Newly a caregiver for my spouse with stage 4 colorectal cancer

Hi @sue678, what is your husband's current treatment plan? How is he doing? How are YOU doing?

My husband is on a triple therapy, comprising Lupron, Abiraterone, and Docetaxel. He just had his first chemo session last week. He is doing pretty well. But he is very tired and spends a lot of time resting. Fortunately, he is retired so he can afford to rest as much as he needs.

Any information you can give would be helpful. Thank you

I can’t imagine what it’s like to be a care giver. My husband took care of me and our two kids, and my sister moved in with us temporarily as I spent several months (3 hospitalizations over a 6month period) in the hospital.
I tried to be present for everyone, but the constant fatigue and just general feeling of being unwell was hard. I continued to exercise and push my body. I know my husband benefitted from counseling. It may be helpful to you and your kids as well.
Do you have a support group of friends who can take some things off your plate? Meals, things to keep your kids occupied, maybe someone to clean and do laundry once or twice a month? What do you do for self care? Maybe incorporate some extra things for yourself.
The initial stages can be overwhelming because there are so many unknowns for both of you. I was so fearful that I would die and leave my kids. But I found that trying to focus on just the necessities each day, and not allowing my mind to wander helped. I also got medications to help with my anxiety.

I am going through a similar trauma with my wife. Stage four colon cancer with severe met to her liver. Colon resection, ostomy, heavy chemo. The first weeks were very discouraging as she was told to get her affairs in order.
With support from friends and family we decided to travel to Mass General in Boston for a second opinion.
The liver surgeon cancer specialist there gave us great hope that curative surgery is an option if the chemo works at all. If the chemo doesn’t work as expected he plans to place a Hepatic Arterial Infusion Pump under her skin to boost a concentrated chemo directly to her liver artery. He is confident they can reduce her liver tumors to the point he can operate.
This gave us renewed hope and the difference in my wife’s condition improved dramatically almost overnight.
We still have a long road ahead but hope is a powerful drug of its own. I’m sorry I can’t comment about met to the lungs as we believe her lungs are currently clear.
You are strong enough to handle this - get a second opinion and treat it like problem solving

@sbelyea. Sending prayers and best wishes to you all. I am so glad you sought a second opinion. So important. How brilliant that your wife is now responding so well and that there other options still to try. I have read many testimonials from those who have gone through new treatments for liver cancer.

Hope is indeed a wonderful drug in its own right.

I was stage 4 appendix cancer in 2021 (my liver wasn’t affected) and currently NED. Hang in there and keep fighting 😊🙏❤️‍🩹

Thank you Isadora, we truly appreciate those prayers

I don’t know the names of the medications, but he is taking chemo daily and hormone inhibitors. He cut out sweets and is trying to eat clean. He was very tired for several months, but has regained strength and now walks several miles per day before going to work. He has an office job, but is quite demanding.

Bendiciones, no pierda la fé todo saldrá bien.

Hi, Where is your husband getting tested? Are you in Colontown.org?