Long hospital stay

Hi Macmillan Support Services on 0808 808 00 00 - most services are open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week I am so sorry for what you and your husband are going through.

A cancer diagnosis can put a great strain on the best of relationships.  All you can do for now is take it one day at a time, try not to think about the future too much as you can't control that and you must make sure you also look after yourself. 

You can call Macmillan Support Services on 0808 808 00 00 - most services are open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week if you need to talk to someone as it's easy for the carer to get forgotten and be left unsupported.

Wishing you both all the best.

Very many thanks for coming back. Out of the blue on Tuesday the doctors told him he wasn't responding to the treatment and he needed a bone marrow biopsy. I wasn't there because I was working. So much for family communications. He needs transfusions every day and has repeated infections. All this after one cycle of chemo. The Dr is effectively telling us without telling us that his disease is getting worse and may now be AML - which we were warned would be a catastrophe at his  initial MDS idiagnosis. The Dr's word, not mine.  I saw my husband again today and he looks totally dreadful.  I tried the Macmillan support line but it was no help - the operator couldn't connect me to anyone who could advise. 

 That sounds awful  cancer can be such a cruel disease.  I was thinking that the helpline would be good for giving you some emotional support and someone to talk to.  For medical advice the best people would be your husbands medical team who will do the best they can but from what you are saying it seems like they are struggling to get it under control at the moment.

All you can do is hope for the best and prepare yourself for the worst as it's all out of your control.  You are under a lot of stress so try and eat well and get enough sleep.

Really hope things take a turn for the better soon.

• Many thanks for your kindness - I really appreciate it. My husband is going to die and there is absolutely nothing I can do, save support him with all the resources I have. The medical team cannot be trusted after the chemo disaster, so it is him and me, for as long as we have left. 

Your husband is very lucky to have you .  I hope it's a peaceful passing when the time comes and that you have friends and family to support you through your grieving process.  Hopefully you will also get support from this forum from others whose loved ones are on palliative care.

Do keep posting on here as and when you need to.

Thank you for your support- you are very kind. I go back again tto see him today and we will see. I know many others are in my position. To them, to misquote, George Smiley, " I too, am a citizen of no man's land. I send you my greetings".