Colon cancer metastasized to lungs: Husband severely depressed

Posted by lah @lah, Jul 1, 2020

hi all. Haven't been here for a while, although have been thinking about coming back. My husband was diagnosed with colon cancer 6 1/2 years ago. His cancer metastasized to both of his lungs 3 years into this nightmare. He has been on every treatment program for colon cancer, all the chemos, and immunotherapy. He is on a chemo with an immunotherapy treatment right now. Dr did the test and found out he has the wild kras gene.
I'm not sure I am saying all this correctly. Because I feel like I've been in a whirlwind totally helpless. He had a PET scan yesterday dr told us the treatment plan is working. still ! He will have 6 more treatments then another PET scan. If it is good they will do a lung biopsy and take out the biggest one. My question is any other caregivers dealing with the patient being severely depressed? It's getting worse. Sometimes He's like jekyll and hyde! Is this normal side effects?

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@opheli

Hello, I am a fairly new member here. My husband was diagnosed with colon cancer about a year ago. He had chemo last winter and then surgery to remove a large tumor from his colon in April. In June a couple small spots showed up, one on his lung and one on the liver. His team decided to treat him with chemo first, to try to prevent further spread, and then treat what remains with radiation intervention. So he is currently four rounds into the chemo. He does not have the strong side effects that he had last winter, but he also had an ileostomy bag at that time. However, he does seem depressed at times, and I sometimes have difficult time handling it myself. In one of your posts, you mentioned wanting to leave, or just run away. I know that feeling, and it, or course comes with shameful feelings. Life changes so abruptly. Between Cancer and Covid it’s been quite the journey. I do have good friends and a counselor who was recommended to me b

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So sorry you are having such a hard time!🥲Your wanting to run away is totally understandable! Do not feel bad about it. Having to deal with Covid on it’s own is overwhelming but to add cancer to the challenge is almost to much!🙄 and for your husband to face what he is facing must be horrendous poor man. You will go through this huge challenge as long as you face it together & hold each others hand go through it.
Mutual love & teamwork is of the essence here.
Best of luck
🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

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Going through what he is going through is enough to change his personality.. anyone s personality! Very hard on him and you!🥲 Compassion & love are the key words here! The best if luck to both of you 🍀🍀🍀🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

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@opheli

Hello, I am a fairly new member here. My husband was diagnosed with colon cancer about a year ago. He had chemo last winter and then surgery to remove a large tumor from his colon in April. In June a couple small spots showed up, one on his lung and one on the liver. His team decided to treat him with chemo first, to try to prevent further spread, and then treat what remains with radiation intervention. So he is currently four rounds into the chemo. He does not have the strong side effects that he had last winter, but he also had an ileostomy bag at that time. However, he does seem depressed at times, and I sometimes have difficult time handling it myself. In one of your posts, you mentioned wanting to leave, or just run away. I know that feeling, and it, or course comes with shameful feelings. Life changes so abruptly. Between Cancer and Covid it’s been quite the journey. I do have good friends and a counselor who was recommended to me b

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Opheli, I'm so glad that you have support and a counselor. Does your husband recognize his depression? Is he also seeing someone?

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@colleenyoung

Opheli, I'm so glad that you have support and a counselor. Does your husband recognize his depression? Is he also seeing someone?

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Colleen, I do think my husband recognizes that he is depressed at times. He knows that the chemo itself wreaks havoc with his moods and general overall feelings. He does not see a counselor, he does talk to friends and family members.
We saw his doctor yesterday and were told that his recent scan showed no new cancer, and the two small spots that he had are gone. We were both so thankful to hear that. The doctor said that there is a chance of those spots coming back. So I’m feeling relief, with one foot still in "worry mode." But I know that comes with the territory. He had one more chemo treatment yesterday, and they will do another scan in a few months. My husband perked up quite a bit with the news, in spite of the chemo, which of course he is never thrilled about. He spent several hours texting friends and co-workers about the news. I got a kick out of that because he is usually not much of a texter. Anyway, it’s a roller coaster, for sure. Thank you for letting me go on and on, here…. Even tho I have friends and family and a counselor to talk to…..there is something about speaking out to people on this Board that is very comforting to me. One Day at a Time 🌞

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My husband is depressed too.
He had a partial obstruction and the tumors are on lining of abdomen. No one seem to want to help him with the partial obstruction.

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Trying to get someone to take a look at my husband.
He has a partion obstruction and is losing weight every week.
Doctor seems to be confused. Help

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@cookidy

Trying to get someone to take a look at my husband.
He has a partion obstruction and is losing weight every week.
Doctor seems to be confused. Help

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Hi @cookidy Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Your understandably very concerned for your husband’s condition. I’m not sure what you mean by a partion obstruction. Did you mean a partial obstruction? Are you talking about a partial obstruction of a bowel? It’s very troubling to be losing weight weekly. Is he in pain? What tests has he had done to help diagnose his condition?

If you’d like to request an appointment with Mayo Clinic, I’m posting a link here: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

When you go to that page there is information to contact one of the 3 Mayo Campuses in the US; Rochester, Phoenix or Jacksonville, whatever is most convenient. You can call one of the numbers and the coordinator who answers the phone will be able to help decide what department would be most fitting for an appointment. They’ll also be able to tell you what is needed to submit with your request by way of records.

Has your husband been seen a larger teaching hospital?

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@cookidy

My husband is depressed too.
He had a partial obstruction and the tumors are on lining of abdomen. No one seem to want to help him with the partial obstruction.

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Hi Cookidy, I'm sorry to hear that your husband is not getting seen for the obstruction. Is he being seen at a large cancer center? What have his surgeon and oncologist said?

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@cookidy

My husband is depressed too.
He had a partial obstruction and the tumors are on lining of abdomen. No one seem to want to help him with the partial obstruction.

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@yannis, you are so good at advocating for your husband and getting answers from his cancer team. I’m wondering if you might have some words of encouragement and tips for Cookidy.

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@colleenyoung

Hi Cookidy, I'm sorry to hear that your husband is not getting seen for the obstruction. Is he being seen at a large cancer center? What have his surgeon and oncologist said?

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They aint saying nothing about obstruction. He keep going back to hospital. He went to cancer treatment centers of America in GA. But no ones doing anything about the obstruction.
Please help us. Well him.

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