Hello. My brother has kidney cancer and had his kidney out and half liver. He won’t eat and won’t get out of bed . He is mentally ill think . Totally closed down . We have no support from anyone . What can we do ?
Hello. My brother has kidney cancer and had his kidney out and half liver. He won’t eat and won’t get out of bed . He is mentally ill think . Totally closed down . We have no support from anyone . What can we do ?
Hello Louise1978
My name is Adele. I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line. Welcome to our online community and thanks for posting your question.
I am sorry to hear about your brother and how he is at this time. As he is unable to eat and has not been out of bed for 3 days it is vital that he has an urgent medical review to see what is happening with him.
I recognise that this is very difficult if he is reluctant to ring the hospital, or the doctors, himself but in this circumstance, it is important that you contact them on his behalf and request an urgent review.
A cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment can affect everyone differently and it is common to have different emotional responses. This can affect people’s mental health and many people feel overwhelmed by their emotions. There is support available for people who find having cancer has a significant impact on their mental health.
However, at this time, so soon after his operation, it is important to check if there are any physical reasons for how he is, which is why it is so important to seek medical help. The medical team will also assess his mental health when they review him.
Dependent on how your brother is the options for accessing urgent medical attention are ringing NHS 111 or 999. We would suggest that you ring them immediately, with your brother present, so that you can answer any questions they may ask.
The NHS 111 service can conduct an assessment to see if it is more appropriate to arrange for him to be reviewed by a GP, or whether they need to escalate it to an urgent review by a paramedic. The 999 service is for life threatening emergencies. They will also conduct an assessment to determine how best to respond to your brother’s needs.
It sounds like this is really difficult for you all, Louise1978. Caring for people with cancer can be really tough and have a significant impact on you all. After getting help for your brother, you may find it helpful to look at the information on our website about supporting someone with cancer.
We often find we can help more by exploring these questions over the phone. If this is something you think would help, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch via our support line on 0808 808 0000. We are available 7 days a week, 8am-8pm.
I hope this information is useful. Please don’t hesitate to get back in contact by email, webchat or phone, if you need further information or support.
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, Adele
Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
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