Comforting a Glioblastoma patient

[Bran777]

How do I comfort a 24 year old boy who has Glioblastoma Stage IV. He has had many treatments. He has a seizure a week ago and he came home and is very angry. I just want to know what to say to him to comfort him. I find myself staring into space when he says something like I'm gonna die. He's 24 and my best friends son. I wanna help. Please any advice is appreciated

[Rain_On_Me]

Hi, I am sorry to hear about your best friends Son.

It is lovely of you to want to help and comfort him and to also support your best friend.

I imagine that it feels awkward for you at the moment and you don't know what to say or do incase it is the wrong thing?

Please don't worry about this as I am sure that your best friends Son and your best friend know that you care deeply for them both and you have only got good intentions.

I guess that he is feeling very angry about the Glioblastoma diagnosis and the treatments that he has already received?

He possibly feels like he has been dealt a really bad hand in life and the world is against him?

Due to him having a seizure a week ago, he is possibly thinking that it is progressing fast....who knows what he is thinking or feeling deep down? He's possibly frightened too? Bless him, he's only 24 years old.

I would be very angry too!

He could do with channelling his anger at something....possibly creative?

I just thought....

maybe you could help him with a creative journal? This would give you time together and possibly talking time also?

He could write down his thoughts and feelings, he could paint, draw and colour his emotions- almost like art therapy? He could also put Photographs in the journal and anything that he wants to really....

Just an idea, and also a way to reflect?

I really hope that you can find a way to talk with him and comfort him.

I am thinking of you all.

Love xx 💝 xx

[Bran777 in reply to Rain_On_Me]

Thank you for responding. I wanna sit and do this with himbut wont it make him more depressed going thru pictures and not knowing if he will see these people anymore? I will try going thru his tools with him as that is his passion... cars, fixing cars, and a ton of tools he has. Thank you again.

[Rain_On_Me in reply to Bran777]

Hi, I am sorry if the creative journal idea that I had wasn't very helpful. The journal doesn't have to include photographs- that was just a suggestion. He could include anything that he wanted to. Art therapy is good for releasing emotions. To be honest I don't know if it will make him feel more depressed or not by looking at Photographs but as I said, he doesn't have to do that if he doesn't want to.

Why don't you ask him what he would like to do with you?

🚘 I hope going through his tools and talking about Cars is successful for you xx

[Bran777 in reply to Rain_On_Me]

Thanks! I meant no disrespect re the photographs.

[Greenhair]

epilepsy is horrible and scary, I'm lucky I've only had 2 fits in 10 months

empathy may help in face of the unpredictable

be able to talk to friends about what to do in a crisis to protect him

cushion under head etc - I collapsed on the pavement and got very bruised

not easy to reassure anyone about dying - another factor of the unknown

showing a willing to help will also help and the issue is affecting younger

I'm 52 but know patients of 36 and 10

but research and trials are making great progress

journal is a really good idea too - I didn't want a notebook at first but writing helps

good luck!