Anaplastic cancer

I think that this site must have found its way to the top of the Google search rankings for Anaplastic thyroid cancer as we've had an unusually high number of new members signing up in the past few weeks. I hope that one of them may come by and see what you've written but the nature of anaplastic - that it's a terrifyingly fast and brutal form of thyroid cancer - means that most new members are relatives of the patient and most don't stay with us very long. On that basis, the rest of us who've been patients with the much more treatable forms are not really experienced enough to help you.

This is a terrifying form of cancer and has almost nothing in common with the types that the rest of us have or have had. 

It won't be a comfort to read it, but it's unlikely that your mum will suffer for a very long time, or that anything will be getting better. Please take the time you have to be with her, to say what you need to say and to address all life's big questions. 

I'm sure we all wish you the strength to be the best possible support to your mum at this awful time. As a thyroid cancer group, I'm not sure we're much use to you, but the Macmillan helpline will have nurses and therapists who will be able to help you with the issues around grief and bereavement (though they're highly unlikely to be able to help with specifics around anaplastic TC).

My brother, 55 was first diagnosed in September and 8 weeks later he left us. He had to have a tracheotomy to help him breath due to the size of the tumour. Like your mum he was fit and healthy  back I August. It was heartbreaking to see what he went through and how scared he was. I have never experienced grief like it. 

as previously said by another member do spend as much time as you can to be with her.