Cancer; is there any help available?

[namechangedforthis0101]

Names changed for this as I don't want any family to see my previous threads.

My brother has recently been Diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma. He is 25, he has other mental health conditions, depression, adhd, asd and schizophrenia. He has just started his second round of chemo and has a pet scan next week.
My predicament is that I have taken 4 weeks off work already to be with him and help my mother as she is his carer and does not work, she doesn't drive either. Im struggling with the whole situation and my mental health has deteriorated (I have seen a dr) but I am the one putting my own life on hold, I have two small children and a husband of my own, but I am the one having to all the driving around to and from the hospital for the chemo, blood tests, pic line cleaning, and doing 45 minute drives each way to the closest hospital that has the facilities to do the pet scans. I'm also doing their food shopping for them and lending them money for their own bills. Is there any financial help available out there for people in my situation? I'm struggling to see how I will be able to return to work for at least the next 10 weeks while the chemo is on going and waiting to see if he needs radiotherapy, as well as doing all the running around. There is no one else around to help as we have no family in the county.

Sorry for the long essay, I'm overthinking and worried and don't really have anyone IRL to speak to..

www.macmillan.org.uk

Gosh, I’m sorry 0101. What an awful situation.
Macmillan may be a good place to start.
All the best for you and yours.

Is there a volunteer driver scheme which could help with driving to appointments. It is not realistic for you to take this on for 10 weeks and be there for your family.

Yes there is help ,my mums friend who doesn't drive got transport to and from chemo ..you can't do it all!

Yes there's help OP, he should have had someone explain to him or you or your mum as his carer the benefits available to him. My husband was diagnosed 3 weeks ago with APL and people have practically been falling over themselves to explain what benefits we're entitled to, from the very first day of admission.

Macmillan can definitely help, or if he has a specialist nurse assigned to him they should have information available. There should be a Macmillan stand or centre in the hospital with booklets that you can go and have a look at, or there's loads of information on their website.

Echo Macmillan and speak to his specialist nurse, there will be people who can help
The Macmillan Hub at your local hospital may be the best start point

My FIL has cancer and has just started claiming attendance allowance. Its £87 per week if he gets the higher rate, that could at least pay your petrol?

Why are you cleaning a picc line? The whole idea is that you don't have to do anything with them.
Whether you will get any help will depend on whether he needs someone to drive him there and back or would just prefer it. If he needs it then yes he is entitled to hospital transport or may get a volunteer driver. If he would prefer it then see if you can rally support for a rota. Ask friends, family, local church, etc.
With meals you can get meals delivered to your door, many elderly people do this. I have seen catalogues in our chemist for this. Basically ready meals delivered that you put into the microwave.
And ask Macmillan to do a benefits check.

Also rather than do their shopping, set up an online order that canbereordered easily.
And sorry, you mean the was going to hospital to have his picc line cleaned. Still doesn't make sense but maybe something has been lost in translation with drs.

Lots of places also have magpies centres that can help anyone with cancer.

I am not sure why you are paying for anything other than your petrol though? Your brother alwayshadtopay for his foodsothis has not changed. If he is on benefits he can reclaim travel costs, the hospital can advise on this.

There tends to be more support around for cancer sufferers than any other serious illness, so ask for it,Otis out there.

Maggies not magpies, auto correct is a pain.

Actually if he is stage four I think he is entitled to pip fast tracked. So please ask about this. If he is fast tracked for pip he will get this benefit very quickly.

Second Maggie's Centres - they will be able to help with emotional, logistical and financial help.

Thanks all. I will have a look at the places mentioned.

And the picc line get cleaned weekly & has the sticky/dressing things changed, is that not normal? we are back up the hospital tomorrow to have that done as well as bloods so I will be asking questions and locating the Macmillan nurses.

PICC line being cleaned once a week is perfectly normal, when I had mine it was weekly. Luckily for me I live about 5 mins from the hospital. But I know a friend had a volunteer driver take her, as others have suggested.

My husband's picc line was cleaned regularly too.

Yes like radleygirl says PICC line flushing and dressing change once a week normal (I used to have one). Hopefully you can find some help with transport for him. It doesn't seem realistic for you to do it all. Contact Macmillan or Maggie's as suggested above - or the hospital themselves.

Apologies. I had a picc line for two weeks and they didn't touch it. Didn't know it was normal to do that.

My friend had one that was left longer than a week regularly. Perhaps there are different types or it depends where they are? My husband got a dvt in his.