Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

How can I best support a relative with terminal cancer? And her daughter?

9 replies

HappyFrappy · 05/05/2026 20:02

A relative has just been diagnosed with a nasty cancer, expected to live maybe a year, with horrid chemo. She is just a bit younger than 70, but really fit and healthy otherwise, this has been a real shock.

Any advice on how to support her, and should I buy her a gift? I'm also worried about her daughter, who has young kids of her own, who is going to be knocked for six by this news. I can't think what to say or do.

OP posts:
Velvetgoldmine · 05/05/2026 20:05

In a similar position caring for someone with stage 4. I will be interested to see what advice people give.

Mumof1andacat · 05/05/2026 20:27

Offer practical help like to watch the children if needed, some gardening to help keep on top of things. Just offer your time and a friendly ear if anyone wants to talk.

Endofyear · 05/05/2026 21:06

Your relative doesn't need a gift - they just need your support and to spend time with them. Help out practically with cooking, housework and lifts to hospital appointments etc. And be available to listen when they need to talk. I'm so sorry you've had this difficult news 💐

ThisMustBeMyDream · 05/05/2026 21:08

For me (who is going through similar) id appreciate practical help the most. Think mothers help type of role. That would mean the world to me, but not everyone is the same so I guess the best thing is to ask and see how best they would want to be helped.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 06/05/2026 15:24

Endofyear · 05/05/2026 21:06

Your relative doesn't need a gift - they just need your support and to spend time with them. Help out practically with cooking, housework and lifts to hospital appointments etc. And be available to listen when they need to talk. I'm so sorry you've had this difficult news 💐

While the above is good advice, I just wanted to mention that one of the ways you may need to support her is by not spending time with her.

One of the things that my Mum found hardest in the last year of her life was everyone wanting to spend time with her.

Understandably, friends and relatives wanted to make the most of the time she had left and wanted to see her, and my Mum often seemed on good form for them, but it left her drained, and with no energy for the people she really wanted to spend the rest of her life with - her husband, kids, and grandkids.

One of the hardest things me and my brother found was acting as a bouncer for her, having to tell well meaning friends that no, they couldn't see her, not even just to pop in for 5 minutes.

By all means keep in touch, and offer to see her, but make it clear you won't be offended if the answer is a no.

Ted27 · 06/05/2026 15:37

@HappyFrappy

sorry that your relative has had this news.
I have incurable cancer, yet to find out if it’s terminal.
from my perspective - gifts aren’t necessary. Particularly flowers. I had three bouquets delivered in one week, I felt like I’d already died. In the last week I’ve had two people turn up with bags of food that I didn’t ask for, don’t want or need and wouldn’t have chosen anyway.
I have two friends who are constantly texting and wanting to come round for a cup of tea because it would be lovely to see me, even though they saw me yesterday and what I really want is to do my ironing.
my friends are lovely, Im single so their support means the world to me. But it can get overwhelming.
what you can do depends really on where you are in the pecking order so to speak. Are you immediate family like a sister, or second cousins once removed, are you really closer to her daughter than her - maybe your support is best directed to her to free up her time to help her mum

HappyFrappy · 06/05/2026 15:53

This is so helpful, thank you.

You're right to point out that it's not about me - I am feeling really guilty that I turned down an invitation to see her earlier the year, and desperate to make sure I do see her before it's too late, but if she'd really rather be with her own husband and kids etc, then obviously that's the priority.

I might get in touch with her son to see if he'd like to ask me to do anything, I think he might be slightly more able to step back and think what would help than her daughter, who I know is just devastated. So I need to try to help her perhaps mostly. Thanks so much

OP posts:
FantasiaTurquoise · 06/05/2026 16:35

This was my family's situation I'll be as honest as possible. Sorry if I come over as too frank but good intentions do not justify bad actions.

It's definitely not about your need to see her - she now has a very limited amount of time and must use it how she wants to. And by all means bring flowers if you're invited round but don't send a 'sorry you're dying, have some tulips' gift.

People don't always know what they need until they need it. So the most important gift you can give right now is deep and intentional ACTIVE LISTENING.

My mum wanted to be treated normally and not talk about it. So the friends we most appreciated were those who respected that, and limited their visits to 40mins without being asked so as not to overtire her.

What we wanted most was for people to say that they would be there if we needed them and then, when we did ask for help, say yes - whether that was a lift to hospital, going for a walk with my dad, or picking up medication.

End of life stage has a more complex set of needs (and requires even more active listening so as not to impose on people's last days with their families) but your friend is not there yet.

The best people were the ones who listened, said yes and did what we asked without making it all about themselves. We had a meal rota at times (this site and the friend who co-ordinated it was a godsend: https://takethemameal.com/) and the ones we most appreciated were those who dropped it off at the door with a bottle of wine and didn't invite themselves in for a chat 'to see how we were'. Or the friend who came and installed a ring doorbell as we are all awful at DIY. Those are the ones I most remember and I will never forget their quiet kindness.

If you have a relationship with her son, you could just say how sorry you were to hear the news, ask if there is anything he thinks she or the family need right now and tell them to add you to a list of people to call on if they need ...[whatever you are able to commit to]. If you can't commit then don't make the offer as it's humiliating and exhausting to call someone who's said 'I'll do whatever you need' only to find that weekdays are difficult for them, they have pilates on Tuesday evenings and can't do Thursdays or Sundays. Give time constraints if you have any eg 'weekdays are difficult for me but if you ned any shopping dropping round in the evening or a meal I would be happy to help', or 'if your mum needs any lifts to and from hospital appointments I would be happy to help on Tuesdays'.

The next year will be awful for all concerned but I also remember it as a time when we were shown great kindness. That is the greatest gift you can give them.

Maddy70 · 06/05/2026 16:46

When I was diagnosed I hated when people treated me differently. Ask to go out for coffee, drinks , dinner etc.
Offer to walk their dogs etc

New posts on this thread. Refresh page