Coming to terms with a relative's illness

[Chanel05]

My gran was diagnosed with cancer which I discovered this evening. I am absolutely devastated of course. I am very close to my gran as I lived with her as a child. This particular cancer is not treatable and although she's not receiving palliative care, I've learnt that the life expectancy at this point is a maximum of 18 months.

I just don't know how to process or navigate my feelings. I can't even put into words how I'm feeling at this point.

Sorry to read this and I don't have any answers just didn't want to scroll by .Get all the help you can and anything to make her comfortable- sending care and strength xx

So sorry to hear about your gran.

Unfortunately the pain doesn't go - you just have to learn how to live with it. It truly is awful, I know from experience.

Spend all the time you can with your gran xx

You slowly come to rationalise it. It comes in waves and every new stage brings a new wave of fear that slowly becomes the new normal. There is joy in life even with a terminal diagnosis and there are still things to smile at. There are no right or wrong ways to deal with what the diagnosis brings. I am so sorry you are experiencing this.

I’m so sorry. It’s a fucking shit disease.

You don’t have to know how to process or navigate anything. You take it as it comes and some days that will be sobbing uncontrollably and other days you’ll be laughing. Neither is the wrong or right way. Just spend as much time with her as you can. Take lots of photographs of you together. Talk about her childhood and her life before you were born. I wish I’d recorded my aunt’s voice so I could hear it. 💐

I'm so sorry you've had this news. I recently lost my gran - who I was similarly close to - so I understand how hard this must be for you.

I'm no good with words of wisdom or comfort, but I'll be thinking of you and your gran this evening

Thank you for your messages. Unfortunately, she passed away this morning.