My mum has sarcoma cancer. She is in constant pain and now having severe panic attacks due to the waiting time to see a consultant about prognosis and treatment. She has gone from being positive to constantly talking about death and not eating or drinking. It’s proving hard on my family and mostly my dad. We are all just left in the dark with no light to follow.
Hi Sheff7
I’m so sorry to hear about your mum’s diagnosis and how it’s affecting her waiting for further information about it and her treatment. I can only imagine how hard it is for you, your dad and family to see her like this and to not know what to do to help. It’s great you got in touch with us.
Has your mum spoken to anyone about her pain? Has she been assigned a named nurse or cancer nurse specialist (CNS) at the hospital? If so, she can get in touch with them to let them know about the pain and the panic attacks and to find out when she can expect to hear from the hospital about next steps.
If not, perhaps your mum could speak to her GP about her pain and the effects of the diagnosis on her, to see if there’s any assistance they can give in the meantime.
If you’d like to find out further information about your mum’s diagnosis, or to chat through how your mum is feeling and coping at the moment, you could speak to our cancer information nurses any day between 8am and 8pm on our support line on 0808 808 0000 or on our live online chat via the Macmillan website.
Please do encourage your mum to get in touch with us too Sheff7. We are here to listen and provide emotional support on our support line or online chat. It could be helpful for her to talk about her feelings and get some support. And your dad may benefit from talking to us as well. Everyone’s support is individual and confidential.
It might also be helpful for you, your dad and other family members to have a look at a couple of booklets that Macmillan produces - cancer and relationships and talking with someone who has cancer to give more of an insight into how your mum might be feeling, about how you may be feeling and how to talk to and listen to her.
We’d like to be here to support you all Sheff7 so please do keep in touch and let us know how things are going for your mum. In the meantime, take care.
Remember you can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or by email.
