Mum - End of Life

Hi JuliaB,

Thanks for getting in touch. My name is Jo and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.

It is understandable that you have questions about your mum’s treatment following her advanced endometrial (womb) cancer diagnosis. Please don’t apologise, it’s good that you have reached out to us, this sounds like a difficult time for you both.

I am sorry to hear you don’t feel the care home are giving your mum the treatment and care that she needs. I wonder whether you have spoken to your mum’s GP about your concerns. If not, then it would be as well to do so. Everyone has the right to high quality care towards the end of life, wherever they are being cared for.

Your mum’s GP should be able to arrange for a Macmillan (palliative care) nurse to visit your mum at the care home. They are experienced in assessing and managing cancer symptoms, as well as providing emotional support. They will also be able to give a better idea of how significant your mum’s current symptoms are to her life expectancy.

If appropriate, the GP could also refer your mum to the local hospice service.

Here is some information about what to expect in the last weeks and days of life that you might find helpful. There is further information in our publication a guide for the end of life.

It can be emotionally challenging supporting someone close to you with advanced cancer, so it’s important that you don’t feel alone in dealing with this. There are a number of ways that we here at Macmillan can offer help and support, so please do get back in touch.

 There is also information and support available through the supporting someone with incurable cancer  forum on our online community.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get back in touch. You can speak with the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us.

I hope this information is helpful.

Best wishes,

Jo

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

Ref: JD/PW