trying to cope

susan 9 years ago

2 replies

i've just been diagnosed with terminal lymphatic cancer, given weeks/months. have just come back from 23 years in the East (china,taiwan) and feeling completely overwhelmed by family, doctor's appointments, the uncertainty of what will happen. my daughter booked me in for a month at a holiday let in Cornwall to be near her, but she's too busy to sit and talk. i feel like Red Riding Hood's grandmother stuck in the woods. can't stop crying.

SUZIE 9 years ago

Hi Susan, welcome to the Community. Firstly, can I tell you how sorry I am that you have had this devastating diagnosis. I think it is very important that you get some emotional support sooner rather than later and this Community will hopefully form part of a support network for you. Have you been referred for any support at all? The admins on here will likely signpost you in some useful directions. I wonder if you daughter is struggling too much to talk rather than that she is too busy? Have you tried to talk to her about the diagnosis? Reading your story I can imagine that, aside from the diagnosis, you are feeling a huge emotional upheaval from leaving behind decades of living away. Do you have other friends and family, near or far, who you can confide in? x

MarkWilkin 9 years ago

Edited by MarkWilkin 9 years ago

Hi Susan I'm sorry you're having a bad time with this and I hope we can help support you here and also give you some pointers to some places you can get face to face support.

You should certainly ask your GP or your district nurse about local support groups you can join, so you have more people to talk to about what you're going through.

Our help page on coping with your feelings has some good advice and also has links about finding counselors and other local support.

Age UK can also tell you about their local groups on this page - http://www.ageuk.org.uk/about-us/local-partners/ or you can ring them on 0800 169 65 65.

If you've got any other questions please do read our help pages or ask them here.