Feeling lost

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Hi,

Ive not been on here for a while, so a bit of a recap. My Dad was diagnosed in march 2024 with tongue cancer, due to have surgery on the 1st May. However whilst on the operating table we received a call to say the cancer had grown and he was now stage 4 and in-operable as it was too big. He woke up with a tracheostomy and ended up with a feeding peg. Completely changed our lives and took away everything my dad love singing and eating/ socialising. He went through chemotherapy and started radiotherapy at the beginning of September 2024.  However he passed away on the 28th September 24 due to a sudden and fatal heart attack. Then in December 2024 my mum started to feel unwel and was admitted to hospital in the middle of January 2025 with kidney failure. They was functioning at less than 3%. After having further investigations as to what caused the kidney failure it turned out she has stage 4b cevical cancer and this was causing the kidney problem. She then had to have a double nephrostomy fitted and was told she would only receive palliative care like my dad and it had already spread to some lymph nodes and one of her ribs and spine. ( this all felt like deja vu as it was almost the exact time as to my dads diagnosis 12 months earier and we was even in some of the same rooms for appointments) mum has had 6 rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy and at first the tumour was responding to treatment so much so we could have the nephrostomies removed and a stent fitted, but after only 2 rounds of immunotherapy on its own her latest scan in November showed that the tumour had new nodules on and it was in 2 new lymph nodes. She is due to start a 3 week cycle of radiotherapy next week but she feels scared that she could end up back with the nephrostomy or a stoma bag and also the fatigued which she hates as this makes her feel useless. I cant believe my mum is so ill as she still looks great and aprt from being tired and struggling to walk for long she looks and acts normal. Im just so worried as ive not really grieved for my dad and im having to be strong for my mum whilst going through this.

Sorry for the long post my mind is just all over the place and im also fearful for my future as my dad was 59 only a couple a months away from his 60th and my mum has only just turned 62 and i also found out my grandmother also passed away from cervical cancer my my mum was only 7 years old. How do i support her as im trying to make every moment as special as i can as i just dont know how long i will have

Sorry again for the long post/ rant

  • Hi  

    You have such a history there I am so glad you managed to get it out and no need to appologise. 

    I certainly know how tricky it can be when we see someone looking ok but knowing how ill they really are.

    I found a key element in being able to support my wife was making sure I made some time for me as they say "you cannot pour from an empty cup". With everything going on I am not surprised you have not round room to grieve for you dad but I am sure you will find a way in the end. 

    Hope you get to make many moments special.

    <<hugs>>

    Steve

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