My dad has been very suddenly and unexpectedly been diagnosed with a very aggresive cancer, and deteriorated from seemingly healthy to basically bedbound in a matter of weeks. He's been given 'weeks to months' to live. My family is five hours away from where I (24 year old grad student) live and work, and I am really busy with projects and responsbilites.
I've never lost anyone to cancer, so I don't know how it progresses. I was wondering, really, whether anyone had any advice about what I should do? Whether I should stay where I live, visiting when I can, or just put everything on hold and go and stay with my family for as long as possible? My dad has said he wants me to get on with life, enjoy myself, do everything I'd usually do, which I can only do if I'm in the city where I live - but I'm terrified I'm going to miss my last few weeks (or months?) with him. I just wish I had a better idea of how long he has. It all seems so vague and confusing at the moment, particularly as its been so sudden.
Has anyone else had a similar experience of being far away from a dying loved one? How did you manage it? Would really appreciate any advice.