Update on mum

Hi everyone. Sorry I have been away so long!! Only just remembered I had created an account on here!

Just thought I'd pop on and add an update for everyone I had spoken to in the past. I will recap for anyone else who reads this and doesn't know my story

My mum was diagnosed with lung cancer last year and was given radiotherapy to shrink the tumour as it couldn't be removed safely due to it's location. We were hopeful since after her treatment she had a scan and was told it had shrunk dramatically. Unfortunately two days after this she took a turn for the worst and ended up in hospital in a bad state. We eventually spoke to a consultant who told us it had spread to her brain and was terminal. She bounced back after this and was released home, and was told perhaps chemo would prolong her life and was her decision, this is where I left off last time I wrote on here. Just an update to say she decided against the chemo after being told it may not help and would make her pretty sick, wasn't worth it at the time as she was still pretty able and in a good way. Since then she has been in and out of hospital a few times, nothing as serious as the first time. Celebrated Christmas, new year & just recently my birthday. Glad for this although she is sadly getting weaker and sorer, spends most of the the time resting.

Anyway just thought I would post an update! Thank you for reading xxx

Parents
  • Just to let you all know been told she has only a matter of weeks left

  • Hi Candy

    Sorry I am only getting back to you now.  My hours at work have all been changed.  I am so sorry to hear the update on your mum Candy and my heart goes out to you and your family. You are all in my prayers.  Sometimes you wonder why but suppose we have to hold on to the power of prayer don't we.  I have asked myself that many times.

    It is going to be a tough few weeks for you all.

    I read you are worried about work.  Just explain to your employer what the consultant has told you and if he/she has any compassion they will understand fully how you feel.

    Spend as much time as you can with your mum Candy because nobody knows the hold this cruel evil disease has on people.

    Don't be worrying about having to reply Candy because I know you have enough to cope with at the moment.  I will be checking in to see how you are coping.

    Constantly in my thoughts Candy

    Take care and look after yourself (hugs)

    Mickied

  • Hi Mickied thanks for getting back in touch!

    I know I am in shock by the latest news, very hard to take in. I think I somehow always believed she would get better.. She bounced back last year in August when they originally told us about it spreading, they said a matter of weeks then but she was given steroids and that was her stronger until now! Thank you for keeping us in your prayers.. Although situations like this make me doubt there is anything good out there..

    I have phoned my work today and told them she's now in the hospice and we've been told a few days.. Will see what happens! I said to Brian about how nice the staff are at the hospice it's amazing! Glad to know she's in such genuinely caring hands!

    xxxx

  • Hi Candy

    My husband always thought his father would beat cancer because they used to sit and joke and laugh where I would have been sitting heartbroken suppose they were all trying to remain positive.

    To be honest with you Candy I think I took his passing worse than his own two daughters did.  I would have visited him at home several times a week and brought him fresh cream buns because he had a terrible sweet tooth like myself where they just contacted him over the phone a few times during the week.

    You are right Candy about the power of prayer at times like this sometimes I question myself why do these cruel things happen to the good people in this world when you look round at the evil that is going on at present - it does make you wonder.

    I have heard from others about the staff at various hospices and how they are completely different to the ones you come across at hospitals and their dedication towards cancer patients.

    I will check in on Monday if I get a chance Candy to see how you are.  I will be thinking about you all weekend and stay strong wee friend.

    Hugs Candy

    Mickied

  • Hi Candy,

    You haven't posted for a few days so I just wanted to see how you are doing and I hope everything is o.k.

    Garf. x

  • Hi Garf, Brian & Mickied. My apologies I haven't replied to you In a while have been at the hospice most of the time. Glad to say mum is still with us despite being told she only had a few days left.. Although this doesn't mean I'm under any false pretences, I know it will happen sometime soon but nice to have extra time.. What can I say hmmm thinking of what happened over the weekend?... Thursday night she was a little out of it and sleeping most of the time we were there, this gave us a chance to chat to the nurses and introduce ourselves. Friday I stayed off work and spent the day and night there, she was a lot brighter chatting away to us, much the same on Saturday. Eating all her dinner which is good, as she didn't eat much at the hospital. Sunday she was a bit like Thursday, sleeping on and off. The nurses said she had a rough night, waking up not feeling well etc.. Back to work today so I will go to the hospice tonight and see how she is

    Like I said before the nurses at the hospice are great, such a difference to the nurses at the hospital. You can just tell these nurses really care and want to help the patients out. Feel much better knowing she is in their hands. They are very friendly to us and other visitors too and feel you can ask them questions etc! So on the hole everything is much better. And of course I don't want to lose my mum but knowing she will be safe there when it does happen makes me feel reassured..

    On the work front I just feel a bit better coming in and keeping some normality for now, yes I'd like to be there all the time for my mum but I don't want to be off when I don't 100% need to be. I have my phone with me and am only 10 mins from the hospice so should anything happen I can be there quickly. I will just try to keep a routine for now and go down the other route when needed!

    How are you all keeping?

    xxx

  • Hi Candy,

    So glad your Mum is more comfortable now and that the hospice is taking such good care of her.  Also glad that as a result you are feeling a little better too.

    Having a bit of a long day as it happens.  As a manager at work I and other managers had to serve food and drink at the Christmas staff party last night.  Not sure giving them a free bar was such a good idea and so there was much drunkeness and potential embarrassment for people to think about today.  The party finished at midnight but with stragglers hanging on I didn't get to bed until 2.30am.  Starting to feel that lack of sleep now but it's home time for me in just a couple of hours where I will try not to fall asleep in front of the t.v.

    Have you been able to find out what you are entitled to at work regarding time off?

    Garf. x

  • Hey Garf!

    Yeah I'm glad too, makes such a difference when they get good care, can see even she appreciates it! Ha your reply about the office party made me giggle! I bet there is a few sore heads around the office today! Awk go on allow yourself to fall asleep in front of the tv! Nothing better than doing that on a Monday night lol! I will be doing the same when I get back from the hospice!

    No I haven't discussed it with my boss yet. I'm thinking I will just deal with it when it comes to that time.. No point stressing over it just now!

    Did you have a nice weekend?

    xxx

  • Hi Candy,

    Just caught up with your thread and see your Mum is now in a hospice.
    I am glad you have come to know the level of care they can give in a hospice.

    It's always a worry when one gives an opinion that it might not be right for someone else.

    It sounds like your Mum is having some classic ups and downs.

    I am glad you got some good moments with her over the weekend, good times to remember later.

    Sending supportive hugs to you and thinking of you and your Mum

    Annabel. xx

Reply
  • Hi Candy,

    Just caught up with your thread and see your Mum is now in a hospice.
    I am glad you have come to know the level of care they can give in a hospice.

    It's always a worry when one gives an opinion that it might not be right for someone else.

    It sounds like your Mum is having some classic ups and downs.

    I am glad you got some good moments with her over the weekend, good times to remember later.

    Sending supportive hugs to you and thinking of you and your Mum

    Annabel. xx

Children
  • Hi Annabel :)!

    Yep your right she is in a hospice now. And yeah exactly it's amazing how much better the nurses are there, we didn't have much of luck with the nurses in he hospital.. Now I'm not saying that all nurses in hospitals are the same but the ones we encountered just had to bedside manner and didn't seem to care much for the patients. Totally different at the hospice, you can tell these people actually want to be there and give care to the people that need it & they are very friendly to all of the families as well it's great, I just wish she could've been moved there sooner so se didn't need to go through the pain in the hospital!

    Thank you for replying to me , talk soon take care!

    xx