General Chat

For me. My mother in law has to go for a COVID test on the 2nd before she goes in for treatment on the 5th. COVID tests as I know they are horrible as I went for one but thankfully I have a chest infection.

I know the treatment will prolong her life by 10-15 years but it’s horrible. The alternative is to remove a kidney which is definitely worse.

For those who don’t know my mother in law has a form of cancer called NETs and my mother in law is now 66. The treatment will give her a chance at an almost normal life but it’s horrible Nuclear Radiation treatment. It means she’ll be radioactive for two weeks. The alternative isn’t any better though and at least this gives her a chance of a normal life expectancy as she’s desperate to have a grandchild she can have a relationship with.

I am sure that to her it is worth it. an extra ten years is a good reason for having it, nasty though it may be. All you can do is helpt her through it by suggestions to make her as comfortable as possible. I assume that is two weeks in isolation if she is radio active? I wish her well and a good recovery.

Thanks Ann.

My mother in law is in isolation for two weeks so the camp site my in-laws are living on in the motor home are letting my mother in law use something they call a shepherds hut. I assume it’s some form of glamping pod.

My in-laws don’t have a house by choice and haven’t for several years. Nine months of the year they live in a static caravan 40’ by 16’ and three months at a different site in their motor home.

A shepherds hut I think is a fairly small wooden hut up steps like the old shepherds used to use when looking after their sheep, they are quite popular I think if you google it you will see a photo. They are quite expensive to buy.

I expect you know about unborn babies and the effect of radioactivity, Tawny.

Be careful and steer clear if there's even the slightest chance you could be pregnant.

Edit: as the patient wants grandchildren, I am sure she will understand the distance between you for the short while necessary.

My Aunt in her late 70s needed to have a hysterectomy 2 years ago and had chemotherapy, now cancer free and back to normal. I hope your mother in law has a full recovery too.

My sister had radiation treatment (Iodine) for her thyroid many years ago, which I don't think they do now. She had to be very careful, contact with young son, different utensils etc. for a while which was difficult but manageable .

As the shepherds hut is at a campground I’m assuming the camp site rent it out.

I’ve just checked the site online and the shepherds huts sleep two people, contain full cooking and washing facilities and each have their own tv.

My mother in law has already been on the phone saying she can’t me for a few weeks just in case.

Radiation treatment on the 5th and then a new stent fitted in the kidney two weeks later. The tumour in the kidney grew from 8mm to 18mm in a year hence the new treatment. Diagnosis was first made 8 years ago but NETs does not behave like other cancers so who knows what the future holds.

Dear Tawny

Hello

Sending you and your family caring thoughts.

Take gentle care
Much love
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Such a stressful time for you all Tawny, and especially for your mother in law, but hopefully it will be the start of a better quality of life for her and hope for you all.

Lizxx

My mother in law is now halfway through her radiation treatments and having to get the kidney stent changed two weeks after every radiation treatment is causing more problems than the treatment.

As she is radioactive for two weeks after every treatment she and her husband have to stay apart for that time.

I don’t know about other areas but here thanks to The Ann Edgar Charitable Trust Neuroendocrine Tumour Support. Without their help and support who knows where we’d be.