So we lost my mum in May last year after a relatively brief but drastic decline in health, and although it was never found or confirmed, the likely cause was cancer.
my dad has had a multitude of heath problems for years (only 1 kidney after renal cancer 17 years ago, Parkinson’s, and AF which he has a pacemaker for). After my divorce and subsequent sale of my home, I moved in with my dad in Feb 24 to help look after him (with my 2 teen daughters). Long story short, his mobility and strength decreased dramatically over a couple of weeks, with frequent falls he was unable to get himself up from. He was finally admitted to hospital just over a week ago (after a battle to get him there!) and we have learned that he has cancerous lesions in his spine which have caused multiple fractures, and a mass on his spine at the base of his neck which is compressing the nerves. We area waiting for a biopsy on Monday to see if there is a primary tumour elsewhere, and to get a better idea of a prognosis.
When i went to visit today, he was delirious and although he knew I was his daughter, he told me I had ruined his life and his marriage and was scum. I know it’s not him, and of course he doesn’t mean it, but I was not prepared for it and the nurses are trying to find out why he has suddenly deteriorated in this way. I know it’s not him, but being told he hates me and to f*ck off and never come back was heartbreaking.
Im terrified and can’t bear seeing him like that - I’m on my own and feel like I have no one to really talk to about things, and I have to be strong for my daughters, but I’m struggling to hold everything together.
sorry for the long post, but just needed to get it out.
Hi Kat2109
A warm welcome to our community, I hope you find the support here useful and you are so right that getting it out can be really helpful.
I am Steve, one of the community champions here, my wife has been living with Leiomyosarcoma now for over 10 years
Things do sound really difficult with your dad and I hope the hospital can help work out what is happening and help improve things. In the meantime of course you have both your daughters and yourself to look after.
Feeling lonely is very common as we can see here and posting on here can be really helpful but you are also welcome to ring the helpline, i have certainly cried at them in the past and they can be very helpful.
Fingers crossed that tomorrow is a better day and for the biopsy on Monday.
<<hugs>>
Steve
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