Cancer

garak112

garak112

garak112

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Joined
10 Oct 2011
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936
My Nan was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer about 2 years ago now and since then has had several rounds of surgery and a lot of chemo, but today she announced she was not fighting it any more. Which has upset us all a bit.

The doctors don't know how long she has left and as bad as it sounds I hope it isn't too long because she has been suffering almost non stop since she was diagnosed. It has really changed her as a person and she has been very bitter about it, and this has had an effect on how she has treated everyone around her.

Saying that she is still my Nan when you catch her in the right mood and I am going to miss her.

Not really sure why I wrote that to be honest.
 
always good to get things off your chest man, and after 2 years of fighting i guess she wants to just enjoy the time she has left rather than having to spend all her time having chemo/surgery.
 
So sorry to hear about your Nan :( cancer sucks major balls and its awful to see a loved one suffer with it.

Sometimes it's helpful to get things off you're chest and there are plenty of people on here who will listen. Just make the most of the time you have with her.
 
Yeah its a bummer but you know its coming at least. It will help you tie up loose ends, talk to her about her life and stuff while you still can if you want.
 
Very sorry to hear garak, my Grandad had a similar battle and he had neck cancer for over 6 years. Due to this for the majority of the 6 years he couldn't eat food and shrank down. I was extremely upset when he went, but I was glad he didn't have to suffer anymore.

He never lost his humor though, I remember my Mother telling me a story where, my Mother, my Grandad and the nurse were all in the same room. Whilst the nurses back was towards my Grandard, she was telling my Mother that he had maybe 2 months left if lucky, he started pulling faces to make my Mother laugh, which the nurse obviously found quite strange, laughing at that moment when she's been told he had 2 months left.
 
matdom said:
Hope shes one of the lucky ones, that some how it disappears.
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yea that's weird my brothers GF was diagnosed with terminal cancer a couple of years back, got pregnant anyway :O
Guess she really wanted a child before she died.

Then some months after a healthy baby was born she was told her cancer had disappeared
I think it was an inoperable brain tumour she had and was told she would be lucky to live for even another year
maybe the pregnancy boosted her immune system massively or something weird

I think she had one round of chemotherapy and gave up because it left her to bad to enjoy what little life she was supposed to have left
 
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Mt Granddad died of cancer last September after a 7 or 8 year battle. I saw him regularly during his final fortnight and it was a haunting experience the last couple of days. I posted in GD about it, people said over time I wouldn't remember his final days and they were right.

Spend the time with your Nan while you can, I was never close to my only Granddad as we lived so far away, only the last 2-3 years I saw him fairly regularly, but at least I knew him a bit better, he liked Chelsea cakes and fish and chips :)
 
My dad died of cancer about 10 years ago and I was tested for it last year. It's a horrible disease. I wish her the best.
 
Very sorry to hear this. I suppose the thing to do now is to make the most of whatever time is left. A friend of mine was admitted to hospital on 18-Jan for investigations relating to headaches. The diagnosis was a malignant brain neoplasm and he died this weekend albeit through heart failure rather than directly as a result of the tumour. The swiftness really hit home that you have to grasp life whilst it is there since you have no idea what is around the next corner.
 
Cancer is a terrible thing. She's going to need all the love and support you can give her, so stay strong and respect her wishes. You'll have plenty of good memories to remember her by!
 
garak112 said:
today she announced she was not fighting it any more. Which has upset us all a bit
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That is a brave decision she has made, and one that is usually only understood by the person making it. Sometimes you have to give up and it's ok to do so. Try not to be upset about it - enjoy what you have left.
 
yer_averagejoe said:
That is a brave decision she has made, and one that is usually only understood by the person making it. Sometimes you have to give up and it's ok to do so. Try not to be upset about it - enjoy what you have left.
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Brave indeed. I've two uncles who are both in remission at the moment so am very grateful that they've pulled through it (for now). OP: All the best!

Without wanting to sound too macabre, if I were in the position where it was terminal, I think I'd appreciate the time to tie up all the loose ends, and then I'd at least have the choice of being able to control the manner of my departure. There is no way I want the indignity of dying in hospital in a horrible state. It's just as traumatic for the family as well as the patient IMO. Dignitas for me.
 
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Sorry to hear that :(

It's a shame because she's been fighting it for 2 years already, but I can understand why she has decided to stop fighting. Spending any amount of time in hospital is stressful. Always thinking will it ever end? Cannot escape from needles and bruises because of all the blood tests and chemo. The after effects of radio/chemo, feeling sick and bowel problems etc.

Currently sat in St Luke's Cancer centre actually and surrounded by cancer patients. Sad place to be. My mum was diagnosed with cervical cancer a few years ago and I had to take her to radiotherapy daily and chemo weekly. It annoyed me having to spend so much time in the hospital and always waiting waiting waiting, so I can't imagine what it'd feel like to be an actual cancer patient. There were times where I would just break down and cry because it felt like it was never going to end. And I wasn't even a cancer patient! Fortunately for us, my mum's cancer was completely removed so there was an end to it, but I can completely understand your nan's decision to stop fighting :(
 
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