My mum was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer in August 2024. Sadly my dad lost his battle with skin cancer last week, being an only child I am terrified of now losing my mum too. She was in hospital all last week (while dad was in a hospice and passed away, she wasn't well enough to visit him. It has been the worst year of my life.
She was in hospital because she has been extremely nauseous after her 6th and last chemo session in middle of Jan. (she did not suffer with sickness the whole time she was on chemo - only since finishing.) Her Oncologist told us the last 3 chemo sessions had been ineffective and so were going to try and move her onto a different chemo drug. However now she has been unable to hold in fluids & food she has become incredibly weak and they have said not strong enough to start this new chemo.
She has tried basically every single anti sickness medication there is and nothing worked so we called an ambulance and into hospital she went. After having a tube down her nose to stop the vomiting and drip set up to get fluids in via canular they managed to get the sickness under control. All this while I was having to sort my Father being taken to a hospice.
She got out of hospital on Friday - on Sunday evening the sickness came back.. I had hoped and prayed she was going to get her strength back enough to start more chemo but now I am absolutely terrified that I am going to lose her!
She had a Stoma fitted in August when she was diagnosed but has not had surgery to remove her ovaries. They have said that due to the spread they do not think surgery will be of benefit.
Is this the end? What more can I do, I feel utterly helpless and broken.
Hi Salix
Sorry to hear about both your dad and your mum. really quite easy to recognize how you are feeling since just about anyone in those circumstances would feel the same.
Have you talked to the oncology team about the return of the sickness? I wonder if it might be possible for you mum to be admitted to get the sickness under control and then stay for the next round chemo - but that might be some time and might not be what your mum would want.
Hope you manage to find some time for you, in the meantime you are in my thoughts.
<<hugs>>
Steve
Salix, I don't really have any useful advice but didn't want to read and run. I'm so very sorry you find yourself in this situation, it's heartbreaking. I hope you have family and/or friends to support you. Please do talk to your GP and the CNS nurses where your mum is being treated and make sure you're getting any help, financial and practical, that you're entitled to.
I am supporting my daughter on her cancer journey, coming up for 2 years now ... endless chemo, radiotherapy and three surgeries. Currently waiting for scan results and praying hard.
Please do keep posting here, there's so much support. Send love, strength and a hug. ((( )))
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