My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer when he was 65 and he was given 7 years at most. He's still here with us 16 years later but he has been told that he only has 4 months left as the cancer has spread. Naturally I am devastated. My dad is my best friend and I really can't imagine my life without him in it.

12 months ago he ended up in hospital due to kidney failure and he now has double nephrostomys which have totally knocked his confidence. He has in effect just been existing since then rather than living and this breaks my heart. He has always been an active person - walking, cycling, gardening and we have always been close.

At the same time as dad being in hospital my mother was diagnosed with dementia. She has quite rapidly declined and it is heartbreaking to see this happening to her.  She can no longer drive and spends a lot of time at home as her world has shrunk. 

I live 10 minutes away from them and see or speak to them more or less everyday. My parents don't like each other and don't speak to each other which is hardly conducive to either of their current situations but they do still live in the same house.  This has been like this for the majority of my life. I work and am a single parent to an autistic teen. 

I just wondered what if anything I could be doing for my parents. I cook meals for them, take them shopping (separately), I do their gardens, i wash and iron and do their housework and I try to spend an equal amount of time with both of them - but apart. The palliative team are getting involved with dad in a few weeks but I know my mum doesn't really understand what's going on with dad and I really believe she doesn't care. 

I am feeling very alone. The team I work with are amazing but I don't want to go on too much as they will soon tire of it. I always put a happy smiley face on when I'm in company but inside I feel like I'm falling apart. I haven't told my teen that grandad is going to die as he too will be heartbroken as my dad has been so important in his whole life and is their only grandchild.

Sorry that this sounds like a one woman pity party. I was just wondering if anyone else has been or is in a similar situation.