Thanks Mark, it's a stressing time for us all and our poor parents. But yes I hope they can help her with her mindset. Hope they give you dad some sickness pills as they may help.today she has had a lick of some yogurt. Just hate nagging all the time eat something, drink something etc    . I'm sure macmillian will help you also x

Sorry to hear about your mum . My dad is 55 and has just been diagnosed he was told alone aswell. Also at hospital while we didn't know why he was so ill a nurse had ask us if he was already having chemotherapy! Obviously to our shock and horror asked her what on earth is she talking about!  She said sorry my mistake!next day we are told he has terminal cancer . But the doctor told my dad alone ! No one should be told alone I think it's absolutely disgusting . 

Don't think you are nagging your mum to eat. You are only looking out for your mum & it's really important that she carries on eating x

Hello Kez1,

                 don't be too hard on your mum for being down,its a hell of a thing to take on board and tor the  treatment and recovery you are looking at years not months,so it focuses the mind when your start point is 73. l am now 7 yrs out from the start of my treatment for the same and the first 4 years were absolutely destructive,my start position was 13 years to the good and l am a working farmer and used to hard toil,long hours and a sheer blodyminded stubborness inherited from my mum. l have to tell you that l would likely reject any further treatment should it return,and l am still younger today by three years,and a year past 70 is equal to at least 3 of a younger person.

                                                                                                           Writing this l am in no way looking to discourage you,rather to give you an understanding of how great the challenge is so you are able to better understand your mums predicament and her need for patient considered support,

                 l can only wish that you both have the easiest journey possible whichever route you choose to travel, 

                          take care, 

                                             David

Hi David glad you are doing well .I'm sure you have travelled the journey to get were you are today .Well done for staying strong. I do hope once she has spoken to the macmillian Dr she will have a better understanding and that she can do as well as u .not sure if you had the advance stage she has ,but if you do it makes it look positive. We just need her to drink more and eat something we have tried many things. Tonight we are going to try pizza as she likes the smell and even if she had a tiny bit it's a start .let me know please if when you was going through the thick of it what foods you went too please. Anything I can do to help her through this journey .  Thank you for your message. Take care x

Hi Gem ,I'm sorry you and your dad also found out this way .totally shocking I think once they know you have cancer you should have a macmillian nurse come and see you right away. It may have saved my mum going into the dark place .we are trying hard to get her out of now.yep I feel like a nag lol drink please try and eat something.they say they can't operate and it will be only chemotherapy if she puts weight on.hopefully tomorrow after seeing the macmillian doctor it could make her feel positive. I hope now you also are getting help from the macmillian? If not get them on board.take care and keep in touch when u can 

X

Yep totally agree Mark. We will try anything to help her.

X

Hello Kez1,

                 yes l had advanced bowel cancer with spread to liver,chemo+radiotherapy pre surgery,60% liver resection followed by bowel resection and stoma,18 weeks of post op chemo,with stoma removed 14 months later.

                         Foods were little and often and grazing rather than meals,with lots of little tempting treats freely available.l was encouraged by the medics to drink coke and eat jelly babies,presumably for energy and to bind up an explosive bowel.The one constant thing was ginger beer,and that replaced coke,l found l could taste this and it cut through the nasty taste in my mouth.Small sips little and often helped with eating food,but the key was to eat anything and everything that you fancied l grow a lot of salad and found l eat a lot of this,not by meals but by picking fresh and eating straight away

         l just think to help you can leave a variety of easily accessible treats in small dishes and drinks around the house to stimulate the grazing habit and avoid the having to face a big set meal when it has become a turn-off  and appetite destrioyer, oh and fresh air even if it is a stroll around the garden.

good luck and hopefully the tide will turn for your mum,

                                                                                          David

Hi Mark 

How's things with you ? 

We just waiting now for stent to be fitted I'm really hoping it's tomorrow. 

Ian hates been in hospital Thank God he's in a side room.

I hope after he's op he will go back to the side room not a ward because he won't be happy at all it's full of women

How's your dad tday ? 

Take care Marie x

Fingers crossed the op goes well and and your husband goes back into a side room. That gives you more freedom to visit too. I have my daughter today so not seen my dad but apparently he is eating a little more & feeling a bit better. I'm going to visit them tomorrow & have a long conversation about McMillan help and getting more palliative care for my dad. He is only suffering between each Chemotherapy session & that is not right. Thanks for asking Marie x