Cancer Support Group

Please visit Celebrate Recovery at www.celebraterecovery.com "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, wihich transcends all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Hello "CearaPoulinPhotos", I'm sorry for your loss and the grief you are experiencing about the death of your friend. I hope you are able to find some helpful resources to help you cope during this difficult time here:

• Grief and Loss Resource Center: http://www.caring.com/grief
• End of Life Resource Center: http://www.caring.com/end-of-life

Please come back and continue sharinging about the stages of your journey. We're here for you.

Kind regards, Sho of the Caring.com Community Team

Hello 'Millard52,' I'm terribly sorry to hear about the challenges you are facing in your caregiving journey. You are not alone. You may find a few of these following resources to be helpful in your quest to find answers during this difficult time:

1. Understanding a Cancer Prognosis: http://www.caring.com/articles/cancer-prognosis
2. Cancer Resource Center; http://www.caring.com/cancer

If you feel you need to speak to someone right away, you may get in touch with someone through a toll free cancer hotline such as the American Cancer Society 800-ACS-2345 (800-227-2345) http://www.cancer.org/asp/contactUs/cus_global.asp[cancer.org]

Please come back and keep us posted on your situation. We are here for you. Kindly, Sho of the Caring.com Community Team

Doctors often cannot predict how this will progress. I think they make predictions mostly because we press them to tell us what to expect.

We were told that my Mom would have 4-16 months. She passed away after 3-1/2. Everything during that time was unpredictable. I'm sorry that is not comforting, but we are not in control. Try to find peace in loving and helping your father any way you can.

Hi Esha, I'm so sorry to hear about this painful and heart breaking journey you and your Dad are on. It seems to me sweetie that your Dad is very close to the end of his difficult journey and in the process of transitioning from this life here on earth to his heavenly home where, I believe, he will be reunited with his loved ones who have passed over before him and you will have an Angel who will always be with you and watching over you. If there is still time, I would like to recommend that you get in touch with Hospice in the area your Dad is in. They are Angel's here on earth and they can be so much help to both you and your Dad. They are an amazing organization !! The important thing right now, is that your Dad is made as comfortable as possible. He is being given morphine, which is one of the medications that Hospice uses as well at the end of life. What's just as important now is that you are with him, reassuring him that you love him and that YOU will be okay. Many times, that is what the dying person needs to hear. They need to know that YOU will be okay after they is gone. Be with him as much as you can. Hold his hand, comfort him, talk to him (hearing is said to be the last of the senses we lose), let him know that it is okay to go. I know that is the last thing you want to accept, but a life filled with pain, is not what you want for him and with the cancer as advanced as it is, that is all he would have. Be with him esha, hold his hand, let him know you love him, pray with him and know that that is the best thing you can do for him now. I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers that his passing is peaceful and painless and that God gives you the strength you will need to accept this and find a way through this most difficult time in your life. Again, I am so sorry you are going through this. God Bless You Both ♥+♥

If your dad is developing dementia is trying to cover up the fact that he can't remember things. He is scared. THERE is no cure for this disease. Who is helping him cope with the realization he is ill? Someone needs to help come to terms with his illness and not just have it swept under the rug because your mom is sick. Acknowledge his feelings, listen to him because you would be angry and frustrated if you knew you were loosing your mind too. Then reassure him that no matter what happens someone will always be there for him and then maybe he can focus on your mom without all the fear and anxiety that if something happens to her he will be all alone as his disease progresses. And you have to keep in mind that dementia is a progressive disease with no cure and it is scary for him.

Hello 'neishy2', Thanks for sharing this difficult time with our community. I'm so sorry to hear about your Mother's condition as well as your Father's. It sounds like you're in a difficult position. It seems like your mother is being taken care of by health professionals the best she can right now. Perhaps, you should considered finding professional care for your father to help lighten the emotional load for you and your family during your mom's surgery? Here are a few resources that may help you become better informed about professional care providers:

Paying for care: * http://www.caring.com/paying-for-care * http://www.caring.com/ask/paying-for-care-questions

In the U.S., there are different types of care you can consider for your father:

• Home health aides offer personal care such as bathing, toileting, and feeding, along with minor medical care and limited housekeeping, such as changing sheets. Home health agency costs range from about $15 to $40 an hour, depending on location, services provided, and training—certified aides, who have more medical training, earn more. Home health agency costs may be covered short-term by Medicare if deemed medically required, and longer term by Medicaid. Home health agencies are best for those who need some personal or light medical care in order to stay in their home. You can learn more and find local care providers in our Senior Living Directory here (Note: all listings in the Senior Living Directory are based in the U.S.): http://www.caring.com/local/home-health-agencies

You may also find this article entitled "Hiring a Caregiver for In-Home Help" helpful: http://www.caring.com/articles/hiring-a-caregiver

• Alzheimer's Care Communities: Many nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care communities offer special care for residents with Alzheimer's or other forms of memory loss. But the quality of care -- including the ratio of staff to residents, training, activities, and safety measures -- varies widely. It's always best to look at several options to find the one that best fits your needs. You can learn more and find local providers in our Senior Living Directory: http://www.caring.com/local/alzheimers-care-facilities

Here are a few resources to explain the difference between different types of care providers:

• Difference Between Homecare & Home Health Care: http://www.caring.com/articles/difference-between-home-care-and-home-health-care
• Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care: http://www.caring.com/articles/whats-the-difference-between-hospice-and-palliative-care
• Difference between Assisted Living and a Nursing Home: http://www.caring.com/questions/what-is-the-difference-between-assisted-living-and-a-nursing-home

I hope some of these resourcees are helpful as you look for solutions. Come back often and keep us informed. We're here for you!

Kind regards, Sho from the Caring.com Community Team

Hello, I'm sorry to hear about your mom. Here is an informational resource on Caring.com that covers how to create a strong cancer support team: http://www.caring.com/articles/cancer-support Family and friends are typically welcome at support groups, but if you want to confirm, you might try calling ahead of time to learn about the group's preferences, and/or go with the friend a little early and ask before the meeting starts. I hope this response is helpful to you. Please do let us know if have more questions or need more guidance.

Hello Anonymous, Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. It's great to hear how other caregivers are overcoming challenging situations, like yours.

You may find the following resource pages on Caring.com to have some helpful bits of information in your caregiving journey with your husband:

• Lifestyle and Emotional Issues When Caring for Someone With Cancer: http://www.caring.com/cancer-care-and-lifestyle-issues
• Cancer Resource Center: http://www.caring.com/cancer

I encourage you to come back often and keep our community posted as you learn new new things or experiences new challanges in your caregiving journey. Kind regards, Sho of the Caring Community Team

Hello Anonymous, Thank you for sharing your caregiving challenges with us. I'm sorry to hear about your husband. Caring.com has a Money and Legal Matters page that may have helpful resources regarding issues of finance: http://www.caring.com/senior-money-legal.

If you haven't done so already, consider finding an Elder Law Attorney to help you and your husband sort out important money and legal matters for your family. You may search for an Elder Law Attorney in your area through our Elder Law Directory at www.caring.com/local/elder-law-attorneys

You may also search financial advice and referrals to organization in your area to help with financial planning through your local Area Agency on Aging http://www.caring.com/local/area-agency-on-aging

I hope this information is helpful to you as you seek guidance during this difficult time. Please don't hesitate to contact our team if you need help finding additional resources.

Kind regards, -Sho from the Caring.com Community Team