My 80 year old dad has throat cancer and he is my mum’s full time carer. He has just begun his radiotherapy and it’s already beginning to take its toll. He is becoming dizzy after his sessions but continues to behave as though things are normal and he can get on with his daily activities. He doesn’t speak about things very much and cannot get the support he needs from my mum as she often forgets he has cancer and asks him where he’s going. I go to his appointments and try to get him to chat about how he is feeling but he doesn’t really say much. At times he looks scared and panicked and I feel awful. I am worried about how much worse he’ll feel with the treatment and how it will affect his spirit. He is very strong, resilient and funny in the face of challenge and can cope with lots of thing but this has really taken hold of him. How can I help?
Hi
Sorry to hear about what you are going through with both your parents. I remember back to when my parents were both ill my dad went down mentally with multiple seizures and things were quite challenging. My dad was also one for not really talking about his health.
Have either of them had a needs assessment? For quite some time my mother had carers come in to help in her care. Later on they moved to an assisted living complex where they had their own flat but there were carers on site 24/7 and every room had emergency pull coords.
Something I found quite helpful is looking at your feelings when someone has cancer as being able to recognize my own emotions and accept them as normal and valid helped to make them seem less overwhelming.
<<hugs>>
Steve
