Well, officially she is my stepmum, my mum died of cancer when I was very small. My dad's mum also died of cancer when he was in his early teens.
She has symptoms of ovarian cancer. She has abdominal bloating, feelings of fullness and indigestion, has needed to sleep propped up with 3 pillows for several months and now has unilateral leg swelling, initially just her ankle but now whole leg.
She has seen her gp, is having some bloods done and a scan in the very near future.
My dad, in his head, already has her dead and buried, he's been through this twice already and understandably is anticipating the worst. She knows what is being looked for but is distracting herself by distracting him. I live 200 miles away and am a doctor in a very different field but know enough to know that symptomatic ovarian cancer has a shit prognosis.
Say some nice things, guys. I'm drinking lots of wine after a very busy weekend at work and a 'saying the right things' phone call with my dad.
It's not fecking fair. On either of them.
AIBU?
To be really very worried about my mum (and my dad)
sallysparrow157 · 24/08/2014 23:49
I don't have any words of wisdom but I hope the news from the tests etc. turns out to be good.
I suppose that at times likes this being a medic SI "worse" in a way because you probably play out all sorts of scenarios in your head?
Try to get a decent sleep tonight if you can.
Haven' got much useful to say but I'm here if you need to talk - being in the Antipodes means I'm here through your night, so if you're awake at 3am I can chat.
and (((hugs)))
Scream in the car with the radio turned up and follow that with some ranting and raving. That's what I do and it's very therapeutic, plus you don't have to apologise for loosing it. 
I'm so sorry your family is going through this Sally. I don't know if it's possible, but if you can be with your parents when the news is given to make sure they are told in simple terms, that would probably help. When my husband and I were given his diagnoses it was all "metastatic spread to the sternum, spinal column,...." My poor husband still thought he was curable as he didn't understand what they meant. Don't get me wrong, he's very smart but has never had the need to understand anatomy and physiology. Sometimes medical people forget that not everyone understands the language.
I truely hope you're wrong OP and if not, then make sure your parents get every bit of help available.
Oh OP, I'm sorry to read this 
It's such a difficult situtation you're in. Not quite the same thing, but my DH is a doctor (surgeon) and he had a very tough time when my mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Like you said in your OP, he knew exactly what the doctors were thinking, and what the prognosis really was (and by extension so did I) when my mum and her partner were very much in denial about it all. It was a very difficult position for him to be in.
You need support, and time to yourself, and probably to remind yourself occasionally that all the knowledge you have doesn't equate to your having to bear it all on your shoulders alone. Take it easy, and try not to think two steps ahead if you can help it 
Diagnosed with cancer in 1993 and still here. All the best to you and all yours
Hi Sally, hope you're OK. I had BC & one of the worst times was waiting for the diagnosis.
Once you know what your Step-Mum is facing, you will be able to deal with it & use all of your expertise to ensure that she gets the most effective treatment.
For now, this is just a period of time that you all have to get through. Being, "in the waiting room," is a rotten place to be.
You say that you live 200 miles away. I know that you are yourself a DR, but do you think that you might need time to be with your family at the moment? The stresses of the job + your family worries + wine = not a great prognosis for you.
My advice is to take the time that you & your family need & be together now.
You care for everyone else, (I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my wonderful DR's), please remember to take care of yourself.
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