Coping with terminal diagnosis

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Hi

My husband was diagnosed with liver cancer almost 2 years ago. We were told the prognosis would be around 2 years but that it wasn't a definitive amount of time.

He had immunotherapy which ended when it wasn't having any benefits and the cancer was still growing and had spread to his lung..

He then had targeted tablet treatment which again ended about 3 months ago, when he was told that there was no other viable treatment and that they would treat symptoms as they arose. When he asked how long he had left he was told months.

This latest prognosis has really affected his mental health. He is anxious, panicky and not sleeping well. He will not and has not talked  about how he is feeling with me. He talks with friends about the science of it all and factual aspects, but not how he is feeling. It's tearing me apart to see him like this.  

What can I do? 

  • Hi  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 Anne, one of the Community Champions here on the Online Community and I know how a cancer diagnosis can impact the whole family.

    The online community is divided into different support groups so I'm going to recommend that you join the supporting someone with incurable cancer group, which is for anyone who knows someone with a terminal diagnosis to discuss their emotions, as well as practical issues.

    To join, just click on the link I've created and, once you've joined, you can start a new post in the same way as you did here and join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.

    If you have any problems navigating the community I'll be pleased to help.

    Community Champion Badge

     "Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"

  • Thanks for your help. 

    As I finished typing he took a phone call from the wellbeing for life team he had been referred to before Christmas, and is now on the road to some counselling! 

  • That's great to hear and I hope it makes life a bit easier for you both.

    x

    Community Champion Badge

     "Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"