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Stroke victim with cognitive impairment; lung cancer and metastatic disease in the bone diagnosed at same time

SusanKitty
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My 86x year old father had a stroke 10x days ago and the MRI and CT scan that confirmed the stroke also found lung cancer and metastatic disease to the bone (T3 vertabrae).  We have been told he cannot have a biopsy yet because he is medically unfit because of the effects of the stroke.  He has been under the care of the stroke unit, the cancer unit and the respiratory unit in the hospital and we all found communication with the various doctors to be horribly complicated.  Our big challenge in the family now that Dad is back at home is how much our Dad understands or not about what is happening to him...and how much we should try and ensure he does understand?  How much we should remind him, insist he talks about the cancer diagnosis, how much we should repeat etc?  He lives at home with his 85x year old wife who has mobility issues and is partially sighted, unable to care enitrely for herself (Dad was her carer).   Carers visit twice a day for Dad...to help with his personal care...and we are making sure one of us stays overnight all the time at the moment.  We know its all early days for everyone and we will have lots to learn and adapt to but this very basic question of how much he understands is a problem and we hoped you would have some advice?

  • Dear  

    Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to the online community, I hope you find it supportive.  My name is Gillian and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.

    I am sorry to hear about your dad’s recent stroke and lung cancer diagnosis, this must be a worrying time for you all. It is understandable you want to know how best to support your dad going forward.

    It must be challenging and upsetting to know how much to keep telling your dad. After a stroke a person’s ability to think and communicate depends on the part or parts of the brain affected. Communication can be challenging, the Stroke Association has some useful information for supporting your dad and yourselves as caregivers.

    Given your dads new cancer diagnosis it may be a good support to have a Macmillan nurse or input from community palliative care support team. If your dad wishes some community input, then we would encourage you to contact his GP or Clinical Nurse Specialist and ask to be referred to the community palliative care team.

    This team can help support people at home and many people find this kind of support reassuring and invaluable to have in place. This team can also liaise with your dad’s GP about any support or medication changes he may need going forward.

    Supporting someone with an advanced cancer can be rewarding, but it can be tough at times too. So, it’s equally important that you look after yourself and get support too.

    There is further information and support available through our online community especially the family and friends groups

    I hope this information is helpful.  You can always call one of our nurses directly if you want to talk over your concerns or require any further support.

     

    Best wishes

    Gillian, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

    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 email us. 

    Ref YHL/GG 

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