End of life

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My MIL has terminal Ovarian cancer and Dementia and has taken quite a turn the last 10 days.

Hospice turns up and says they will not intervene until last 12 weeks of life. So I feel so alone with no where to turn she basically different symptoms daily

 Last few days she is always cold not eating and has developed a cough(not covid) and sleeping a lot more. 

I feel we may be more near the end but no one will guide me

  • Hello Carmen123

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

    Welcome to the online community.

    I was so saddened to read that your mother-in-law has a terminal cancer and dementia and that you feel so alone in your care of her.

    You have said that the Hospice team would not become involved in the care of your mother-in-law until she is nearer the end of her life, but that she has deteriorated considerably in the last 10 days.

    Carmen123, please consider giving us a call – we are so much better at providing information and support in sensitive situations such as these when we can talk together. Our contact details are at the bottom of my response. I think we can be so much more helpful to you by telephone.

    I am adding a little information for you in case you are not able to call just now. Our booklet, A Guide for the End of Life, may have some helpful guidance for you. It’s a booklet written alongside the team at Marie Curie.

    Marie Curie is the charity dedicated to supporting people at the end of their life, and also their loved ones. They have many helpful booklets on managing symptoms that I think you will value, as well as a support line to speak to one of their nurses for practical or emotional support.

    I hope this information is useful. Please don’t hesitate to call to speak through your concerns. If you are unable to call, you might consider speaking to us via webchat.

    The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.

     

    Best wishes, Helen

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

     

    Ref HM/AW