Good on you Leesa, you keep mad at it, until it decides it is not welcome, and leaves, wombat4 ... View more

Please accept my sincere condolences for the lose of your mum. I lost my wife 21/12/11 under similar circumstances, although it was fluid build up brought on by liver failure, I was holding her hand and talking quietly to her, her breathing became laboured and then stopped,I saw the light leave her beautiful eyes, it was the most tragic, devastating moment in my whole life, but you know what, I am now glad I was there with her at the end, we had been married for 40yrs, and she knew I was there, she did not pass away alone in a hospital bed on her own, I love her dearly. that means a lot to me. I,like your dad now live in a house on my own with just my memories. The Cancer Council offer support for people that have lost loved ones, and I am now attending counselling.Also look for the group Solace in the net, they are a group of people that have lost loved ones, they get together and speak of their grief, and we cry, it helps to be with people that are going through the same, they understand. I am attending the meetings. wombat4 ... View more

Hi BobH, My wife was diagnosed with cancer late 2009, she had been retired for 1 year, retiring at the age of 55. The news is devastating, that moment when you are told, the world goes from one of colour to one of grey and dark. I have heard the saying that life is a journey, I felt that my wife and I had gone to sleep one night, and somehow had switched tracks from one of sunshine to one of brambles, prickles and undergrowth that was difficult to get through. How the hell did we end up here ?, here I used to think. But you are not alone BobH. This site is a good supportive site with people going through what your family are going through. Contact the Cancer Council for more support for you and your family, they offer a range of practical and emotional support in the form of counselling When you go to see the health professionals take a note book and pen, you and your wife will not be able to remember everything you are told, so write it down, names of treatment, medication, get handouts, become involved in your wifes treatment, learn the side effects ( if any ) and put in place anything you can to lessen them,gentle reflexology is calming.Work as part of the team looking after your wife. Understand that your wife may get tired from the treatment, learn to cook, if you cannot already, do the washing, housework,pay the bills on time, etc. I gave up my part time jobs to look after my wife, but our kids had already left home so, it was probably easier. Above all be supportive, and be there for her, she does not deserve this, nobody does. Be strong I wish your family well. wombat4 ... View more

Hi countrychick, I will just qualify part of my last post. When I wrote the main criteria for a liver transplant is the cancer is in the liver, I should have also added and not anywhere outside the liver wombat4 ... View more

Hi countrychick, My wife was diagnosed with bowel cancer in Febuary 2010. Liver cancer as just that, is reasonably rare and confined to the liver.The metastatic lesions relate to them travelling from elsewhere and setting up in another organ.The lesions in the liver would have bowel cells in them, thats how they can tell if they are secondaries, metastatic. One of the main criteria for a liver transplant is that the cancer is in the liver. They could not operate on my wifes liver lesions as they were too close to the main arteries, she had chemo. Radio Frequency Ablation, may be possible, as well as the radioactive glass beads procedure as well as surgery and chemo, so you do have a few options. Take care wombat4 ... View more

Hi Mazsa, My wife had neuropathy in her hands, but only a slight tingling, she was on Folfox and its the Oxaliplatin that causes it as you probably know, she had 8 cycles of Folfox. Thankfully It never got to her feet as yours has done, changes in ambient temperature can start it, car a/c, sitting outside, Fridge / freezer should be out of bounds if possible, keep gloves handy as some shops have cold a/c, try to keep away from the freezer ares in shops because that can be an instant temp drop of some 10 degrees I was also concerned about dryness in her skin, particually hands / feet, so every night for one hour for 2 years, we would sit down on the couch with her feet on my lap and I would GENTLY massage her feet with Sorbelene. She would do her hands. I am not sure if this helped prevent the neuropathy from increasing, but it didnt get to a point that caused a lot of discomfort. It certainly prevented any skin cracking and dryness. Dont forget to mention the acupuncturist and the amino tabs to your oncologist. Best wishes wombat4 ... View more

Hi Tim Sorry to hear of your bad news, news like this can get you down at times.My wife had liver lesions and the Folfox regime certainly helped in reducing the size. One was 118mm as a sphere when found, the treatment reduced it to half as well as reducing the other 2 lesions in size. Read up any possible side effects with the new treatment and put things in place that will help you with them. Good luck with the new treatment, and stay in your fighting mood. wombat4 ... View more

Hi Belinda, This is a good site to talk to people who are going through the same or a similar cancer illness. It is very difficult for yourself who was probably just cruising along with life one moment, the next moment everything is upside down and you wonder how the hell did I get here. Your family will be feeling the same, and relationships do change in these situations, mostly for the better. People are less inclined to take other family members for granted,and reach out for them. What they would like to say is, I wish in all my heart that this was not happening to you, I love you and will do all I can to help you. Sometimes the first move may need to come from you, a kiss, a hug, a cuddle, they are as scared as you are at the moment, unsure of how things will be. good luck with your treatment. wombat4 ... View more

Hi jsbach, The specialist would not have booked you in without any good reason, They are so busy and cannot contact you personally, thats why you have been asked in, they can be arrogant at times, although I have never met one like that, they just try and do their best for their patients. When you see her ask her the reason, and it is usually not high markers on BTs that are of concerns`but trends. When results that we have been involved in are on the table niceties can sometimes take a second place to practicalities, get well, keep well. I understand how you feel, but try to be calm wombat4 ... View more

Good luck and good progress for the future to you and your husband Jillian wombat4 ... View more