Hi, my brother was diagnosed March 24 after suffering extreme headaches.
After several GP visits and being treated for migraine. He decided to go to the opticians who told him to go to a&e as it looked like he could have had strikes.
I took him straight up, CT found several brain tumours. His brain was full of fluid and swollen so he was started straight away on highest dose of steroids to reduce swelling.
Further scans found several more tumours attached to his organs and lymph nodes.
He had a mole on his back which was removed and biopsy found he had melanoma.
He was placed on targeted therapy as due to needing his steroids daily they would counteract immunotherapy. It only worked for a short period of time.
Fast forward to now and things have gotten progressively worse and he now only has months left.
My question is, how do you support someone who is in denial? He is convinced if the oncologist allows him to continue with the targeted therapy it will start working again. But that's not the case, it's not worked for a long time now.
Do I just go along with him or do I try and support him to face reality?
Hi LHDK21
A warm welcome to our community, I hope you find it a positive and supporting experience.
It sounds as if your poor brother has been through such a lot and it is so hard watching someone we love suffering. As carers it can be difficult when we feel our loved ones are not facing reality but I am sure his consult will be working with him on that.
One thing I find quite helpful is looking at your feelings when someone has cancer in that being able to recognize those feelings and accept them as normal and valid helps me find them less overwhelming.
<<hugs>>
Steve
