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MacMillan nurse visit - parents told that my dad can't be cured despite not being told this by his consultants. Is this normal?

Jillbgl
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Hi, my dad has a massive HCC live tumor. He has recently had SIRT and we are awaiting scan results to see if it has shrank it. Today he was visited by a MacMillan nurse. I wasn't present and my mum & dad are quite upset by some of the things she said. She basically said what the consultants haven't, that he is not curable and they will just keep him stable for as long as possible. She then discussed what end of life care he would like, such as does he want hospice or home care. 

We were under the impression they were giving him SIRT with a view to possible resection in the future. 

Could it be this nurse was sent to lay the path that this is not possible now??

Or do they have this discussion with everyone just Incase? 

Parents
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    Hi Jill, 

    Obviously only your Dad’s care team will know what his prognosis is but, in my experience as a patient, the MacMillan nurse will only have minimal information about his diagnosis and prognosis.

    They seem to follow roughly the same script for everyone, including recording end of life care preferences. I was a bit miffed when I was asked if I’d like to have a look around my local hospice before I’d even started chemo - that was back in 2013 and I still haven’t visited that hospice.


    Good luck to your Dad.
    Dave 

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    Hi Jill, 

    Obviously only your Dad’s care team will know what his prognosis is but, in my experience as a patient, the MacMillan nurse will only have minimal information about his diagnosis and prognosis.

    They seem to follow roughly the same script for everyone, including recording end of life care preferences. I was a bit miffed when I was asked if I’d like to have a look around my local hospice before I’d even started chemo - that was back in 2013 and I still haven’t visited that hospice.


    Good luck to your Dad.
    Dave 

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