Helping a Loved One with Cancer

mkleslie · New User Joined: 10 Jun 2006 Posts: 3 Location: CA

My daughter's dad (my ex) is going through chemo right now for melanoma. He actually takingInterferon treatments and will start his chemotherapy injections soon.

Our concern has been that he is angry and totally isolating himself from everyone. My daughter tells me her dad will not answer his phone most of the time, goes days without returning her calls, when he does call her he is down and usually short with her. She said he is talking irrational -- says he is going to stop his treatments, worried he won't have his job when he can return to work and even talks about leaving town.

She would like to visit him and spend time with him but he keeps her at a distance. I know he is worried and scared. I have read Interferon can cause severe depression, anxiety, flu like symptoms, and the list goes on.

I hate that I'm not there to comfort my daughter, she is only 22 years old. I live in another state. I know she feels helpless and doesn't know what to do. I have encouraged her to find a support group or go talk with her church minister. And of course call me when she needs to talk. Very Happy

Her dad knows that we are here to support him and help him in anyway we can but he is pushing us away. I assume this is probably normal for someone that has been diagnosis with cancer, plus the side effects to treatment.

I sent him an email since he doesn't return my calls just to let him know that we are here for him. I know he is worried about having enough money to pay his bills since he isn't getting paid while out of work. He is thankful to have excellent health insurance to pay for his medical expenses.

We have thought about having having a fundraiser or auction to help raise money for him financial.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Blessings,
Leslie
_________________
Celebrate Your Beauty!

DJW

Leslie, I am in a similar position. Please understand that you are only at the tip of the iceberg at this point. Please be patient, and ask your daughter to do the same. You can't correct this today, but instead, knock..knock..knock...eventually he will answer. Patience and perseverence is what is needed now.
_________________
As Mother Angelica said when asked why God allows bad things to happen: "If it weren't for life's tragedies most of us would never even take one second to pray." It is only in suffering that we acknowlege our own mortality.

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Coping and Support	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others