Blue Lulu Posted October 14, 2019 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 77 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 1,271 Content Per Day: 0.57 Reputation: 2,289 Days Won: 1 Joined: 02/19/2018 Status: Offline Share Posted October 14, 2019 My sister has cancer and will be having 5 weeks of chemo and radiation. She is also the caregiver for my father who has Alzheimers. I will be caregiving them both. I was wondering if anyone has any tips for me to help my sister be as comfortable as possible during this difficult time? Prayers for me would be greatly appreciated. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ayin jade Posted October 14, 2019 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 44 Topic Count: 6,178 Topics Per Day: 0.88 Content Count: 43,784 Content Per Day: 6.23 Reputation: 11,227 Days Won: 58 Joined: 01/03/2005 Status: Offline Popular Post Share Posted October 14, 2019 Just now, Blue Lulu said: My sister has cancer and will be having 5 weeks of chemo and radiation. She is also the caregiver for my father who has Alzheimers. I will be caregiving them both. I was wondering if anyone has any tips for me to help my sister be as comfortable as possible during this difficult time? Prayers for me would be greatly appreciated. I spent the last 14 or so months getting treatment for cancer. Chemo is miserable. She may experience "chemo brain" which means her mind will be dulled and she wont think too clearly. Be patient with her. She may feel awful, sicker than she has ever been before. She may feel humiliated by how weak and sick she is, by the side effects and by how much help she needs. She may get distressed by the changes in her body. Losing my hair was the easy part for me, compared to 50 pounds of water weight in my legs, mouth sores, changes in taste so that all food and drink was revolting. She may feel like she is a burden since she cant be a caregiver but instead needs to be cared for herself. Be patient. Be kind. Be supportive. I remember crying the first time I got a card from someone. I was feeling isolated at the time and the card showed me someone cared. Let her see that you care. Not that she is a burden. She will need all the love she can get. Cancer is an emotional and spiritual battle as much as it is a physical battle. 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovethelord Posted October 14, 2019 Group: Senior Member Followers: 4 Topic Count: 2 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 667 Content Per Day: 0.38 Reputation: 1,540 Days Won: 0 Joined: 06/17/2019 Status: Offline Share Posted October 14, 2019 Hi Blue Lulu, I helped my sister through her breast cancer chemo. She is a Christian who tried to understand why God was allowing this in her life. She tried to have a very positive attitude but in the end what she needed most from me was to just listen to her. She went through many differing emotions ups & downs depending on what she was feeling dayt0day. Like Ayin mentioned, even the joy of eating was taken from her. Her food had a metallic taste and nothing nothing tasted good. You would think she would loss weight since she didn't eat much, but she gained weight from medications! Reading the bible, focusing on certain verses, being surrounded by family members and music seemed to help. You know your sister best. Go by your instincts and just be patients to her needs and requests. I helped take care of my mother-in-law for almost 3 years who had Alzheimers. Honestly, it was difficult to care for her. She was mean and stubborn. I don't know all the details having to do with your father but again, just be patient. Anything he may say if it's not nice, don't take it personally. It's the progression of the disease. I will pray for you, your sister and father for guidance, strength, healing and much love upon you all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOrangeCat Posted October 15, 2019 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 57 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 1,382 Content Per Day: 0.27 Reputation: 1,797 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/24/2009 Status: Offline Share Posted October 15, 2019 Rough situation there. If at all possible don't do it alone. Having been on call 24/7 for a prolonged period of time I can say it's an extreme drain. Additionally my mother did some home health care for people who needed daily care. It was standard practice for them to have two or more caregivers on the same patient where one would work so many days a week and the other(s) would work the rest. With regards to the Alzheimers, my experience is that people with dementia range all the way from being super sweet to being utter nightmares. A lot of patience and self control is needed if you get the latter. Even if you get the former don't be surprised if they have outbursts here and there. It's just the nature of the disease and the sort of stress it puts on them. Once dementia hits a certain point they often end up living in a world that's different from the one we're in. It's important to keep that in mind. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayin jade Posted October 16, 2019 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 44 Topic Count: 6,178 Topics Per Day: 0.88 Content Count: 43,784 Content Per Day: 6.23 Reputation: 11,227 Days Won: 58 Joined: 01/03/2005 Status: Offline Share Posted October 16, 2019 Given how many I know on this forum who are dealing with cancer themselves, or as a caretaker or even just a friend of someone with cancer, I have started a club for cancer. https://www.worthychristianforums.com/clubs/36-triumph-over-cancer/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prycejosh1987 Posted July 13, 2020 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 1 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 1,176 Content Per Day: 0.86 Reputation: 126 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/07/2020 Status: Offline Birthday: 04/29/1987 Share Posted July 13, 2020 On 10/14/2019 at 1:04 AM, Blue Lulu said: My sister has cancer and will be having 5 weeks of chemo and radiation. She is also the caregiver for my father who has Alzheimers. I will be caregiving them both. I was wondering if anyone has any tips for me to help my sister be as comfortable as possible during this difficult time? Prayers for me would be greatly appreciated. Just do your best and have their best interests at heart. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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