Anticipatory grief

My grandad has head and neck cancer, more specifically nasal and paranasal sinus cancer. How do I know so specifically? I have a current placement in a cancer rehabilitation service. He had an obvious tumour growing inside is nose/sinuses and every time I see a picture I cry, I grieve my grandad. I then go into a spiral of feeling sad for the fact he knows he’s dying, he knows he’s not getting treatment and he knows because he’s fully cognitive. I then feel sad for my dad, who’s losing his dad, the man who everyone knows is his dad because they’re SO similar. Then I’m sad for my gran, who relies on him so much. 

I lay in bed knowing that he’s going to die and I just cry and cry knowing that one day I see him, it could very well be his last. And, so I don’t see him. I can’t, I can’t look at him knowing how he was before all of this and it’s horrible because I’m not seeing him. I’m not making the time to go see him and I feel awful. I don’t live particularly near but I have a car, I could very well go and see him. But yet, I’m on placement and I have one day off a week. 

anyway I’m grieving someone who’s still alive, still got his same personality, still up and about, and yet I can’t bring myself to see him. 

Parents
  • Hello Allesarm

    Sorry to read your grandad has cancer. and it is tearing you apart.Dont think of your grandad as dying but of living with cancer. He probably is less concerned about his situation than you are. 

    If you want to overcome this anticipatory grief and have a happier life. Get in your car and go visit him and your gran perhaps take them out for a meal. Handy Tip -  old people love roast dinners. If you dont overcome your reluctance to visit you will forever regret it.

    Be very careful accessing medical records of patients you are not directly involved with caring for. GDPR rules are enforced rigorously and infringement can lead to dismissal.

    Ed

  • Thank you for the reply, I’m seeing them at the end of November and when I wrote this last night I was really in my feels. 

    I definitely haven’t accessed records (not in the same county either) but more just the research and occupational exposure has given me more insight. 

    It’s just definitely very overwhelming feeling and almost like a mental block I need to get over to even just go and visit them :/ 

Reply
  • Thank you for the reply, I’m seeing them at the end of November and when I wrote this last night I was really in my feels. 

    I definitely haven’t accessed records (not in the same county either) but more just the research and occupational exposure has given me more insight. 

    It’s just definitely very overwhelming feeling and almost like a mental block I need to get over to even just go and visit them :/ 

Children
  • Allesam

    Im really pleased for you that you will visit your grandad. As a grandad myself with incurable cancer I love nothing more than seeing my family. As an insight to your grandads likley outlook on life  Most older people with cancer don't dwell on it and just get on with their life as best they can while they can. Everyone I know, in my age group. make frequent jokes about death to the dismay of our children. It is our way of coping by making light of life.The human mind is a wonderful thing and in old age prepares us to accept what is tto come. So dont cry for your gradad he will be just fine. Enjoy that meal in November and hope your placement gives you valuable experience.

    Ed