Caring for a friend who's living with Dementia and Terminal cancer

Hi Munchkin138 and a warm welcome to the Macmillan Community but so sorry to hear about your friends diagnosis and the challenges you are dealing with.

A cancer diagnosis like this can be such a challenging and stressful time but getting support from others who are dealing with the ‘exact same' support challenges can help you a lot……. I have a completely different type of cancer and treatment journey.

The Community is actually divided into dedicated Support Groups (Discussion Rooms) and when it comes to the practical and emotional challenges of supporting your friend and indeed yourself you may benefit from joining and posting in our……

Carers only

Supporting someone with incurable cancer

……. support groups where you will connect with a wide range of members navigating the exact same support challenges.

To connect with a group click on the “Bold Italic Links” I have created above …… then once the group page opens click in the [Black - Click to Join - Banner] that appears at the bottom of the page and this will then confirm that you have joined the group.

When you are ready……. you can introduce yourself by putting up your very own post by clicking [+ Create new post] or [+] in the top right of the group page.

You can copy and paste the text from this post into your new post.

It is an emotional time supporting family so you might find this Macmillan information your feelings when someone has cancer helpful as well as this link getting help with your emotions.

The Macmillan Support Line is open between 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00…… this service provides cancer information, practical information, emotional support, benefits/financial guidance or just a listening ear.

Talking to people ‘face to face’ can be very helpful so do check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support in your area, do also check for a local Maggie's Centre as these folks are amazing.

Do get back to me if you need further help navigating the community.

Hi Mike,

I just wanted to say thank you for your very informative reply to my post. 

As I said in my post, Im new to the community and only joined after a conversation with someone at the Dementia carers group about accessing further support. 

I have asked to join the Carers only group and also the for supporting someone with incurable cancer. Im just waiting for ny posts to be approved.  

Ive also had a look at Maggies centre and it doesn't look like there is one local to me, my closest would be Northampton and it says that isn't even built-in yet. So that may not be an option at the moment. 

Gill

Hi Gill Munchkin138 a cancer support journey is challenging enough but add Dementia (that as a family we have significant family experience in) makes the whole process even more challenging.

I am sure that the group members will pick up on your posts and you will get the support you need.

Do call the Macmillan Support Line as they may well have access to information and resources on their database.

((hugs))

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. 

As Mike has mentioned it is definitely worth asking the Macmillan helpline for information about what support is in your area as there are often local services and groups. There are also carers centres and Carers UK nationally. It's also looking to see if there are any Admiral nurses nearby - they also have a helpline at Dementia UK. 

If your friend already has a 'This Is Me' leaflet filled in that's great as they can be useful at hospitals and other settings.

Apologies, I realise this may all be nothing new or not what you need right now but I just wanted to reach out. 

Hi Clem16, 

Thank you for replying to my thread. Im linked in with the community Palliative Care team and need to call them this week as things have changed a bit. I will also ask them about any local support available. 

In regards to the This Is Me, we have one I just haven't completed it yet as at the moment the person I care for is able to express his needs and wishes. As this changes, I will complete this. 

I can honestly say that throughout his Dementia journey. Ive felt alone and unsupported and now he has cancer I feel it even more. 

Alot of people don't understand that Im not related to him (infact, he has no living family). I am the wife of a friend and Im the one whos taken on the caring role.