It's really hard to know what to do when someone has been diagnosed with cancer but is refusing to have any treatment. We have information on our website on bowel cancer if you're interested in learning more about this cancer and I would also suggest you give our cancer nurses a call on this free number 0808 800 4040 - their helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and they will be happy to advise you further on what type of help might be available specifically for someone who is not having treatment and is living at home and having memory issues.
You might be interested to read our information for family, friends and carers which includes a page on how to support someone with cancer. We also have a very useful page outlining the support that is available at home for you and your family. This includes GP and community nursing support, Marie Curie nurses, social workers and local support services. It might be worth also getting in touch with this person's GP to try and find out what can be done to support them given they are refusing treatment and are also having issues with memory. As they are living at home it's important that their medical team is aware of these memory problems especially if they are living alone.
I hope that you will hear from other members on here who have been in a similar situation, looking after a loved one with cancer who is not having treatment and that they will share with you the challenges they may have faced as well as the support that they received. They may well have some good tips for you based on their personal stories.
