I took my 85 year old Mum who has dementia for a routine chest x-ray on Friday and as she struggles walking I escorted her into the x-ray room and was allowed to wait behind the screen when the x-ray was taken. I noticed one lung was almost totally white whilst the other was clear and knew it probably wasn't good. We left the hospital at 11.20 and by 12.30 I received a call from Mum's GP saying the radiographer had called her to say an urgent CT scan is needed and we go for that on Monday, however, the GP did say she and the radiographer are 99.9% certain Mum has lung cancer. Any ideas how I can get Mum to understand what is happening - she has the memory of a gnat thanks to dementia. We lost Dad to lung cancer 35 years ago and I haven't slept since I had the call on Friday about Mum, hell it is 4.45am now and I have given in for the night.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Hi
So sorry to read about your mum and your dad, dementia and cancer together must be extra challenging and I can see in your words how much you love her.
I recognize the lack of sleep bit - been there and it is very unhelpful. I ended up doing a living with less stress course that really helped me and in a separate incident more recently my GP prescribed eco-therapy - going for a walk especially among nature.
<<hugs>>
Steve
