How to deal with...,

[The2Ateam]

I have a sinking feeling feeling that at my mums next appointment, she will not be offered any further treatment for her primary liver cancer - how do you begin to deal with news that could potentially mean she could die in 3-4months?

I've been through this with my Dad and I still don't have an answer for you.

I've sat with him at appointments and heard the worsening of each step. The tumour is large. It's inoperable. There's chemo. The chemo isn't working. You have 4-6 months as a prognosis. You can have radiotherapy. It's not worked and things have progressed. Then finally to be told that things have come to ahead and there are 'hours to days' left.

It's truly grim and I'm feeling for you and your Mum.

There are many people who manage to surpass any prognosis they have been given, but Dad's consultant got it bang on.

Thanks. So sorry about your dad X
My mum's put up a good fight, but the news at her last scan wasn't very good, and I don't think they will offer her the treatment she last had as although it worked, it wiped her out for 8-weeks. Receiving a prognosis for the first time will be devastating.

I think the only thing you can really do is be there and be supportive. There will be lots of tears and lots of difficult feelings to face. Some people like to think about putting their affairs in order and want to plan their funeral/sort out other practical matters. Others, like Dad, can't really face it and we never forced him to talk about things he didn't.