Elderly DM faking cancer

[SideeyeSue2]

NCed. She's nearly 80, in medium health, with carers (dodgy leg) and family calling every day. Went to the doc, as assisted by carer, on Tuesday. When we called to see how it went, she told me and Dsis that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

We're both shattered by it. I call Dsis to check she is ok, but she's on the phone to DM's carer, who's a mate and who sat in on the appointment.

Carer lady called Dsis to say Absolutely No Cancer, she's got no idea why DM is saying this - only diagnosis was mild COPD as DM has smoked for 60 years.

DM has form for faking illness - before Xmas she claimed DF was 'dying'. When I hastily arranged a medical review he was declared fine, but underweight.

How do we treat DM? She hasn't got dementia.

Dsis and I are exhausted, badly shaken and wondering how to carry on contact. Managing the carers for two elderly parents is hard enough, but the emotional load is getting too heavy to bear.

As your mother has long term 'form' for doing this throughout her life, you won't be able to stop it. In terms of her health, you are already doing what you can - ensuring there is always someone with her for medical appointments who can relay the correct information back to you. Cross-check anything she says with a carer/medic.

I hope this does move on to her inventing tales about the carers, which will put them in a very precarious position.