Hi my sister who is 6 years older than me and only 54 years of age was taken into hospital 5 weeks ago with suspected gallstones. However, after an MRI scan and CT, a consultant came and told us that they had found something sinister on her scans. After having to go through 4 serious procedures - X2 bowel Stents and X1 bile drain then 1 bile duct stent she was then told that she had an incurable, aggressive cancer in her bile duct -(biliary cancer) which had spread to her liver, gallbladder and bowel. As you can imagine we were devastated and in shock, unable to process this information.
Last year she was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver due to being diabetic (non alcohol related). She then worked hard and lost 6 & half stone to turn the sclerosis around to give her a better life. Her last scan was 5 months ago and all they could see was that her liver was making progress and she had some gallstones in her gallbladder.
3 months on she started to show signs of being unwell and was told it was her gallstones and was on a list for the stones to be removed. However, 5 weeks ago the pain got so bad she called an ambulance and I noticed she was going jaundice during the ambulance drive to hospital. From being admitted into hospital 5 weeks ago to now our lives has changed dramatically.
We couldn't process how the suspected gallstones was now an inevitable, aggressive cancer! Five months ago there was nothing found on her regular liver scan. She had lost 6 & half stones to turn the cirrhosis of the liver around to give her a better life. but now she was being told that she may only have a few weeks to live!
After having to go through 4 serious procedures - X2 bowel Stents and X1 bile drain then 1 bile duct stent she was then told that she had an incurable, aggressive cancer in her bile duct -(biliary cancer) which had spread to her liver, gallbladder and bowel to then being told that she may only have a few weeks to live and due how aggressive the cancer was she was too poorly for chemo! As you can imagine we were unable to process this information!
Or dad died from pulmonary fibrosis 12 years ago and It's only been 2 years since we buried our mom as she died of sepsis (she had long COVID and other health issues). There is only my sister and I left.
I feel like we're only just grieving for our mom but now my long life best friend, big sister and only immediate blood relative I have left is having to leave me aswell and I'm scared. I've currently moved in with her family as her husband is unable to cope and I haven't left her side since she was admitted into hospital (slept at hospital) and now she's home in staying with her still. She gets very scared when I'm not with her and as long as she needs me I'll be right next to her.
I've struggled with my brother in-law as he's focusing on how it's impacting on him and not able to support his wife how she needs him. They also have two late teenage sons who I am also trying to support through this awful time. I also have a family who I have had to leave so that I can focus on my sister but they have been amazing knowing how much my sister needs me but it doesn't stop the guilt of not being there for my daughter, but my husband /her dad is supporting her through this and I've requested support from school staff to make sure she has someone to talk to if I'm not there.
I know I'm not ready to say goodbye to my big sister yet but can see how much pain she's in and it's killing me but I can't get upset Infront of her as she needs me and I need her xx I just can't believe all this is happening.
