it and perhaps the ultimate destination will be your most important contribution to your future treatment.

The only thing in your control is to bring forward the best stress free patient to give the medical team the best possible chance to their treatments of working..Its difficult to dismiss doubts over treatment and outcomes and all too easy for them to eat away at you ,so the trick is to face up to all possibilities at the outset and then dispose of them and focus on arming your mind with the thoughts that will support you into your future.

In my case l faced up to that ultimate possibility early doors, but realised my best and only chance of surviving a stage 4 bowel with fast moving spread to liver, was to be focused on what l could bring to the party, and  dispose of all trivial baggage.

It helped that as a livestock farmer l still had the needs of my charges to care for and that certainly drove me forward along with selling a guesthouse and hostel and building a smaller home on our land for my wife to be able to manage should l not be around. So yes a reason to keep moving forward albeit slowly and considered is a helpful ally to your cause.

l am now 12 years out from my original diagnosis with so much water having flowed down my stream and have lived life experiences to the full ,both the good and the bad,and have been more than repaid for the bad and the years l lost through demanding treatments, l look and feel younger now than immediatley pre tratment even though carrying the permanant aftermath of the treatments, so l guess what l am trying to tell you is that all possibilities potentially lie in the future, your role is to present your body and mind in order to be able to avail yourself of them.

 My best wishes go with your husband and yourself as you step forward into your unknown,

David