Hi,
So I'm new to all of this, not really sure what I'm doing!
Brief summary, mam (63) retired 1/4/22, diagnosed with endometrial cancer few weeks later. Very advanced. Primary tumour size of a football, spread to lungs, breast, abdomen, lymph nodes. Hormone therapy. Surgery not an option, chemo/radio to manage symptoms if appropriate as symptoms worsen.
3 weeks after this, dad diagnosed with throat cancer. Surgery not an option. 6 months palliative prognosis. Dad has existing health conditions.
Not sure why I'm here, but I know I now need some sort of help!
Dad has started having bleeding from his throat last few days, meaning I'm washing bedding daily.
I live locally, with my 2 teenage kids, my husband works away, but currently home most weekends.
I have some details for a macmillan nurse, and I know they're all there to help, I just don't know what help looks like, and what is available!
Having difficulty getting enough of the Fortisip drinks from GP, only being given 10-15 bottles at a time, but dad now having 3+ a day. Also oramorph, going through a bottle in about 3 days, in addition to his zomorph x2 per day.
Who do I even ask to get things made a bit easier?
Feel as though I just can't catch my breath at the moment, but is help available for me as their carer (I'm off work with stress right now, not surprisingly really!) ? I'm just feeling a bit lost and out of my depth, but I want to do as much as possible to help any way I can.
Leaving the home isn't an option for dad, he is where he is happy and where he wants to be, which we all support and agree with.
Is there anywhere I can go to get anything that will possibly provide some sort of bedding protection, to at least prevent me needing to wash the bedding every day?
I realise this probably sounds so minor, I'm just exhausted!
Sorry if this isn't the right place to ask, or in asking the wrong things, I'm so new to this!
Laura xx
Hi LauraK87 and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
I'm sorry to read how much you and your parents are going through at the moment. It must be incredibly hard for you all.
As the online community is divided up into different support groups I'm going to recommend that you join the carers only group where you can ask questions about help that is available as well as discuss your worries and emotions with others who have a loved one living with cancer.
To join just click on the link I've created and then join and start a new post in the same way as you did here. You can also join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.
It would be great if you could pop something about about your mum and dad's diagnoses and treatment so far into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
If you have any difficulty navigating the community just drop me a reply and I'll be pleased to help
x
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
