Some advice

Hi, 

Have never posted on anything like this before but I just am looking for a bit of guidance as unsure what to do. 
 

my gran is 85, she had breast cancer 15 years ago and since Christmas last year she hasn't been feeling very well she's been back and forward at doctors for months had chest X-rays loads of bloods different medications etc etc but within the last 4 weeks has drastically gone down hill and has been really unwell it's been very difficult due to lock down as we haven't been able to get in to see her but have spoken to her every day and got to the point where we phoned the doctors and said they needed to do something so they eventually admitted her to hospital into the covid ward we didn't really think it was the Conorovirus as my gran hadn't left the house since lock down and no one had been in etc but they seemed to think it might have been that due to her symptoms, she was tested and it was negative so they moved her wards and she was put onto fluids and drips etc and seemed to improve a bit. 
 

They said they would do ct scan and if clear she would get home, ct scan was done Thursday and yesterday they phoned and said they had found several noduals in the chest, lungs and liver along with a lot of other smaller lumps and grey areas. We obviously haven't been allowed into the hospital and my gran is hard of hearing and a bit confused so we're not really sure exactly what is going on. My gran has refused any treatment and has refused Mri scan also so she was allowed to come home yesterday. We've had note from doctor explaining they found noduals on chest, liver and lungs etc but no one has really explained what exactly it is but we are guessing cancer and not good  I've been googling everything and thinking it sounds like metastatic breast cancer? 
 

Cab anyone give us any advice as to what to expect and how long we have with my gran? She's back home and seems in relatively good spirits but has said she doesn't want to know what it is and what will be will be which we fully respect but just from me and my families point of view we would like to know what we're looking at so we can care for her the best we can. 
 

sorry this is a bit of a rambling post all still a bit raw to be honest.

 

Thanks in advance

 

 Hayley 

  • Hi Hayley...

    So so sorry your going through this heartbraking time at the moment...  

    The thing is, no one can tell you how long your nan may have .. her Drs may have a rough idea .. they are the best ones to ask, as they have all her notes and history ... as every one is different .. some go much quicker than thought .. others can stay a lot longer ..

    I'd just say live in the day with her .. go with the flow .. she'll have good and bad days .. but having someone to hold our hands at the end ... means more then you'll know .. just take every good day as a blessing .. and hold on together on the hard day's... 

    So give her oncology team a ring .. write down your questions .. as it's easy to forget ... and McMillan have people that will listen to you too .. or Marie Currie... they are all Monday to Friday... 

    Sending you a vertual hug... Chrissie x

  • Hi Hayley,

    As Chrissie said, there is no way of knowing what the future holds and all you can do is to support your Gran whatever her decision.  As we get older we don't have the same fears of the future, and we accept that the end has to come somehow. I am in my seventies, and had my cancer only last year, but I am pretty sure that if I can go for another 15 years I would be saying exactly what your gran is saying.  In fact when ever I am in that situation, even in a few years, I would probably say the same.

    To be honest, the worst part of having this cancer was seeing how it affected my children. They suffered far more than I did. 

    Follow your Gran's lead, do what you can to keep her happy and pain free but don't try to push her into something she doesn't want as that will make it harder for her.

    Christine x