Feeling helpless for my son and his partner

My son got engaged to his partner end of October 2020 but couldn't buy the ring as shops were in lockdown. She hadn't felt well for a while but became really ill in the December, turned out she had to have emergency surgery to remove a mass on her bowel. During Covid no one able to visit her so she was alone when she got the news it was cancer and Stage 3.

She had chemo and we thought hopefully that was the worst over and actually wasn't too ill or sick and we were happy she didn't lose her lovely long hair. 

Then December 2021 she had a lump around her stoma thought it was a hernia turned out it was ovarian cancer.  Another surgery but they couldn't remove another tumour so she had more chemo to try to shrink it then they were going to do targeted chemo. She had a scan and then nothing said about the treatment. There were spots on her liver.

A few weeks ago she became breathless and pain in shoulders. She now has a bad cough and they've said it's fluid on the lungs but not enough to drain. So she's home after a 2 day stay in hospital with oral morphine she is taking at night. 

Now she's not really eating much and being sick.My son is obviously very worried as am I .

The dream wedding isn't happening but early on my son  said if it wasn't good news he would still want to marry the love of his life. 

She's only 35 and has a daughter (not sons)  it's just heartbreaking although I still hope something can be done to help her .

  • Hi there ...

    So sorry, cancer is so crule... and I can't give you advice on her cancer but as someone who has been through it, and lost far to many to this desese...

    All I can say is what we do .. and that's take every day as a bonus and live in the day ... your son sounds amazing and having you both hold her hand will mean more then you know ... I wonder how old her child is, and hope you both help that lass through ... maybe knowing you'll both look over her will help her know her daughter will be cared for ..

    Sadly there is no easy way through this time ... so hold on together .. and know it's o.k to not be o.k sometimes ... sending you a vertual hug.. Chrissie x 

  • P S... you will always find someone here to listen and hold your hand through too x

  • Thank you I  am absolutely devastated I really think now my sons fiancee doesn't have long.

    Her family is a bit dysfunctional and her daughter is 17  but barely speaks to my husband and I not that we have done anything wrong. Obviously she is young and must be depressed. 

    I think my son is in denial,  I had a hard conversation with him and explained that as they can't do the targeted chemo it means his fiancee isn't going to get better.  He just says but they haven't said it's terminal. 

    Now she's back in hospital being kept comfortable I think.

    He said she's drifting in and out when he saw her last night. 

    I can't stop crying now, I  spent 6 hours cleaning their house yesterday so it's nice  for her to come home,  but deep down  I  don't know  if she will.

    I felt better  after speaking to a Marie Curie nurse a few days ago about how she could get help at home.  Now  I just feel helpless. 

     

  • Hi .. 

    I think most of us feel so helpless in times like this ... all you can do is hold your sons hand and let him know, your there whenever he needs you ... 

    When things feel overwhelming just put your thoughts down here .. weather you receive a reply ... it sometimes helps just writing it down, sending you a vertual hug.. Chrissie x 

  • So after a heartbreaking few weeks, my daughter in law to be died on the 24th of October aged just 36.I am struggling today as they both loved eating out and at Christmas I would buy them both vouchers for their favourite Italian restaurant. Son had a voucher he had to use up and had to go eat in the restaurant alone as fiancee was too ill at the time. 

    Son is completely devastated and it will be a very hard time ahead.

    My husband held her hand when she passed abd everyone she loved that loved her was there to say goodbye, her wish. 

     

  • Hello shmagic

    On behalf of the Cancer Chat team, I wanted to post to offer my sincerest condolences to you, your son, and the whole family. 

    It's obviously an incredibly difficult time for you all right now but please know that we're here to offer any support that we can. 

    Thinking of you all, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator