Hi
I wonder if anyone had any advice on how to support someone who is fixated on the symptoms and side effects they are having. My dad has neuroendocrine cancer and recently started on everolimus. But it feels like he’s constantly on edge waiting for something to go wrong etc. He’s often in pain but is also constantly thinking everything is to do with his cancer or that he’s worried about getting covid even though his consultant has said his quality of life is just as important and shielding isn’t the best option.
I want to help, but he’s obsessed by information and monitoring everything.
Hi ,
I am sorry to read this though your story is not too uncommon. There are lots of people very obsessed with covid at the moment and the news is often full of horror stories. In terms of information though it is worth perhaps looking at the gov.uk dashboard to work out how common infection is in your region (in my area 355 cases for every 100K people).
Being in pain I can relate to - I have ankylosing spondylitis and would normally do a physiotherapy session every week at the hospital - but not now because of covid! It can be incredibly debilitating but the best way of coping with it is keep moving.
Perhaps the most important thing to monitor is temperature, we used a digital thermometer and had a contact card from the hospital to the cancer care triage line. When Janice was on chemo she was admitted twice I think for temperature spikes but a good dose of industrial strength antibiotics fixed her right up.
Perhaps distraction might work, could you arrange something he would want to do and encourage him along?
It might be good too for you to look at Looking after someone with cancer to make sure you get the support you need - great start coming here.
<<hugs>>
Steve
