My husband who was diagnosed with metastatic rectal cancer in September last year, has been struggling with a small bowel obstruction for about 7 weeks now (has an ileostomy). He has no quality of life (pain, vomiting & distension). He has lost a great deal of weight and is now below 50 kilos, has little energy and looks dreadful.
Tomorrow he is having surgery. The surgeons "best case scenario" is that they will be able to resect the small bowel without complications, then two weeks of recovery, with him coming home on a normal diet. After his wound has healed they expect him to start on chemotherapy. All this with a view to an extra six months with us!
And that's the 'best case' scenario.
If there are complications, if he can't handle food, if he isn't deemed ft enough for chemo - then how long - less than six months.
I know he has to have this surgery. If he doesn't then we lose him faster and he has no chance of coming home first.
I always knew this was a possibility, on diagnoses we were told one to two years. And this 'best case' scenario means he'll have made it just to one year. i guess hope and optimism can lead to dissapointment.
Now i'm facing widowhood, lonliness and single motherhood much sooner than i had hoped. And just how am i supposed to manage a career as well!