My dad is dying and I don’t know how to cope

We have recently found out our Dad has two types of lung cancer and it's possibly spread further. He has been told it's inopersble and the max time we are looking at is around 18months. He has been offered chemo however he is rapidly rapidly declining. It has only been two months and already he has lost so much weight and is clearly not ever going to be himself again. He is on such strong pain relief that he spends the day in and out of conciousness. My whole family is in bits and we are all coping badly but in different ways. I can not stop crying, right now I feel as though someone is stood on my chest and I could stop breathing. I really don't know what to do with this or what I should be doing for the best. Surely I can't keep going like this. I've tried to find some help online but it's all about grieving once you've lost a parent. I feel like I'm grieving already. He is only 53, never smoked, never drunk too much, kept fit. This is Pleural Mesothelioma which is aspestos related so we are told. I am terrified, about the fact my family will never be the same again, that mum is going to be alone, tbat we will never share any of the simple times together or even the wilder times as a family. I'm worried how my brother and sister, both in their 20's are going to cope. I'm even crying at the thought of never having a drink together again, or the fact we can't eat a meal anymore as he can't face food. He's literally dying in front of our eyes and I'm so lost as to how to cope with this. 

  • Hi all

    Similar to all of your stories my Dad (68) was diagnosed in December 2022 with stage 4 stomach cancer which has spread to his lungs and liver. He was given 3-6 months. 
     

    I don't live close but have visited each month and can see he has rapidly declined. It's heartbreaking. 
     

    My Dad was not offered chemotherapy because they said it was too late. He is now bedridden and on a morphine driver. We're told he is in his last few days. I'm worried about my Mum and how she will cope and my sister is no help at all.  
     

    I've told him I love him but I don't know what else to do. It's frightening to think this is the end. 

  • Hi x 

    I'm so sorry to hear your news .. it's an awful awful situation.

    I really struggled on what to say to Dad but talk about the good times. Talk about all the stupid things that have happened.

    We were told once Dad was in his final week... He even said I know it's this week. That statement will stay with me forever.

    We stayed at the hospice with Dad all night till he passed and I think we needed that last night.

    Nothing is worth that pain so we let him go.

    Try to stay strong with your family.

  • Thank you for your kind words.  They really do mean a lot.