Hi Candykate,

I am so sorry to hear about your Dad’s diagnosis. It sounds as if things are pretty widespread. I fear that you and your sister have a difficult road ahead of you. My mother had breast cancer for 12 years, but developed secondaries in her liver, lungs, brain and bone in her final year. It was harrowing to see her deteriorate so quickly at the end.

I am glad to hear that the steroids have made such a difference to him. Sometimes at this stage, they can recommend chemotherapy, which doesn’t clear the cancer, but can reduce the rate of growth, which gives the patient a little longer. At other times, the doctors may not feel that the patient can undertake chemo. If this were to be the case, I’m sure that his doctors would possibly be quite happy to continue with the steroids.

My consultant usually informs my GP of any change in medication by letter and she prescribes them from then on. Just ask the consultant and make sure that this is the case.

It can be a good idea to write down all the questions that you, your sister and your Dad have for each appointment. You will probably all come up with different questions, so it is worth collaborating.

I hope that your consultation goes as well as possible tomorrow and that there is a suitable treatment available for him.

Please keep in touch and let us know how he gets on. There is always someone here for you whenever you feel like talking.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx