How to cope?

Cancer is really hard to cope with. Watching the person you love most in the world die. I'm 18 and my boyfriend of 3 years was diagnosed with a stage four brain tumour that has spread to his heart and lungs. Unfortunately it is definitely terminal. 

Daily life is so hard. With no treatment working exceptionally well he just gets worse and worse  his episodes and black outs are now a daily thing, bleeding from the eyes, nose, mouth and ears. Not only is this frightening for him but I have to clean him and reassure him. Scariest of all is when he completely forgets who I am and can't understand what I am saying. 

I try so hard to be understanding and patient but it hurts so bad. I hate watching him like this and we constantly argue because neither of us know how to deal with it. I love him so much and I just want him to be happy. How though, do I explain that all of this takes a mental toll on me as well, especially after losing two family members in the past two months to cancer? 

  • Hi Lancsgirl, 

    So sorry to read what you and your boyfriend are going through. 

    What sort of medical support do you have access to? Are there community or palliative care nurses visiting each day to help support you both? Obviously, you will want to have a very active part in taking care of your boyfriend, but you too, need some time out from being his carer. 

    Are Macmillan involved, or maybe the Marie Curie nurses who could offer you additional support? 

    Be assured, you are doing a wonderful job, obviously a very caring amd supportive girlfriend. 

    Please post as and when you need to to let us know how you're both getting on,

    Sending you a massive hug, Jo x

     

  • Hey. I got linked to your post and asked if I could talk to you and see if you wanted to chat about anything. I'm so sorry to hear about your boyfriend and the pain you must be going through. Me and my boyfriend both turned 19 in January, exactly 1 week after his birthday - he passed away from leukaemia. I know circumstances are different, but I think well experience a lot of the same emotions. It's been a month on Monday since he passed and my heart aches like it was yesterday. If you want to chat about anything then please do. It would be nice to talk to someone in the same position, to know we're not alone in this horrible and lonely journey. X