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What a week


minime45

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Someone I work with had some bad news this week. She thinks her husband has colon/bowel cancer.

I say think because I dont think it has actually been confirmed. He went in for a colonoscopy on Monday and she had to leave work in a hurry as he phoned to say he needed to be collected and he said on the phone it was not good news.

 

They knew he had polyps, seemingly they found a tumour. But what I dont understand is I thought they couldnt tell if a growth was malignant or not before they had they biopsy results. She is absolutley convinced it is cancer. Maybe there is a chance that it isnt.

He will still have to have a major op to have it removed. That will not be pleasant.

 

 

It just struck me if ever there was a case of glass half full or half empty.....she would always be half empty. Dont get me wrong I am full of sympathy for her, but you have got to try ad be positive about these things, however bad the situation is. Maybe this seems flippant, but I think I have always been a half full person and certainly these last three years have taught me you have got to remain positive whatever the scenario.( It can be quite hard sometimes)

 

She had the day off today, so hopefully over the weekend they will talk about things and feel more "settled" about the situation. After all they dont know all the results yet and he has to wait for a scan to find the extent.

 

All in all they are in for a rough time over the next few months.

 

Mary

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Mary, it is just as traumatic not knowing as it is knowing with a lot of cancer situations. Being over optimistic can be the same as being in denial. I am a great weigher of circumstances. I think I am a realist and have a wait-and-see attitude, cheerful on the outside but often shaky on the inside. We have had a lot of cancer in our family and each encounter is different and has ts own set of difficulties to overcome.

 

All you can do is keep in touch with your work colleague and be patient with her as she expresses her concern. You've had a lot of practice with that here.

 

Sue.

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Sue,

I think the wait and see attitude is the only thing you can do in this situation. I feel she is the thinking the worse when it might not neccesarily be the case. So why put yourself through additional trauma until you know for certain what all the results are.

 

She has always been a bit of a drama queen, now she really has got something to be theatrical about. If that sounds unsympathtic I am sorry. When I have been talking about it to her only briefly has she mentioned her husband and how he is. I feel sorry for him in more ways than one. He is the one having to put on a brave face to try and calm down the three wailing women in his life....wife and two grown up daughters....one of whom is in Australia.

 

 

The point about optimism and and denial is interesting......thoughty to ponder.

 

take care

Mary

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