My dear Mum: 3 days from diagnosis to death

I don't really know how to express how I feel right now, I'm still in a state of disbelief that I could lose my mum so suddenly. Apart from a swelling on her neck that caused her not to sleep so well (and prompted a hospital appointment to see what it was) she seemed fit and well. She then began feeling breathless, had scans on Tuesday at the hospital, was told by her doctor the next day that the scans found a mass in her chest that was likely cancer and then she died on Saturday. Only 3 days later. I really thought she would be ok. I convinced myself that because she had began feeling poorly for only a short time that we had caught the cancer early and she would be ok. She died of cardiac tamponade, fluid had built up around her heart as a result of the cancer. We are still waiting on definite answers but were told at the hospital following her death that it's very likely she had a very aggressive form of lung cancer and prognosis would have been poor but I keep thinking if we had only just got her to hospital sooner she would still be with us. She was only 68 and full of life. It's hard to come to terms with her not being with us any longer. I'm 32 and have now lost both my parents.

Has anyone had experience with a sudden death from cancer like this? I'm just struggling to believe it's possible but know this disease is cruel and unfair.

Parents
  • Hi Dexter,

    im sorry to hear you too have lost a mum at a young ages of 68.

    I too lost my mum in February to lung cancer but had spread to her Brain, I knew my mum was seriously ill for 17 days before she passed away. I have days I feel I'm in a complete bubble with the shock of losing my mum with no warning at all. My mum was just living her normal life but became slightly unwell end of December / January but nothing of concern as my mum just carried on regardless! I miss my mum so much I struggle to even talk about how much she meant to me. My mum had just turned 70 before passing ...and because she was in hospital I wasn't allowed to she her on her last birthday. I only had 7 days of being with my mum from her diagnose as the first 10 days she was in hospital and I wasn't allowed to visit her. My mum passed away at home two days after getting her home with us. I don't no how I'm ever gunna manage without her, if I'm honest. I'm sorry I can't offer much more but be assured many of us on here are going through similar losses and we all just trying to support each other anyway we can.

    please message me if you want to chat more 

    take care

    lisa 

  • Hi all it's awful that we are all experiencing this my dad (my king) had Lung cancer managed to shrink it down with radio therapy to then find out it was growing back with an attitude fast forward 6-7 months on immunotherapy and we get the appointment on his 70th birthday 24/02 this year that treatment has stopped there's nothing else can be done due to another one forming with in the cancer that was on the Thursday by Saturday we had to rush him in to hospice I got the next day with him before being told he had covid on admission I couldn't go back due to the fact I lived with him for the last 2 months caring for him.

    My sister his step daughter stayed by his side I tried my hardest to try get him home but it was already happening the driver was put on and I could only be there through face time , the last night I went of line told dad over face time (not that he was able to comprehend) that I would be calling at 7 in morning and to get rest. The only comfort I get is he waited for me,I called at 7 and new stuff was happening  I told him it's time to begin that next adventure and that I'll be fine and that I love him . It then happened I couldn't believe how quick from one appointment to the next day could change things.

    what I didn't realise at the time is i wouldn't be fine yes I put on a brave face and do day to day things with my 5 children but at night when I lay in bed crying myself to sleep I'm really not. 
    That's when I turn to these posts and see how others are coping not coping asking questions giving advice It comforts me in a way because only you no or are experiencing how I am really feeling and how I'm feeling is actually normal.part of the grieving process 

    suppose what im trying to say is read up read everything get help get support ask questions we are the ones that live it or lived support each other no age can prepare us at 35 im still learning the process and will probably never know how to grieve but will have to learn to live with it so just wanted to put a message up of support

Reply
  • Hi all it's awful that we are all experiencing this my dad (my king) had Lung cancer managed to shrink it down with radio therapy to then find out it was growing back with an attitude fast forward 6-7 months on immunotherapy and we get the appointment on his 70th birthday 24/02 this year that treatment has stopped there's nothing else can be done due to another one forming with in the cancer that was on the Thursday by Saturday we had to rush him in to hospice I got the next day with him before being told he had covid on admission I couldn't go back due to the fact I lived with him for the last 2 months caring for him.

    My sister his step daughter stayed by his side I tried my hardest to try get him home but it was already happening the driver was put on and I could only be there through face time , the last night I went of line told dad over face time (not that he was able to comprehend) that I would be calling at 7 in morning and to get rest. The only comfort I get is he waited for me,I called at 7 and new stuff was happening  I told him it's time to begin that next adventure and that I'll be fine and that I love him . It then happened I couldn't believe how quick from one appointment to the next day could change things.

    what I didn't realise at the time is i wouldn't be fine yes I put on a brave face and do day to day things with my 5 children but at night when I lay in bed crying myself to sleep I'm really not. 
    That's when I turn to these posts and see how others are coping not coping asking questions giving advice It comforts me in a way because only you no or are experiencing how I am really feeling and how I'm feeling is actually normal.part of the grieving process 

    suppose what im trying to say is read up read everything get help get support ask questions we are the ones that live it or lived support each other no age can prepare us at 35 im still learning the process and will probably never know how to grieve but will have to learn to live with it so just wanted to put a message up of support

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