My dad was diagnosed with mucosal melanoma just over 3 years ago. Since then he has undergone major surgery 4 times, immunotherapy and radiotherapy. It has been a really rough ride. Immunotherapy was a great success and for the best part of a year my dad was cancer free. Unfortunately, during that time he developed some side effects to the Immunotherapy which required him to take steroids. He was given a really high dose and regretfully this sent him into a steroid induced psychosis. It got so bad he had to be sectioned for 5 months in a psychiatric hospital. He recovered, but since then things have not been the same and he is now extremely poorly with only a short time left. He is currently in a hospice whilst they try to stabilise his pain, it has spread to all of his bones :-(
My mum has been by his side throughout, but since Christmas she has been suffering very badly with anxiety and is struggling to keep it together. My dad is due home next week, and she doesn't know how she is going to cope. She is petrified and sinking into depression. She has been so strong over the past 3 years, but I feel she is reaching breaking point (just when we need her to be at her strongest - that sounds so selfish I know). Myself and my brother are doing our best to support her, but we are finding ourselves in the position where we are trying to look after both of them and we just don't know what to do for the best. We both work, both have young families and I'm not sure how we are going to manage.
I don't know what I'm asking here really. Has anyone ever found themselves in a similar position? I wish I could just make everything better.
