Hi, my son was diagnosed with APML leukemia in April this year. We are now just over half way through his chemo treatment. He is doing as well as can be expected. I am his main carer, organizing meds (waking him each day to take them as some are time sensitive) and hospital outpatient appointments, managing emotions and life on hold for him. He has an amazing support network through the Teenage cancer Trust and our family. My main reason for joining today is I work for my husbands company and he is the director (he is my son's step dad) and I have not felt supported by others within the company through the whole journey. Pressures mentioned about me getting back to work 2/3 weeks after diagnosis or my pay would be cut, no other support apart from my husband who is going through this process also. As we are further along people seem to forget you are still facing this every day! I am now managing 32 hours a week and 2 hospital visits and medication administration, sometimes i feel like I might break. It can be so hard.
Hi JaxCarera696ff and a warm welcome to the Macmillan Community but so sorry to hear about your son’s diagnosis.
I am Mike and I help out around our various blood cancer groups…… I have been on my journey fir over 25 years with 2 rather rare types if Lymphoma so although my blood cancer type is different I appreciate the challenges.
The Community is actually divided into dedicated Support Groups (Discussion Rooms) so can I recommend you look to join and post in our dedicated…….
……. support group as your son’s is a subtype of AML.
This group is a safe place to talk to others who may have a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support from family members who are navigating the same support journey.
As for the practical and emotional challenges of supporting your son and indeed yourself you may benefit from joining and posting in our general……
……. support group 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 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.
Do get back to me if you need further help navigating the community.
