Family support

[Mellowmarshmallow]

Hi,

My sister in her early 30th was diagnosed with a brain tumor a couple of months ago and I would like to know how you and your family dealt with similar diagnosis?

I feel like my parent are in some kind of way in denial. The support from them are not great , they don’t know how to communicate with her due to her mood being up and down because of the medication she is on and her feeling like everything is against her which leads her to getting stressed out and angry at them.

I need advises on how the family can support my sister as best as we can? At the moment all the support she is getting is from me and she is starting to feel guilty as I’m her younger sister.

[Hollowhead]

My three adult children & I discussed potential outcomes of surgery from death, vegetative state through to complete recovery in detail. I updated my Will and made all three LPAs in the event of undesired outcomes. We found talking frankly & openly the best way for us and continue to do so.

[IMOPJF Community Champion Community Champion]

Hi there - that sounds like a lot of pressure on you at the moment if you are the one feeling that you have to keep the peace and that you are the only support for your sister. You may want to get some support for yourself (the Brain Tumour Charity offer counselling for example). With regards to your parents, it’s very hard to tell others what to do but if you could try and gently keep explaining to them that it’s not always within your sister’s control how she acts towards them. It doesn’t always help in the moment, but it might gradually help them understand a bit better. Best of luck to you and your family, remember to look after yourself too in all of this! X