My dad has cancer

FormerMember
FormerMember
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Hi! I was recommended this site, so I'll try to sum up my situation.

I live really far away from my parents, so I visit them only a couple of times per year for a longer period. I'm at their home at the moment to spend Christmas with them.

My dad was diagnosed with chronic leukaemia in 2016. He also has diabetes. The doctors said that the cancer is still not that bad and he would live for another 15 to 20 years, but he's been getting a lot worse in the last 1 or 2 years. He's been hospitalised about 3 times since his diagnosis, one of these occasions was really serious, we didn't even know for a while whether he was going to survive, but he got better. Sometimes he's feeling better, sometimes worse, and I'm always really worried when he isn't feeling well. Because of his diabetes his legs hurt quite often, but he can walk alright. He moves around quite a lot, he likes to do the shopping almost every day, but he often complains about feeling unwell and sometimes has difficulties with sleeping, and he often has problems with bleeding and injuries. Sometimes he starts talking about what will happen if he dies and all, and it makes me so terrified, even though his mom, my granny, used to do the same thing, she had the same type of cancer and she used to talk a lot about her death for several years before she actually died.

My relationship with him is pretty complicated. We like each other, it's just that he's been a really strict father with very traditional views, and he raised me to consider him as a superior person instead of a friend, so I see him as a kind of "strict boss" instead of a "cool dad" figure. So we're not really close, we're very different, we don't have much common interestes or topics to talk about, and I normally talk to my mom a lot more often than to him. But he's still my dad and he raised me up and worked hard to be able to give me food and clothes and education and everything, and I hate seeing him sick with cancer. So I feel really overwhelmed about this whole thing. I'm generally really bad at coping with stressful situations because I'm autistic. I feel like I'm a bad person because I can barely even be around him, I always panic around sick people even if it's just something like the flu or whatever, and I'm sick of blood, and the whole thing is emotionally too much as well, I just can't stand seeing him like this. My mom supports him with everything, so he isn't lonely, but I still feel really selfish because I don't spend much time with him. While I'm at my parents', we have dinner together every day as a family, but that's pretty much all I do.

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Dear I can see how your autism would make what is going on in your dads life very stressful for you, so don’t feel bad about it, we are all built differently and cope with things in our own way. As for your dads chronic leukemia, it is very treatable with very good overall survival rates. However treatment can put pressures on the body and as your dad has diabetes that will add to it. It’s clear from what you have said that you are quite different people and that’s ok, we are all unique. Don’t underestimate how much it means to him to have you home for Christmas and sit around the dinner table, men sometimes have a different way of showing emotions. If you have concerns about your dad’s health, talk to your mother, and she may be able to put your mind at rest.

  • Hi  and welcome to the Online Community, although I am sorry to see you finding us and so sorry to hear the challenges you and the family are facing.

    You have been given great help from Jane. I think that you can only be who you are and do what you can do, family can be complicated but you are doing amazing.

    I see that you have joined a few groups - the site is organised into two sets of groups.

    Talking with people who are on the same journey can help a lot so think about posting in some of the groups.

    Just follow the links I have created, have a look round then hit the ‘Join This Group’ tab just under the main group name, then go to the 'Start a Discussion' tab and set up your very own Discussion and introduce yourself to the group and ask your questions.

    The Friends and Family group would be a good starting point.

    You may find our various Macmillan Support Line Services to be helpful - call them on 0808 808 00 00 This free service covers Emotional Support and Practical Information mostly open 8.00 to 8.00 but check the link.

    When you feel up to it try putting some information in your profile. This really helps others when answering. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. Just click on YOUR username, select 'Edit Profile'. Put as much or as little in your profile and you can amend it at any time - you can see members profiles by hitting our forum names.

    All the very best.

    Mike (Thehighlander)

    It always seems impossible until its done - Nelson Mandela

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