r/CancerFamilySupport • • Nov 04 '25

Very helpful-what to do when a loved one receives a terminal diagnosis.

71 Upvotes

The question of what to do, logistically speaking, when your family member/friend is diagnosed with cancer is asked here very frequently. Our community member NegativeSea4435 came up with a great list of the most important tasks that need to be done before your loved one becomes gravely ill.

  1. Put every single important document of theirs in an organized folder. Loans, mortgage, bank info, car title, insurance information, credit cards, birth certificate, tax returns. Every single important document will probably be needed at some point or another. It might seem annoying to do this now but trust me, you do not want to do it after.

  2. Write down their passwords for everything you have; laptop, phone, email, banks, medical portal, etc. Include a list of subscriptions they are using that would need to be cancelled (like Netflix, Amazon, etc) and logins for those.

  3. ⁠Get a custom life story book and write down everything about their life up to now (if they can speak, you can write). Google something like “mom/dad I want to hear your story” it will come up, I suggest getting a few copies. This helps make sure your family will be able to tell their stories to your kids.

  4. ⁠Get a bottle of their cologne/ perfume for all close family. It can be very comforting for family members to have their loved ones smell. Scents get discontinued more than you think so maybe get a few.

  5. ⁠Help them write letters to family. I would recommend special ones for occasions they will miss. This could include special birthdays, weddings, kids, graduation, etc. This might be especially difficult for patients but it’s an amazing thing to have once they pass.

  6. ⁠Prepare your family - kids deserve to know what is happening just as much as adults. For young kids there is a book called “When Dinosaurs Die” that’s pretty popular for preparing kids for this. If your child has ever had a pet die or one of their friends lose a family member that can also help them understand the situation.

  7. ⁠Cancel subscriptions. Go ahead and cancel any subscriptions they aren't using instead of accidentally paying for months after their passing. This is also easier to do while they are still alive and takes something off your plate for after they pass.

  8. ⁠Gifts for family. Of course this is unique to your family but you can help them pick something of theirs the family member will have forever after the patient passes. It doesn’t need to be super fancy but it’s nice for them to have.

  9. ⁠Print or save all relevant medical records. Especially if their condition could be genetic, or just in general. Family may need it one day and it can be a pain to request after death.

  10. Pets. If they have any pets make sure it’s clear who will be taking care of them when your loved one passes. Designate someone to be in charge of collecting and caring for the pets right after the death so they don't get neglected. Your family member loved their pet and it's the right thing to do to honor that love by continuing to care for their pet(s).


r/CancerFamilySupport • • Jul 13 '23

For those struggling...I quote this often because I think it's a perfect description of grief.

643 Upvotes

As for grief, you’ll find it comes in waves. When the ship is first wrecked, you’re drowning, with wreckage all around you. Everything floating around you reminds you of the beauty and the magnificence of the ship that was, and is no more. And all you can do is float. You find some piece of the wreckage and you hang on for a while. Maybe it’s some physical thing. Maybe it’s a happy memory or a photograph. Maybe it’s a person who is also floating. For a while, all you can do is float. Stay alive.

In the beginning, the waves are 100 feet tall and crash over you without mercy. They come 10 seconds apart and don’t even give you time to catch your breath. All you can do is hang on and float. After a while, maybe weeks, maybe months, you’ll find the waves are still 100 feet tall, but they come further apart. When they come, they still crash all over you and wipe you out. But in between, you can breathe, you can function. You never know what’s going to trigger the grief. It might be a song, a picture, a street intersection, the smell of a cup of coffee. It can be just about anything…and the wave comes crashing. But in between waves, there is life.

Somewhere down the line, and it’s different for everybody, you find that the waves are only 80 feet tall. Or 50 feet tall. And while they still come, they come further apart. You can see them coming. An anniversary, a birthday, or Christmas, or landing at O’Hare. You can see it coming, for the most part, and prepare yourself. And when it washes over you, you know that somehow you will, again, come out the other side. Soaking wet, sputtering, still hanging on to some tiny piece of the wreckage, but you’ll come out.

Take it from an old guy. The waves never stop coming, and somehow you don’t really want them to. But you learn that you’ll survive them. And other waves will come. And you’ll survive them too. If you’re lucky, you’ll have lots of scars from lots of loves. And lots of shipwrecks.


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 3h ago

So exhausted, just need to vent

7 Upvotes

I am so, so exhausted. My 44 year old husband has stage 4 gastric cancer and just had his first treatment (chemo
and immunotherapy on Thursday). We have to travel 2.5 hrs away for his treatment. Our kids (5 and 13) stayed with my parents (who are 73 and 81, so it’s a lot for them). Night before treatment, I got hardly any sleep because husband was up and down with a cough he’s had for 3 weeks and pain all night—probably also nerves. After his treatment, we went back to the apartment we were staying in (a friend has it for work but barely uses it so was letting us stay there). I said I have to take a nap before we drive home, it would not have been safe for me to drive with so little sleep. So, I napped. And when I woke up, husband had a fever. The on-call line said we had to go to the ER. They gave him IV antibiotics, did a chest x-ray, tons of bloodwork, and then discharged him with another abx prescription. We got back to apartment at 3 am and I got 4 hours of sleep. Next morning, I had to drive hour-long round trip to get abx from pharmacy because of big city rush hour. Got back to apartment and husband tried to help me clean up, but he got super fatigued, so I finished cleaning and packing. Then I drove us home, which took 3 hours due to traffic. I told him I had to sleep in our daughter’s room because I needed a solid 8-hrs sleep and knew his coughing and tossing/turning wouldn’t allow that. I’m like the mom of a newborn who wakes up to any movement or sound and has to check everything is ok. Finally got a good night’s sleep.

Now, it’s Saturday and we are just bumming at home with the kids. Husband is constipated from his pain meds and Zofran (despite days of Colace and Senna) and was getting so uncomfortable, he actually asked for an enema (which he has been totally opposed to until now). I gave it to him, and he was able to go, but he got feces on the floor and then forgot to close the toilet seat when flushing. For anyone lucky enough not to know, body fluids have to be treated as toxic for 72 hours after chemo, and flushing aerosolizes whatever is in the toilet). We only have one bathroom. So, following the instructions from his nurse, I donned gloves and a mask and washed the entire bathroom down with soap and water. Had to throw away all the toothbrushes and son’s hair products because they were all out when he flushed. Finally finished cleaning, put a load of laundry in, and sat down to have a sparkling water. Meanwhile, son is playing his trumpet and daughter is playing her keyboard in the living room with the TV on too, plus they’re bickering. I just lost it and broke down crying.


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 24m ago

How do I support my mother?

• Upvotes

My mother has breast cancer, she’s had it for maybe 4-5yrs now, but had a lumpectomy maybe 2 years ago.

Shes 71, and honestly I’m surprised she’s still alive as she’s been dealing with health issues for a long time, and her mobility is so limited, and she’s not willing to make the changes she needs to to have a better life (dietary, movement, therapy etc)

The cancer has returned and is spreading. i don’t know what type it is exactly or what classification, just that it’s back.

Her doctor has given her 3 recommendations

Another lumpectomy with either chemotherapy or radiation therapy (I’m not certain)

A mastectomy

Or, and he said this ”do nothing and you’ll die of cancer”

I think the reason he said the last thing is because my mom is basically adverse to treatment.

Shes so scared of everything, I don’t know if it’s OCD or what, but she’s always terrified of everything that can go wrong.
Like for example, I live in a different state and once when we were experiencing a heatwave she asked what our plans were, and I told her we were gonna go up into the mountains ( a 20 minute drive where it’s 20 degrees cooler) and she had a conniption, she was talking about what happens if our car breaks down and basically said I wasn’t allowed to do it etc.

I don’t meant downplay the fears and concerns around her diagnosis and treatment but she has extreme anxiety and worry, shes just so worried about everything that goes wrong and she lets it control her life

She’s been adverse to chemo or radiation because she’s read so many horror stories about people like losing their bone mass and being unable to walk or something, and she doesn’t want to be sick for the remaining years of her life- which I understand but I wonder if the treatment isn’t as bad as she is making it out to be. Not to say that it isn’t bad but maybe the things shes focusing on are the extreme and rare cases.

She also keeps making excuses about the logistics of getting treatment. She would have to go 5 days a week and she says she “has no one to take me”. Meanwhile she has 4 daughters and 10 grandkids in the area who can help her, some of whom could stay with her day and night to help take care of her. But she’s acting as if no one is available.

As far as her treatment goes, her doctor has recommended a mastectomy, because he knows she won’t pursue any treatment so it’s the best course of action to just remove the breast.

I know she doesn’t want to get the mastectomy because she thinks she’ll get a STAPH infection or something. And not that this isn’t a legitimate concern, it does happen, it’s just that’s the first place her mind goes to.

and of course there has to be some incredible fears and concerns around willingly giving up a part of yourself- that part I certainly understand, I mean I can’t even imagine being in the position of having to consider giving up some part of myself.

So she is set on getting a lumpectomy and not pursuing any further treatment (like chemo or radiation). She thinks “oh I’ll just get a lumpectomy every couple of years“

Personally I think she’s making a mistake by pursuing only a lumpectomy with no other treatment. My concern is she’s giving the disease a chance to progress and spread to other tissue.

I feel conflicted because I don’t want to try and pressure her or persuade her to do something she doesn’t want to but I believe she is letting her fears and worries cloud her decision making when from what I understand is that this cancer is pretty easily treatable and, if she chooses to basically do nothing, at some point it wont be and it’ll be too late.

i think what’s worse is i inow there’s nothing I can say. I know that her mind is made up, she won’t consider that she has family who could help her if she needed it, she has decided no one is available. She has decided if she goes for an operation she will get staph and die etc.

i don’t know, I guess I’m just looking for some advice because my siblings are expecting me to ”talk some sense into her” and Im struggling being there and supporting her completely and my own selfish desires of wanting her to he alive.


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 4h ago

My spouse of 2 months was just diagnosed with a rare form of cancer…

1 Upvotes

How do I cope without being selfish? How do I stay strong for him while being so sad? We talked about moving in the fall so I could pursue an advanced degree that I’m currently studying a lot for. We talked about having a child. But now it feels like it’s not a good time to quit my stable job because he may need to quit his job and we’d need to put him on my insurance. We are still waiting on information so I know there’s not much to do right now, but I have anxiety and I feel like I’m spiraling. It’s hard not to feel like, do I stop all my studying because now I have to put my dream on pause? But then I feel selfish having that thought. Would love any words of encouragement or support or advice anyone can provide ♥️

Note: we’ve been together 5 years, married for 2 months


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 5h ago

Leave of Absence

1 Upvotes

I decided to go on a Leave of Absence because of burn out over the course of a few months. I was doing a shift and by the end of the night, I called it and said I am done. For context I am a production supervisor (50 union employees, 2 forepersons, and a partner supervisor). How is this relevant? That’s what I am trying to figure out 😮‍💨.

Last year in march my wife and my mother were both diagnosed with some form of cancer. My wife breast cancer (our daughter was just two month old). Fast track a month later my mother passes away from complications due to the cancer. Fortunately my wife’s diagnosis had a good outcome, double mastectomy, chemo and radiation.

Fast track to today I guess I have been just in a firefighting mode from being off taking care of my wife and two kids (with family support), and then after radiation going back to work. The transition for me back to work was rocky but manageable.

I think what led to the burnout was the I did not separate work from home…being rotating shift work it was hard to settle from the plant and then have the normal fun of raising toddlers (the melt downs, the laughs, and the parents being tired).

I’m not looking for sympathy but I’ve been off of work now for three weeks…I am seeing a therapist twice a week, focusing on two aspects 1. The grief of what happened with my mother and wife 2. The emotions I guess that triggered the responsibilities associated with being a supervisor.

I know now it was the right call to make and my family is supportive but I still have the guilt of not working, providing the income to the family and moving forward. My wife is working part time (until she is ready to do normal hours) and I am on EI.

I guess for me I just feel guilty and a bit lost with what I should do next as a change or a new careers. They say burn out is associated with culture and lack of a support, and I know there some leadership aspects I need to
Work on. I just don’t know when the time is right to start working again but also how to pivot my career to something else. In southwestern Ontario the job market is variable, so that’s what makes me nervous.

I am getting way better sleep, and a much better routine and being present with my kids…I have started working out again, which is what I was lacking.

Not sure if anyone can relate, I just don’t have an outlet other than my therapist.

Thanks.

For context I am the 35 and my wife is 33, we have two kids under 3.


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 1d ago

My wonderful sister

15 Upvotes

I found this sub and the posts are really helpful thank you

My sister

I found out from my dad yesterday my sister’s f26 cancer is “totally inoperable and they are taking her off chemo (which is a small blessing she was in a ton of pain) and putting her on hospice. He said it could be 6 months or it could be years but she is not going to beat it

I have never been hit this hard before. She has two beautiful kids and I am their uncle and we are very bonded. I can’t stop thinking about them and how this will change their lives forever. I just really don’t want it for them.

I’m sad my sister never gets to grow old and that so much of her life (4years) was spent in this battle. It’s such fucking bull$#!%

I cry like I have food poisoning, it just comes up and I can’t stop it. Then I’m fine, then here it comes again.

I just feel so sad for her and I don’t know how we are gonna get through this.


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 1d ago

To be sole decision maker.

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115 Upvotes

She's 59F suspected lung cancer with brain mets I 30M her sole decision maker and I called it. Shes woke saying that's shes tired already. Dnr and non invasive procedures, currently on palliative care making her feel comfortable.


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 1d ago

I’ve Become Negative Since My Father’s Death

19 Upvotes

I lost my father to lung cancer 20 days ago. I always thought he would be one of those people in the stories you hear about, the ones who experience a “terminal-stage cancer miracle” and suddenly get better, returning to their old selves. I thought we were special. But we were just ordinary. My father left this world just like everyone else. I don’t know.

My father’s last two months were especially bad. Mentally, he wasn’t the father I used to know anymore. But I miss even that version of him so much. At the same time, I know he was suffering terribly, and we were constantly in and out of the hospital. Seeing a good person suffer so much has destroyed me, especially when so many terrible people get to live their lives in comfort and enjoy themselves.

I prayed so much. I begged. I don’t know. Nothing is really within our control, after all. I haven’t lost my faith in God, but I can’t say I’ve ever truly felt His presence either. Since my only wish is to see my father again after death, I’m also trying to hold on to this faith.


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 1d ago

Stage 4 Colorectal Adenocarcinoma without Treatment

3 Upvotes

Hi. My MIL was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal adenocarcinoma 30 days ago. Here are the locations of cancer that I'm aware of... colon, lung, kidneys, liver, spine, legs, and vagina. She did 10 rounds of radiation in an attempt to shrink the spinal tumor for comfort. Other than that, she has decided not to do treatment. She is at home on hospice with a picc line for dilaudid and a colostomy bag due to tumors blocking her rectum.

I'm reaching out here because I'm struggling pretty hard, as is my husband. What is adding to the difficulty is our struggle to understand what to expect going forward. My in-laws are much different than my family. If this was my mom, I'd have access to her patient portal by now and we would have discussed all details involved and had the important conversations. My in-laws are very avoidant when it comes to strong emotions, scary information, or really any difficult subject matter. So, it's been really hard to get information and we're not wanting to step on toes by talking to the clinicians behind anyone's back.

I know every situation is going to be different, but I am hoping I can at least get a range of timelines that others have experienced. My MIL had a completely clean colonoscopy earlier this year. She started having back pain and GI symptoms in July. She was scheduled to see GI, but went to the ER for back pain in late September before her GI appointments, so this is all very unexpected and her decline has been pretty rapid. I have a 5YO, 3YO, and 6 month old. My 5YO is taking her decline pretty hard and my husband and I are constantly panicked that every moment is the last we'll have with her. I think SOME predictability would be helpful even if it's sometime between 4 days and a year. Just anything at all.

Some more details in case they are relevant... My MIL is 58, an alcoholic, has smoked most of her life, but quit in recent years. She has started smoking again after her diagnosis (I don't blame her). She has no appetite, but will eat tiny amounts when we put food in front of her. She is now basically a skeleton as far as weight goes. She did have 1 brief hallucination 5 days ago, but nothing since. She has dilaudid going through her picc line, is taking zofran, and sometimes takes muscle relaxers.

Can anyone share their experience with a family member that went through something even somewhat similar? I appreciate any insight anyone can provide. Anything you wish you would have known while you were going through this?


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 1d ago

My (26m) partners (28-nb) mom has cancer

2 Upvotes

My partner and I have been in a relationship for about 8 years. Their mother recently got diagnosed with cancer and she is already going through multiple stages of chemo. I just want to help.

Their family is so wonderful and I can see that they are all really struggling. They don't show it. For the most part, they are all very stoic people. I just feel so lost. I can only imagine what they are going through. I know they feel lost too.

This woman is such a strong caring person and all of her kids look to her with such admiration. I understand why.. and she has been so kind to me as well for all the time I have known her. It feels like these things always happen to the best people.

I want to be a good partner, especially during this. I am doing my best to take care of the cooking, grocery shopping, and cleaning. I try and offer help and ask for updates, but I never want to be too pushy. I know dealing with this is a grieving process all in itself and the last thing I want is to stress anyone out.

The thing that makes this all even harder is I am disabled myself. I seem to get sick every other week which makes me feel so nervous because I don't want to get them or her sick. I have a syndrome that makes it hard for me to even walk sometimes.

I just feel so useless and I really don't want them to feel alone, especially dealing with another sick family member.

I am scared and I know they are too.

What can I do to help? Any and all advice is welcome.


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 1d ago

Stage 4 liver, bowel and lung cancer - supporting family

3 Upvotes

I've just found out my best friends spouse has stage 4 liver, bowel and lung cancer. What I know is that the liver has multiple issues which is the main concern.

They are going back to the hospital next week. It doesn't sound like there is much they can do.

To this end I want to know how I can best support them. I have offered to cook and clean so they can spend time together. They live a few hours away. I've said I will drop everything and stay in a hotel. I don't know how long she has left so I don't want to wait working out what how best to support.

Any additional tips would be appreciated.


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 1d ago

Need support

6 Upvotes

Yesterday, my stepfather died of cancer. My heart is broken. He was one of the best people in my life. I love him, I can’t realise this… I don’t know how to go on. Please tell me, how did you cope with the pain?


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 2d ago

How to stop being sad and live in the present?

18 Upvotes

Hey guys,

My mom is fighting stage 4 cancer, she has an aggressive type.

I know people say to take it day by day and focus on the now, but I just want to ask how?? It's in everything I do, everywhere I look, every conversation I have, every breathe I take, I just want to scream at the top of my lungs because it's all I can think about.

I get so annoyed at the world, that it keeps spinning, I just want it to stop and selfishly I want this to be over and not over at the same time.

Thanks for listening , im sure you all can relate.


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 1d ago

How to deal with the situation?

1 Upvotes

My father has OCD (health related fear) and he has stage 4 adenocarcinoma and adenomyosis. Plus he had a massive heart attack 6 months ago. He is 75. Rude, ill mannered, cancer didn't or couldn't justify his decade long bad behavior.

the oncologist is aware of his temper and the GP too, have up on him that if he thinks he has a problem with his health, that can be age related+cancer issues and no other medicine can fix his problems. Now he does not trust the current doctors. Apparently they misbehaved with him. I don't have any holidays due to his shenanigans and now he wants me to take him to hospital because he has flatulence!

How do I deal with this? I am so tired.


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 1d ago

How do I support my bf as he deals with his mother's recent cancer diagnosis?

2 Upvotes

My bf and I have been together 2.5 years and his mother has been given the unfortunate news that she may have less than a few years or even a few months left to live. The situation has left his entire family shaken and I have never experienced someone close to me get diagnosed with cancer and I feel like I am at a loss of words. The diagnosis came so fast as well and there has been barely any time for him to process what is happening, and on top of that he has a lot of life responsibilities. I want to be there for him but he says he will be too busy between taking care of his mother and with his personal stuff. I have offered to do small things to take off some of his work load but he will not accept it. I don't know what to do and I feel uncomfortable doing nothing, but I also know he has his own preference of receiving support. I try to check in with him as often as I can and offer to do things, but it also seems like he prefers to be with his friends. What can I do in the mean time?


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 2d ago

It’s been 22 days 💔

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114 Upvotes

When my dad first got admitted to the hospital, none of us realized it was the beginning of the end. His PleurX tube on the right side was clogged and his chest was filing with fluid— he had metastatic prostate cancer that spread to his lungs. We all thought it was going to be a short stay.

He was admitted on September 8th, a Tuesday. I hate Tuesdays now. We thought he’d be going home the next day or the day after, once doctors fixed the clog. Well, that didn’t happen. A few days later, he was still in there, still being told he’d be going home the next day, the next day, etc.

Then a week went by. He was still in there. On Thursday, September 17th, they pulled his PleurX tubes on both sides and gave him a chest tube on the right. I didn’t know that was happening so I took a half day and went up to the hospital to surprise him with a visit. He had just gotten back to his room after surgery, so he was sleeping. I talked to my stepmom for a couple hours until he woke up. He had been sleeping so peacefully. It was nice to see. He was pretty groggy and in pain, so I didn’t stay super long. I wanted him to rest.

On the way out, I stopped in at the gift shop. I don’t know why. I was on autopilot then— maybe I subconsciously knew things were about to get worse. I was looking at the stuffed animals and found a small Jellycat section. As soon as I laid eyes on the little white bunny, I knew she was mine. I picked her up and named her Hope before I had even gotten up to the register. I left, holding my little bunny to my chest as I walked out to my car. I couldn’t stop the tears that started to fall halfway across the parking lot. Once I was safely in my car, I broke down. I sobbed into her soft head for 20 minutes. I screamed at the sky. I begged a God I don’t know that I believe in to please, please not take my daddy. I needed my daddy, not God.

When I calmed down, I drove home. Hope came with me to every hospital visit after that. In fact, she hasn’t really left my side since I bought her. It’s what I needed— a little hope.

Fast forward to the next week. They took him down for a CT scan to place new PleurX tubes. The goal was to send him home on in-home hospice. The scan revealed it wasn’t fluid filling his chest cavity. It was a rapidly growing cancerous mass. PleurX tubes were no longer an option. There were no other options. Seeing the look of devastation on his face when they told him the new tubes weren’t an option was soul-shattering.

He was sent to a hospice facility on Thursday September 24th. I visited him every single day he was there. Things were initially good. He was only supposed to be there until they stabilized him enough to send him to in-home hospice care. Thursday was good. Friday was good. Then came Saturday. His last lucid day, Saturday September 26th.

He didn’t really want to eat his dinner. I could tell. But I was there and my brother was there and my stepmom was trying so hard to get him to eat. So he did. I know he did it for us. He was always more worried about us than he was himself. He truly was the best daddy in the world.

That night, he became too air hungry and agitated, so from that night on, he was kept pretty well sedated. No more talking. No more hugs. Just sleeping and gasping for air as the mass continued to consume the space he needed to breathe. Best believe that I was there on Sunday, even if he wouldn’t be awake. And Hope was with me too, of course. When I left on Sunday night, I kissed his head and I said, “I’ll see you tomorrow, daddy.” It’s what I said every time I left the hospital and every time I left the hospice center.

I took Monday the 28th off work and sat in his hospice room all day. He was snowed but would get agitated pretty often. My voice seemed to bring him comfort. He would yank his oxygen mask off, or try to, and I’d replace it while gently saying, “You have to leave that on, daddy.” He would relax when I spoke to him. Monday the 28th was when I kissed him and said, “Get some rest, daddy.”

I decided to work a half day on Tuesday the 29th. I spent the morning just getting ready to go up to the hospice center so I could start my day from there at noon. And so I did.

I hate Tuesdays.

That was the day he left. My brother and I were talking and laughing about our dogs while I was clearing up emails from all my out of office days and updating coworkers. My stepmom stepped out to take a walk around the grounds once I got there. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye as my brother was saying something. I turned to look. My dad had moved his head and his eyes had cracked open. I’d like to think he saw us. I saw his chest rise and fall. And then it was like his body deflated.

That was the moment his soul left. I know that was the moment his soul left his body. My eyes must have gone wide because my brother stopped mid sentence, looked at me, looked at him, and then it was a flurry of movement.

I slammed my laptop shut and said, “Go get mom.” He ran. Somehow, I was at my dad’s bedside and I had the remote in my hand. I was shaking. The agonal breathing had started. I called the nurse. They came in right after my brother and stepmom came in. I don’t even know how many times I said, “I love you, daddy. You’re the best daddy in the world.” The agonal breathing stopped. The nurse put her stethoscope to his chest in a few places.

At 2:29 PM on September 29th, 2026 and the age of 63, my daddy was gone. I was lucky to have the best daddy in the world for 34 years. It does not stop me from wishing for more. I feel robbed. It still doesn’t feel real.

One thing we always did as a family was the “I love you” hand sign 🤟🏼 the picture of him is from when he was still in the hospital and before hospice was on the table. I found a necklace this week with the hand sign pendant. It came today and the pendant was a little bigger than I was anticipating. I was initially going to put it on a bracelet instead— I wear his ashes in a pendant on a necklace now.

I couldn’t think of any better place for it to go instead than on Hope ❤️‍🩹 part of me would like to believe that, since I had her with me, maybe a little piece of his soul is latched onto her. Silly, I know.

As days continue to go by, I feel worse. It gets harder to cope with knowing I’ll never call him again. I’ll never get another text or Facebook reel from him. What I have is all I’ll ever have. I’ll now be living 45+ years without him. He should still be here. I should have had 20+ more years with my daddy.

It’s not fair. I’m only 34 and there are so many things he didn’t get to see me do. I have never missed anyone as much as I miss my dad. I write to him in a journal nearly every day. It helps but it isn’t the same.

I love you, daddy 🤟🏼


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 2d ago

Grateful for expedited wedding license in UK

6 Upvotes

Last week Wednesday, my partner of 10 years received a terminal diagnosis & prognosis that is incredibly short. It was a huge shock, as he was completely find just a couple of months ago.

He has a 1 in a million cancer - ACC. He is only in his fifties, and he had beat cancer once before as a teenager - unrelated.

It is insane to me how we ended up at this junction. He is declining every day. Palliative care have been incredible this past week, the consultant comes to visit us every day, nurses call, Physio immediately brought us a hospital bed and all sorts of equipment to make things easier.

Ans mostly - their social worker fought hard for us and arranged an emergency wedding license for us. Monday she came by, Wednesday the consultant sent the letter confirming his terminal and non-mobile diagnosis to the registrar's office - today I went and sorted everything. The license was granted by the registrar general and tomorrow morning they will come to our home to marry us.

Absolutely unbelievable this is necessary - we are planning a celebration for next weekend which he may not live to see as he is declining so fast. He asked that we use it as his funeral if he can't make it as all our loved ones will be together with a nice paid for meal.

He has taken this so much better than I could have imagined and I absolutely can't fathom being married and widowed within a matter of days or weeks.

Life is cruel, Cancer sucks, and nobody deserves this - least of all him. He has been through so much, and has spent his whole life just fighting for animals, people, rights for all and justice for all.

Happy-Sad occasion tomorrow, yet I am grateful we get the chance to do it - other's might not be so lucky.


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 2d ago

I can't sleep

7 Upvotes

My father just got diagnosed with cancer, it is stage 4. I can be quite positive and take care of other family members during the day, but at night I struggle to sleep. I start to get scared of waking up to another day not knowing when will be the end of this. I stay up late and cry randomly every night because I don't have time to process this emotionally during the day.

Everyone is telling me to be strong to support other family members coz I am the "most mature" and "strongest" mentally. I don't have the best relationship with my father, and I thought I will be fine. But only when crying uncontrollably at night do I realized how much this is breaking my heart. Instead of looking forward to spending more quality time with him creating more memories it feels like im living with countdown.

Words can't describe how much this feels like a nightmare.


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 2d ago

My dad is in hospice care

4 Upvotes

Long story short, my dad has 3-6 months to live,
It is really very hard to cop up that he will not be there, he is the most jolly person you will ever meet, will 10/10 crack a joke at the toughest situations you will ever meet, he does this every single day, but also tells us who to trust and who not to, I never thought we will ever be having these discussions but man it is hard, and it was yesterday when he was telling us all this and my mom interrupted him saying the kids will figure it out you dont need to worry, he is very brave but tears filled his eyes, it is getting really hard for me.

I am a very ambivert person, i rarely open up even with my closest friends but i somehow started drinking everyday and during these weak time i realised how important it is to speak up to people and your friends specially.

I never did, but this time i did, the support you get from ur friends is insane please if anyone is going through this i wish you strength and i will request you to open up, Atleast with your close friends.

All i wanted to ask is what can i do it to make it better, for my dad and my mom, my dad is 49 and i am m25 anything you feel you missed or could have been done better would be a appreciated.

Thanks!


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 1d ago

My dad probably has oesophageal cancer - any advice or info for me?

1 Upvotes

Hello all.

About a month or two ago my dad had a period of diarrhoea which resolved on its own and was then followed by rapid - and I do mean rapid - weight loss. He was a big and quite broad sort of bloke thanks to his warehouse job, and now he’s skin and bone. He also couldn’t tolerate food, just zero appetite and instant fullness.

Two weeks ago he was sent for a CT scan which found nothing. Despite this, he could still feel a lump in his stomach that was corroborated by a doctor so he was sent for an endoscopy. The endoscopy technician (doctor?) looked a bit grim and said that he could see a lump. It’s considered to be potentially malignant. Four biopsies have been taken, and we have 28 days to see whether or not this lump (38 cm from incisors) is going to be considered cancerous.

So far he’s not having any trouble swallowing and there’s no vomiting. Some fatigue, a lot of weight loss, full feeling, acid reflux are the main symptoms. He thinks he has some back pain but it’s hard to tell.

I don’t know what to do now. All signs seem to indicate late stage oesophageal cancer. I’m despondent. How the hell do you deal with this? What a terrible outcome.


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 1d ago

Lung cancer Ireland

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I’m trying to find the best help and advice about Lung Cancer for late stage for relative.

The healthcare in Ireland is constantly delayed even when tumor is 10cm large , coughing blood and it causes so much stress when appointments for consultants don’t come until 2 weeks, scans/testong another 2 weeks and treatments for another 2 weeks. It’s truly heartbreaking knowing your life is on the line.

Can I ask people with lung cancer, where have you had treatments done that you would recommend? Which hospital or county in Ireland?

What type of treatments is best?

And any other tips you would give? I’m at a loss of where to start

Thank you for any help you can give 🙏


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 2d ago

scared of what’s to come but also.. yolo?

4 Upvotes

my mom was diagnosed at 57 with stage 4 triple negative breast cancer 2 years ago with lung and skull mets. she didn’t want to spend her time suffering instead of living so she opted for minimal treatment with radiation, surgery, oral chemo so she could still travel and have quality of life. we’re so lucky for all the time we’ve gotten

a few months ago it spread to her brain in two large tumors and has continued to grow on her skull, and we just found out recently it’s in multiple bones as well. she was exhausted after the brain radiation and decided to pause treatment and just live her life. the doctors are recommending brain surgery since the radiation didn’t work but she doesn’t think she’ll survive it and/or it’ll just be recovery after recovery.

the last week she’s finally been able to sleep and while still fatigued, she’s more like herself. she’s only 59 and has a long list of places she wants to travel to. and i want her to see everything, as much as possible, even though i know it’ll never be enough. no doctor seems to care to tell me how risky it is for her to be on a plane with her brain tumors. i’m thinking… yolo?

idk how much longer we have where she’s relatively healthy, im also terrified of the what if’s and what’s to come — i know eventually there will be more pain and complications. one of skull tumors started to be painful to touch a few days ago :/

im torn between let’s just go!! why would we wait at home to die. versus god what if it all goes south. but i think id rather regret going than not going? what if the travel makes her worse


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 2d ago

My dad has stage 4 pancreatic cancer but he's still kicking it

4 Upvotes

I'm just waiting for him to start slowing down. They said he has a year or less left but a lot of people say that people go downhill fast. That I should be preparing with him.

I'm terrified for him but he's just living like he's dying (yes like the song lol)


r/CancerFamilySupport • • 2d ago

How to cope with the decision for palliative care being the best?

3 Upvotes

I know it is best because she suffering, but I am really struggling with the fact my Mum maybe no longer be here in a few months. My children's grandmother, my Dad's wife of over 50 years, just gone.

Yes, she is here now and we are making this time left absolutely worth it, but how do you get through this?