Hello to all,
I just had my final diagnosis on Friday following a pet scan at Maidstone Hospital. I have been having test after test for three months and have not begun any treatment yet. I had a phone call yesterday to say that my chemo would be starting within a couple of weeks. I have not been able to tell anyone, as my daughter is in Thailand and has been trying to get home for over a year. I don't want to tell her on Facetime, so am waiting until I have no choice. If I tell anyone else, they may let it slip on Facebook, though I rarely use it myself. The only time I've cried is when my daughter said I must go to visit her in Thailand, if not this Christmas, then the next. I held it together until we had signed off, and then I I wondered if I would make it that far. I have a plan to tell her, but she's currently on an island and won't be heading back to her home in Chiang Mai for another three weeks. I have a friend who is a counsellor in Chiang Mai and I plan to ask him to be with her when he breaks the news. It's the kindest way I know. I suppose I also don't want people treating me any differently. I worry about that. I have a tumour in my right lung and palliative care is all they can do for me now. My son lives in Norfolk and I know if I tell him. he will probably freak out, throw his job up in the air and come rushing home, so I plan to tell his older sister first and then maybe we can tell him together. I live on my own and am getting anxious about how I will cope with the chemotherapy when the time comes. The nights are the hardest, as I find breathing difficult when I lie down. Thanks for reading. Sorry it's so long-winded. The other thing is that apart from my son and daughter, I have no other family, so there will be no one there to support them when I've gone.
Hi and warm welcome to the Macmillan Online Community although sorry that you had to find us and especially sorry to hear about your diagnosis.
A cancer diagnosis like this can be challenging in so many ways and I do feel for you with regards to your daughter being so far away and the challenges telling your son but you may find talking with others who are walking the same type of cancer treatment journey will help you navigate this difficult time.
The Community is organised into cancer specific support groups so can I recommend you join our supportive Lung Cancer and Living with incurable cancer - incurable patients only groups as this will be a good place to connect with patients and families navigating the same type of cancer treatment journey.
To join a group just click on the link above then choose 'click to join' or 'join' (depending on the device you're using) on the page that opens.
You can then introduce yourself by putting up a ‘New Thread’ or hit the box with the X on the top right (phones), you could just copy and paste the text from this your first post. You can also join in with existing ‘Discussions’ by clicking on 'reply'.
It’s always good to talk and the Macmillan Support Services provides lots of information, support, financial guidance or just a listening ear.
Most services are open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week and it's free to call on 0808 808 00 00 have a look by Clicking here to see what is available and we also have our Ask an Expert section, but do allow two working days for replies from our expert team.
To find information covering diagnosis, treatments and pages covering most types of cancers can be found on our Online Information and Support Section.
((hugs))
