Diagnosis Finally Received

[jourdain2]

For Sqad and all you others who have cared and been interested in the mysterious and sudden illness which has hit Dave, my 68 yr. old Brother-in-Law.

I didn't think it was going to be good - and it isn't. I wish it had been quicker and he could have been spared so much pain and messing around.

I'd never heard of this:-
Mesotheoioma - a rare form of Asbestos Cancer. (I did know a fair bit about that because I lived for a while in Hebden Bridge in Calderdale and there was an asbestos factory.......)

Apparently it is not always caused by asbestos, but is associated with welding (car bodywork), which was Dave's job, although he became a specialist in the paint shop.

There has to be another biopsy to establish what stage he is at. I don't expect that it will be at the further end of the 5 mths. to 3 yrs. timescale he has been given, t.b.h..

This is devastating. He will be on morphine until the end of his life - not much use worrying about addiction now. I'm so angry and sad and want to cry. A hard-working grafter who started from nothing,almost illiterate since he switched off school after coming home for dinner and finding his mum dying (he made up for this lack). and ended up with his own garage.

My sister, understandably, doesn't want to talk right now (we arranged a conduit of news through my elder daughter) and it will probably be some time before she does.

I'd like to say thank you to you all, especially Sqad
Sqad - anything you know that could be of any help, please? Best to know where we are.

Thanks again, everyone,

[granny grump]

I feel for your brother in law and family jourdain2. I lost my brother to this awful disease. He was a school teacher.

[bednobs]

he needs to get linked into a hospice service to help with pain relief
he will (probably) be able to make an industrial disease compensation claim

[Bobbisox1]

Jourdain my thoughts are with you and your sisters family xx

[barry1010]

I'm sorry the results are not what you hoped for, jourdain.
No shame in crying. Take care of yourself

[Sqad]

Thank you Jourdain, that all now adds up.
Not surprised at the diagnosis but sorry for all concerned.
Depending upon staging it will be a matter of Chemotherapy and or Radiotherapy.

[Old_Geezer]

Indeed, thoughts with you all.

We all make our exit at some point; it is sad when it seems before we would expect though. May his passing be as comfortable and stress free as possible.

[retrocop]

I feel so much sadness,Jourdain, for you and your family. Keep your faith xxx

[maggiebee]

My nephew's wife wrote a book about this horrible disease after her mother died from it. My thoughts are with you and your family as you struggle to come to terms with this devastating news.

[jourdain2]

I can scarcely see the keyboard for weepy eyes. Thank you all. Thank you so much. xxx

[LadyCG]

I'm sorry to hear this, Jourdain. During my five years in Oncology I probably saw about two cases a year. It's a devastating diagnosis for the patient and their loved ones.

My thoughts are with you. x

[jourdain2]

Thank you too, Lady CG.

[Lie-in King]

My very best wishes to you all, ((jourdain)) x

[-SharonA-]

So sorry to hear Jourdain. My thoughts are with you. Stay strong.

[jourdain2]

Thanks L-i-K & Sharon. Human support means so much. xx to all.

[rowanwitch]

There was an asbestos works in Barking, so as a student nurse on the chest ward at Barking hospital I saw mesothelioma patients quite often. One thing our doctors did a lot was fit simple chest drains( just a bag with a double clamp to close when emptying) for the pleural effusions most of the patients developed. This helped a lot and reduced the number of inpatient admissions giving them more time at home with a better quality of life . I didn't realise it was rare until I moved out of the area.

[Patsy33]

Life can feel so unfair, cruel even, at times. Especially when someone so deserving of all that is good, like your brother in law, crushes your soul. I feel for you, Jourdain.
I hope the remaining time he has left, will be comfortable and pain free as possible. Love & strength to you and family x

[andres]

Thinking of you and your family, jourdain
So sad x

[jourdain2]

Again, deep thanks. The next step is another biopsy to establish whether chemotherapy or radiotherapy is the best treatment.

There is a complication - because he has a heart pacemaker, they can't 'put him out' and he has to remain awake through any procedures. My sister has spent the day trying to help him to be positive. As we must now be, more than ever.

He'll be prayed for by everyone tomorrow at church.

[cashier]

My thoughts are with you and your family jourdain. I hope your brother in law will be as comfortable and pain free as possible.

[jourdain2]

Again, thank you , Cashier. He has been in terrible pain for so long now. If only they can control it then things would be better. :)