My aunt is very dear to me and has been like a mother to me. I now live 60 miles away and can't get to see her very often, sadly. I have 3 dc - 2 under 3, so to keep the risk of infection reduced I can't take them with me to visit, so this further limits my options.
Late last year she was diagnosed with primary peritoneal cancer. She had an operation to remove her peritoneum (sp).
They didn't find a single tumor but they said it was like rice scattered on a plate. I think it was stage 3 when diagnosed. She had bad ascites (sp) they drained off 4 litres.
She then had chemo which reduced the levels of antibodies in her system.
Since then she has found the cancer markers are increasing and her current chemo isn't working. She is about to start another course of chemo - this is the one that will make her hair fall out.
She is a very practical person and on hearing this started knitting hats!
For a long time she has been saying that they will manage to get the cancer into remission but she has form for epic denial and just telling you the bits she wants to.
So my question is realistically what is next for her? The current chemo isn't working, what is the likelihood of this next lot improving her health. She finally admitted that the drs can't cure it. I did some googling and it doesn't look good. She is mid 80s but in excellent health otherwise and very fit and active. I am seeing her tomorrow and I know that she feels unwell and she thinks it's from the cancer not the chemo. In a week she has another ct scan so hopefully we will have more concrete news then.
I am terrified of losing her but need to be realistic. I need to know what the expected outcomes and expectations are.
She won't tell me very much and I want to be able to offer some practical support. Her very aged partner - 94 is doing a lot but he has the start of dementia. She doesn't want to be a bother but I want to make life a little easier for her.
So far I have bought some hats, warm bed socks, made some bland but nutrtious soups and stocked up on some good books.
I am terrified of losing her and don't want to look back and wish I had done more. She is a stubborn old gal mind and will tell me to back off should she feel like it! When my uncle died of cancer she played down how ill be was and then I got to see him one last time before he died and it was so quick as they had kept the full extent of it from us. I still feel terrible for not doing more for them both at that time and don't want a repeat of that experience, but obvs it's not all about me.
Can anyone share any experiences they have of this type of cancer as googling it just makes me even more worried. Tia.
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Life-limiting illness
Can anyone help me understand my aunts cancer
32 replies
Chipsandonionrings · 13/12/2016 20:21
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