oesophageal cancer

FormerMember over 5 years ago

2 replies
24 subscribers
934 views

My neighbour has just been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. I know nothing more than this as he and his wife are still with their family in Inverness. I don't know what stage he is at, or course of treatment, or anything. I just know they are the most altruistic couple I have ever met and don't know how I can help them, what to say, what to do?

Any advise would be gratefully accepted, thank you

Purdypal

FormerMember over 5 years ago

Hello , I’m sorry to hear about your neighbour but pleased that you want to reach out and help. I’m a metastatic melanoma patient and for me sometimes it’s good to have some who is not close family to talk to, sometimes to get my diagnosis and treatment straight in my head and other times just to ignore it and have something else to think about, so I’d say be prepared to offer an ear and a distraction.

There is a Macmillan information links that I like that you might find good to read, it goes through suggestions of things to help as well as suggestions for talking and listening. I will put it below together with the link to the friends and family group that you may want to join for ideas from people in a similar position to yourself. I can see you have already joined the specific cancer group so well done for finding it.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/coping/talking-about-cancer/if-someone-has-cancer

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/being_a_relative_/discussions

Best wishes

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hello KTatHome,

Thank you so much for the prompt reply and the site information, I have a lot of work and research to do, if I am going to be of any use to my neighbours, they won't be back till Wednesday, so plenty of time to prepare myself.

I suppose like them, it's just one day at a time.

Thank you again,