Only 2 months to live!

[Tinky]

A relative has been told by her doctor that she only has two months to live; cancer has spread to her liver and bones. How do you cope with that?

[iglu]

Originally Posted by Tinky

A relative has been told by her doctor that she only has two months to live; cancer has spread to her liver and bones. How do you cope with that?

Absolutely terrible news... I would say to them, try to forget about it, & have as much fun as you can. Easy to say, difficult to do...

[Tinky]

Originally Posted by iglu

Absolutely terrible news... I would say to them, try to forget about it, & have as much fun as you can. Easy to say, difficult to do...

Thanks iglu. Just don't know how I would cope, expect after the initial shock I would try and do all the things I had been puting off, like making a will, going abroad for a holiday, doing things I always wanted to do, in other words let my hair down and to hell with what others think! Don't know how Mr Tink and the rest of the family would cope though, that would be something else. Also it would have to be done fairly quickly before the illness prevented me.

[Safeman]

omg i am sorry to hear that m8 my dad had cancer a few months back. he had to go to hospital quiet a few times that was hard for the family he was smoking 40 a day he has stopped smoking now he has to go back a few more times hope we dont hear the news you had i feal for your family

[Tinky]

Originally Posted by Safeman

omg i am sorry to hear that m8 my dad had cancer a few months back. he had to go to hospital quiet a few times that was hard for the family he was smoking 40 a day he has stopped smoking now he has to go back a few more times hope we dont hear the news you had i feal for your family

Thank you for that Safeman, sorry to hear about your Dad, hope he has better news. I don't know whether I would want to be told I only had a short time to live. Would it be better to carry on in ignorance, or have the opportunity to put your house in order? I just can't make up my mind.

[Angua]

Say and do everything you can in the precious time you have left. At least you have the chance to say goodbye in a positive and memorable way.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Tinky

How do you cope with that?

Be bright and positive around her, no matter how hard it is for you or how bad it gets for her

[lauzjp]

I'm sorry to hear that Tinky. Personally I would claim every benefit (I know it sounds terrible - but there are a fair few extra quid they need to make sure they are getting it all 0800 88 22 00) going and spend spend spend!

[Tinky]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Be bright and positive around her, no matter how hard it is for you or how bad it gets for her

Easier said than done, I should imagine Daddy, especially if she starts to suffer with the pain etc., her close family are going to have to be very strong for her.

Originally Posted by lauzjp

I'm sorry to hear that Tinky. Personally I would claim every benefit (I know it sounds terrible - but there are a fair few extra quid they need to make sure they are getting it all 0800 88 22 00) going and spend spend spend!

Thanks for the tip lauzjp, but she lives in Australia and they have a different benefit system, i.e. they have to provide for their own pensions etc, so I expect any benefits will be thin on the ground.

[lauzjp]

Originally Posted by Tinky

Thanks for the tip lauzjp, but she lives in Australia and they have a different benefit system, i.e. they have to provide for their own pensions etc, so I expect any benefits will be thin on the ground.

eek! is she not an expat?

[Tinky]

Originally Posted by lauzjp

eek! is she not an expat?

Yes she is an expat, but they have also taken Australian citizenship. Thankfully however I don't think they have money worries.

[lauzjp]

ooh, I would still give the benefit enquiry line a call and see if she is entitled to anything. why pay out if there's money available that she's entitled to? also have a look here -
http://www.service.sa.gov.au/content...x?id=10&page=7
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/interne...ther_links.htm
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/interne.../iid_index.htm

[Tinky]

Originally Posted by lauzjp

ooh, I would still give the benefit enquiry line a call and see if she is entitled to anything. why pay out if there's money available that she's entitled to? also have a look here -
http://www.service.sa.gov.au/content...x?id=10&page=7
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/interne...ther_links.htm
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/interne.../iid_index.htm

Thank you again lauzjp, this information will be of interest to other members as well, I'm sure.

[Halcyon]

Sorry to hear the sad news.

It is always difficult to know what to do in situations like this.
Everyone is different and the main thing to do is to make sure she can do as many things as possible in the time she has left.
Make this time enjoyable and make sure you make the last few months some of the best memories you will all have with her.

There will be times where you will have to be strong and it will be inevitable that you will have to talk about serious issues at times.

It's a difficult time for everyone, yet you can make sure that her last few months are happy ones and just be there for her.


Good luck.

[greencreeper]

My mate lasted 10 days from the diagnosis. You can't really cope. Just have to deal with it day-by-day and hope you'll make sense of it one day. Best wishes though, Tinky. Hope your relative is comfortable and not suffering.