Advice on helping a loved one with a terminal diagnosis

FormerMember
FormerMember
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Hello

I am writing on here for some support and advice regarding my fathers diagnosis. He is currently at home and recieving pallitave home treatment where the nurses come and check on him regularly and help change his bag and dressing etc. We found out it was terminal in September 2018, it began in his bladder as a tumour, then became metastaic and travelled to both his lungs and pretty much all of his lymph nodes. In the process of the cancer spreading his left kidney also failed so he now has a stent and bag permanently. Then just a couple of month ago we found that the cancer had spread to his liver also. We have not been given a time scale from the diagnosis however we have been told he does not have very long left. He has had some amazing help from Macmillan themselves however I am just struggling with how to prepare for what is yet to come, any advice on how to make him feel more comfortable would be greatly appreciated and any other organisations or support groups I can become part of to help would be great. I am only 24 years of age, my father is 71 and my mother is 50. My mother has other life threatening illnesses so I find it very stressful and this is probably the first time I've wrote in depth about it apart from when I did a fundraising event for go sober October. Any advice or help is greatly appreciated 

Kind regards xx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Dear it’s sounds like you have done a great job of getting the help for your dad so well done for that. We have a couple of groups you may be interested in joining, the carers only group or supporting people with incurable cancer. As for prognosis, it’s become much harder to give firm timelines so what’s really important is having everything in place to cope with all eventualities. Be guided by your palliative care team as they are the experts, but be prepared to ask difficult questions as knowledge is power in these situations. Always remember that if things become too difficult in caring for dad at home that respite care at the hospice is always a possibility. There is also carers uk who have a helpline and lots of useful advice on all manner of things on their website. You are very young so all this will be doubly difficult for you and a lot of responsibility so reaching out for support is a very good idea. There are many people who are going through similar experiences here on the forum so you are not alone and they can help you with things they have learnt on their journeys. Don’t forget to take time out for yourself to recharge your batteries as you need to take care of yourself so you can take care of others.