Connecticut Widow With Stage III Lymphoma Raising Three Kids After Husband Loses Bowel Cancer Battle

“What are the odds of one couple getting different types of cancer?” Lindsey said during an interview with The Enterprise in March. “It’s probably like winning the lottery.”

There were mixed emotions at the time.

Lindsey’s disease was an unexpected and tragic occurrence but also had a five-year survival rate of 95 percent. And although the five-year survival rate for stage IV bowel cancer is only 40 percent, Richie had just learned that his tumor was shrinking in size thanks to the chemotherapy.

On top of all that, the family had just moved into a new home with their three children.

The couple both had a family history of cancer, and Lindsey admitted at the time that her husband’s battle had mentally prepared her in some ways as she started her fight.

“As much as I was in shock with Richie and his cancer, it softened the blow,” noted Lindsey. “Cancer wasn’t a foreign thing to me.”

The couple seemed optimistic a few weeks later as well when they shared an update on the GoFundMe page created by a friend to help offset costs as the pair both took a leave from their jobs at nearby Bridgeport State University.

Richie was getting ready to finish his final round of chemo and then have surgery while Lindsey started her treatment.

“I am slightly emotional today and will be hugging my babies a little tighter today,” wrote Lindsey.

The next update in late May contained more good news.

“It is the hope that Richie will go for surgery in early June. We have been hesitant to share as the surgeon needs to consult with the Richie’s specialist and his chemo doctor, as well as receive and review all scans,” explained Lindsey.

“I just finished my 6th round of chemo. I recently had a scan that showed my body is responding well to treatment. My affected lymph nodes showed that the cancer is almost all gone!”

She went on to say that the kids were responding well to the shift back home.

Things then took a turn over the next two weeks.

“Wanted to update everyone on Richie’s surgery; unfortunately, they were unable to go ahead as the tumor was essentially too big and was too involved in the intestine ‘it looks like a mushroom and has spidered, and the risk outweighs the benefit ‘ were his exact words to me,” wrote Lindsey in early June.

“It isn't the news or outcome we so badly prayed for, but it just means on to the next step !”

Richie passed away on Halloween. Lindsey is in remission.

“He fought so hard,” his niece Heather Demita told The Express. “He would have done anything to get better. But he never really was the same after that.”

Signs and Symptoms of Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma is a form of hematologic (blood) cancer that originates in the lymphocytes, which account for approximately 30 percent of the body’s white blood cells in most people.

The disease most commonly strikes young adults between 20 and 40, like Lindsey McQuade, or individuals over the age of 55. It is often swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin area that are the first signs of the disease.

Symptoms include:

• Severe itching
• Night sweats
• Fever
• Unexplained weight loss
• Persistent fatigue
• Lymphatic pain after consuming alcohol

What Are The Symptoms of Lymphoma?

Signs and Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer

Bowel cancer, also referred to as colorectal cancer, is the third most common cancer affecting men and women in the United States. It also kills more Americans each year than every other form of cancer except lung cancer.

Dr. Paul Oberstein, director, Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology Program at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center, tells SurvivorNet a few common symptoms of the disease:

• Change In Bowel Movements: Major and sudden changes to the size, consistency, or caliber of stool
• Change In Stool Color: Bright red or black stool is a sign that an individual should seek medical attention
• Abdominal Pain: Unusual discomfort or bloating of the stomach. In the case of women, pain is not related to the menstrual cycle.
• Sudden and Unexplained Weight Loss: A rapid drop in weight that is not the result of diet or exercise
• Anemia: Individuals who feel a general sense of malaise or are constantly tired or weak much more than is typical for them may want to consult a doctor.

Bowel Cancer Symptoms

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