My Mother has Rhabdomyosarcoma
I have no idea even where to begin here...I guess I'll just spill my guts and let it all out. My Mother has a rare cancer usually found in Children or young Adults, she is 77 years of age and has Rhabdomyosarcoma. It's as big as a grapefruit and started growing on her groin then into her stomach. The Doctor spoke with my sister who lives in Victoria and had told my sister my Mother had two days to live, that was nine days ago. my sister on hearing this rushed here to NSW to see her mother, having a young family my sister couldnt stay long, and is now back home, she will never see her mother alive again. Although being told what she has and what will happen, both my Mother and Father believe Mum is going home. My Father is 80 years old and a stroke victim, and cant look after himself let alone look after Mum, yet he hasnt left her side since she has been in Hospital.
He sleeps in a chair beside her. Our family hadnt spoke to eachother for years until Mum was put in Hospital with this cancer, we have all rallied around her and put the past in the past, except for Mum, even on her death bed she is very cruel. Dont get me wrong, I'd shag the Pope if I thought it would cure her. Dad has no funeral plans in place and had asked me to phone around and see what the costs are, then after doing this he didnt want to know about it, as if he had turned himself off to the real world. This is all new to me, but cancer sucks big time. you see or hear it happen to others yet it only seems to hit home when it's one of your own. Dad has asked what will happen to him when Mum passes, then each time you talk to him he has changed his mind.
I feel absolutely terrible knowing that I can not do a thing. I dont even know what will happen to dad as he too is set in his ways. The food at the Hospital is shit, the service is shit, the doctor is shit, in fact the thought of losing my Mum is shit.
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Re: My Mother has Rhabdomyosarcoma
Chris..I know where your coming from with the Relo,s..My youngest brother refuses to come and visit my mother, his excuse is...there has been too much said over the years and he doesnt want to see her.
I told him you cant change the past, but you can change now, he still refuses to come. We are now into week 3 of my mother being told she has 2 days to live, as stated before I would do anything to cure her, but the reality is, she will not leave the Hospital, well alive that is.
I stay as strong as I can, but christ its very hard to sit or stand there watching your my die. She is in pain but refuses to tell anyone as she believes it is the Morphine thats going to kill her. The cancer has grown rapidly since she has been in hospital,I have never lost a family member as yet, well 2 uncles and an aunty but I was to young to remember this. The nurses say she will pass sooner than later, what is sooner than later, for christ sake, this month is sooner than December, what are they on about...The whole thing SUCKS...
Also thanks Sailor, talk about sailor, my dad is a gold card navy vet, he now seems set he is packing up and moving to my sisters in Melbourne when mum passes, I mentioned a nursing home where he can get the care he needs, point blank NO was his reply...It seems I cant solve any other issues so I guess I just continue to watch my mother die...How F#*&%D is this world and cancer...
Thanks for listening to me raving on...
Re: My Mother has Rhabdomyosarcoma
Hi Lithgow Mick. I know where you are coming from. My 83 yrold dad has oesophageus cancer and not long to go. You are at least lucky that your family has rallied around. I have 2 brothers and when dad had a stent put in 3weeks ago and all went so bad they both rang him but 1 brother who only lives 1hr away didn't even bother to go see him. Other brother drives trucks interstate and I could understand why he couldn't be there. My daughter and I drove 6hrs round trip to see him and I know he appreciated it. I am in the process at the moment of trying to get my dad to move down with me but I think he thinks it will be too much of a burden on me. And maybe it wlso my dad is so positive and ill but he is my dad and my rock and strength and I want to do all I can for him in his last ?. I know we always take our parents for granted but when this horrible disease takes over we are left feeling SO helpless. I just wish I had more support from my brothers who say "he is 83 what do you expect". To me that is horrible. My dad is so positive and just worries about me so I should be greatful for that. I just need to spend every moment that I can with him. Take care of yourself. Regards Chris
Re: My Mother has Rhabdomyosarcoma
G'day Lithgow Mick
Firstly contact the Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20 they are a great source of information that you will find helpful - anyone can contact them it doesn't have to be the patient. Some of the cancer councils have a carers cancer connect - ask to talk to someone who has been through a similar situation when you contact the helpline..
If you want to know a bit more about the cancer then the American Cancer Society website has some good information:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_is_rhabdomyosa...
Also the information on wikipedia is pretty good as well.
All of your family must be in a state of shock and it is hardly surprising that your Dad feels helpless in all of this and is constantly changing his mind. You must feel pretty helpless as well.
Ask to see the social worker in at the hospital, they should have some good information and certainly advice about what you need to do at this stage - the awful practicalities.
Hang in there and look after yourself - your no help to the family if you fall in a heap and it sounds like you are the family anchor just at the moment.
Take care
Sailor
O God, thy sea is so great, and my boat is so small. Breton Fishermen’s prayer