My Dad

Hi there,

I am Rebecca from Dublin Ireland and I am 26 years old. My Father died on May 9th ,it still feels surreal to even type that. He had bladder cancer diagnosed in June 2015 and underwent chemo then a Radical Cystectomy (bladder removal) after the operation he never came back to himself really , he had many episodes of Sepsis and was hospitalised. It was a very trying and wearing down time for everyone as we wanted so much for him to be well. In November 2016 he was admitted to hospital with  high temperature and they found fluid on his lungs, when they drained his lungs they found nodules. The did a biopsy and our worst fear was confirmed , secondary cancer. 

He was in hospital for 9 weeks after the lung infection and all over christmas , i cried and cried. He started more chemo  and it seemed to be working. However once he stopped he was put forward for a clinical trial. We went to the screening for the clincal trial and they did a CT scan and revealed widespread progression including into his brain. He was 63 years old and always had been such a strong resilient fit man. They attemped radiation on his brain but it caused a bleed and in less than a week he was gone. I was with him when he died and my heart is totally broken. I can't come to terms with it.

All the things he will miss , my children  ,my wedding everything. I have never felt like pain like this before. He was so innocent just an ordinary hard working Dad. How could he work all his life and not be able to enjoy his grandchildren or retirement. I am in so much pain. I would of taken it from him if I could.

I am terrified about my Mum they are married 42 years.

I feel like we all fought with him I knew everything about his cancer although I did not physically have it I was with him every step and I seen his fear and tears and I feel like I let him down by not being able to stop it.

Our whole family was nearly falling apart with stress (myself and my two sisters) now we have nothing only numbness. He was so loved.

 

  • Welcome to our forum Rebeccamb.

    I'm so very sorry to hear about your dad, our sincere condolences from the Cancer Chat team.

    It is completely understandable that you feel the way you do right now with everything still so raw and I hope you will find some comfort here. 

    We have some information on our website on Coping with Grief which you can read when you feel you are ready. For the time being just remember we are here for you if you need us.

    Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.

    Warm wishes,

    Renata, Cancer Chat Moderator

     

  • Hi I can totally relate to everything you said......my dad died in January this year and he was just 66 years old. He died in hospital and I was there with him. I am 32 and I have a sister who's 22 and a mom. We were all with him when he died. It was the first person I saw die and the first dead body I saw too, and that happened to be my dad. So I feel I'm struggling with that on top of the loss of my dad. However I'm glad I was with him when he passed, or I'd have regrets and I'd struggle even more. I went back to work just under a month after he died, a week after his funeral. Looking back I returned too soon and I went straight into full time hours. You feel totally alone in your own bubble of grief. Your family are obviously grieving and struggling too but we are all grieving and hurting which helps but it's also hard cus we're all going through the pain. I hate that you feel deserted and other people neglect you. I feel angry about the lack of support for my mom, who's spent 40 years with my dad, and now she's alone at home whilst my sister and I have our jobs to keep us busy. I worry about my mom and I worry about losing her next too. Most people I know are ages 50 who's lost their parents and my sister and I are much younger, and we'll never get to experience our weddings or birth and children with out parents and we are jealous of those who still have their fathers. I feel totally withdrawn, it feels a comfort to be around some family members as I know they are hurting just as much. Other family members I'm angry at as they haven't bothered with us. Some friends I'm angry at as they haven't bothered or don't understand. Colleagues/ work I'm angry at as they don't show compassion or support, and it changes you as a person. I'm dreading Father's Day, and his bday which isn't until towards the end of the year, and my bday not long after his, then Xmas, new year and the anniversary or his death. I don't even want to acknowledge my bday, Xmas, or new year. It feels a comfort to come on this site and share and read people's stories/experiences/emotions as you feel you're not alone, which brings a bit of comfort xx

  • Hi

     

    I can really relate to this aswell. My dad passed away last week from kidney and brain cancer.My mum and dad were married for 40 years and like you I am worried about how my mum is going to cope with all of this.My dad had been ill since last November and like you we all fought with him. He always had a visitor at every visiting time, we laughed, we cried and we tried to make the most of the time we had even though he was exhausted and his movement was limited due to brain tumours. My dad was a hard working man who would do anything to help his family and friends and did not deserve this.  My dad wasnt in phsyical pain as such it was more mental battle and a battle with his body in that  he lost a lot of movement. I am glad he no longer has to worry about all of this and then he can be at peace but we are all lost without him and feel like a part of our world has been ripped away from us. I am being strong but sometimes I feel like I am being too strong and that I need to cry more

  • My dad passed away on Thursday from cancer that was in many places his liver being one of them. I was there with family around him when he passed. His passing seemed very peaceful which gave me some comfort and I tried to remember that his body was his body and his spirit had passed to somewhere better. From Thursday to Sunday it felt like he had just gone somewhere like gone out to the shops and that's why he wasn't at his house. But last night onwards it's sinking in I will never see my dad again I will never hear him again. I feel angry that life is meant to carry on as it did before. I know it needs to but it seems unfair. I know my dad is no longer in pain but I feel like I need to know he's ok. I sometimes go from being OK to being intensely upset and crying. The disease took away my dads life his dignity and it's so hurtful that he was made to go through this. I feel all of your pain and can completely relate. I don't know how long it's going to be before I start feeling normal but also I sometimes wonder if I cry enough. Will my dad think because I don't cry loads that I don't miss him because I do miss him. I think about him all the time and miss him so bad I just wish he could come back as he was before getting cancer. 

  • Hi sally1985

    so sorry to hear of the loss of your dad from this awful horrible disease.

    You thoughts and situation sounds similar to mine, I lost my dear dad last September , never thought he would pass away from this disease, I lived in a world of hope, he had unknown primary somewhere around his liver/gall bladder and secondary on lung and liver, went through 6 months of chemo.

    He passed away peacefully with all of us there, but I spent the next few days thinking  he had just popped up the betting shop etc, and still 9 months passed I still believe he has popped out when I first go into my mums and dad's house, I am not sure it ever sinks in , but it does get a little more realistic as your mind does start to register of the loss and becomes easier to talk about dad to people without getting to upset. I to felt I did not cry enough but it does not always take tears to  express grieve, just in the way we adapt to living beyond grieve is an expression of loss. 

    Take care