The story so far ...

1 minute read time.

My name is Gill, I am 33. I grew up in the North West with the greatest parents in the world.

I am a fixer of things - people and problems and this is the story of how I am trying to cope with the biggest 'problem' that I cannot fix or mend or even paper over.

My mum was first diagnosed with cancer in 2005, it was uterine and she had a full abdominal hysterectomy. This was followed by radiotherapy, all went well.

The following summer she began to experience symptoms of an inner ear disorder, her balance went and she began loosing weight. In september she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. We thought at that point we had lost her.

She had surgery followed by chemo and radiotherpay. We went through the loosing the hair and sickness and things started to look up.

The following February she was diagnosed with lung cancer. This has since spread to include bone cancer and a further brain tumor. More chemo, more radiotherapy.

In the last few weeks she has started to deteriorate quickly. My dad is caring for her at home and my brother and I try to help as much as we can.

She is now bed ridden and in constant pain and is slowly loosing her sense of self.

I am sad, I am angry, I am scared, I am worried, I am powerless. I have so many thoughts and feelings running through my brain, that my head aches just from trying to keep up.

I don't know what to do - I don't know what to say - I cannot make this better.

 

Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi Gill, so sorry to hear your story. I would like to tell you there is a solution but sadly that isn't true. But there is help. You have made a start coming on here. People will empathise and give you support. You need help and we will try to help. What you need to do is contact MacMillan nurses for some help. Get as much care that you can to make your mother as comfortable as possible. There are many places to seek advice - GP, hospital, hospice, counselling. Keep going until you find one that suits you. There are so many people that have been through the cancer journey on this site. Someone here will be able to help. Take the good days as often as you can and don't beat yourself up too much if you think you've let her down. You haven't. Don't forget yourself and your family as well. Your father will need lots of help and when it is all over not only will he have a huge emotional hole to fill but a time one as well. I went through it with my mother and have recently taken over a year to get over radical surgery, chemo and radiotherapy. Hope this helps.

    Love

    Drew

    X

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hello Gill, sorry to learn of the rollercoaster you are all on at the moment.  Of course your don't know what to do  - there's nothing more painful than not being able to fix things.  All I can say is I agree with Drew above.  You are most welcome to come on here and express yourself and, although we may not be able to give you answers, we genuinely do read and listen to your feelings and honour them for what they are.  The old line "take one day at a time" is all I can say.  Make sure you tell your mum you love her and thank her for you.  Tell her whatever you feel - she's still your mum and you will be struck by her strength.  I wish your mum as well as can be and feel proud of the strength she has shown in fighting the black dog of cancer.  God bless to you all and welcome to the site nobody wants to join but everybody feels at one.  Ann x

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Morning Gill, I am so sorry that you find yourself here but you have made a good decision.

    When my Dad was diagnosed with cancer nearly 9 months ago this site was recommended to me but a friend and it was the best thing i could have done.

    The people on here have made me realise that there really are some amazing, lovely and brave people in this world.  Without the friends i have made on this site i could not have got through the last 9 months and when i lost my Dad in July their faith in me has not wavered, i have not been judged or criticised on my 'bad days' they have been here for me every step of the way because the friends on here are the people who understand.  

    Ok that over with, I am so sorry to hear of your moms journey, it sounds like you have all really been through it with various diagnosis's. Cancer is a vile evil disease that took away our choices but there is no need for your mum to be in constant pain. When my dad was like this the macmillan nurses acted quickly and after various trial and error with different drugs we opted for a driver into his stomach and this took dad completely out of pain. Which at the end of the day is all we want for our loved ones isn't it? for them not to suffer.

    Unfortunately no you can not fix this and yes it is normal to feel powerless, angry, scared and very very sad.  

    We will help you as much as possible and as Drew said you will all need help including your dad. I knew how it felt for me loosing my dad but i tried to imagine what it was like for my mum watching her beloved husband decline and have to nurse him, and it made me realise that no matter how strong she appeared to be she must be in complete pieces. She is doing ok though we are all there for her.

    Firstly get a macmillan nurse and get your mums pain sorted that is so important.

    Secondly enjoy every moment that you have her with you, do not waste a second of it.

    Thirdly do not ever forget that we are here for you whenever you need us.

    Sometimes just typing stuff into your blog helps.....just to get it out of your head, it does me anyway.

    Take Care Gill,

    Love to you and your family.

    Gosh i have rambled haven't i? Soz. X

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Thank Guys. We've got Macmilan in place and they are fantastic ... It's good to know that I've a place I can come to and just get it off of my chest x

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi Gill,

    What a sad story of your poor Mum how the whole Family must have gone through hell. I wish there was something I could do or say. But nobody can.

    I send you my Love Strength,Caring and Support.

    Take care and be safe Big Hugs Love Sarsfield.xxx