Did you have a parent or spouse die of cancer? How old were they?

Question

My mom died of over a week ago. She died on her 64th birthday. She had breast cancer, but died of sepsis. She was diagnosed 3 years ago and it seems that she suffered for about the last 4 months.

I miss her.

Answer 1

I am very very sorry for your loss. I am 34 and my father died of cancer when he was 52 (it will be five years ago this Thanksgiving). He was originally diagnosed with arthritis. When things weren't responding to treatment he went back to the doctor and was told that x-rays showed lumps in his legs and neck. He should have gone for further testing but he was scared and in denial I think and so he blew it off. Things got progressively worse amazingly quickly and when doctors finally told us what was really wrong with him (he hadn't told any of us about any of this) it was far too late. He had a very aggressive form of cancer called spindle cell sarcoma which attacked his bones and muscles.

I do still miss him of course. I don't think that that will ever go away. But things do get better, slowly but surely, day by day. It helps to talk to people and just let things out whenever you need to-don't hold it in. That first year after my father's death I made no apologies to anyone if I felt like just breaking down and crying right then and there. People understood.

That following summer I lost my grandfather (my father's father) to complications due to lung cancer and three months after that I lost my grandmother (my father's mother) to colon cancer which doctors believed metastasized from her lymphoma. Both grandparents were 74 and had battled their cancers for several years. I wasn't going to mention them as well but I saw on here that several other people have had multiple cancers in their families and I suddenly felt not alone in the intense grief I felt that whole year. Nor are you alone. People understand what you are going through and empathize.

God bless.

Answer 2

My father passed away 5 years ago at age 65 as the result of very fast growing colon cancer. It is always a very difficult ordeal to lose a parent or any other family member. My dad was diagnosed in November and given 2 months to live by the doctors. He lasted just over 6. The last couple months were very hard, as the cancer spread to other organs, and he was in severe pain. Cancer is an insidious and treacherous disease, and tough to beat, depending on the type and how soon it is diagnosed.

I am hoping that the cure for this disease will be found at some point during my lifetime.

One more thing...there is a strong genetic tie with cancers, so I suggest you be very dilligent about yearly mammograms to ensure you have the upper hand on any possibility that you may contract the disease as well.

Answer 3

My sympathy is with you, I had a father die when he was 58 of Prostrate Cancer. The loss of a parent is always a sad time and all I can suggest is to let the grieving process occur because the sooner you let it all out the better and then you can get on with the remembering bit, that is remembering all the good times and all the teaching you received from your parent. Life is unfortunately something that has an end in a physical way but thoughts and memories can always go on forever. Have you thought of doing something special that will always make you remember your mother. Plant a tree a big tree that will become even bigger over the years.Then whenever you think of her you can go visit the tree and think, talk or whatever you want to do with her in mind. Good Luck.

Answer 4

My great grandmother passed away in the Summer of 2002 from stomach cancer, then my grandfather in late Fall of lung cancer that same year. My great grandmother was about 73 and my grandpa about 61. It was kindof hard that year - starting school and everything. I think I missed a month and a half of my first year of highschool visiting my grandpa. I think about them sometimes and the memories.

I'm sorry about your loss. I couldn't imagin my mom with "any" kind of cancer. It would just be too hard. But on the bright side, time will heel all wounds and you'll gain strength from all this - I did.
Everything's going to be okay

Answer 5

I'm very sorry for your loss.

My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer in March of 1995. The doctors gave him 1-2 years with treatment, both radiation and chemotherapy, but they were wrong. The cancer had spread to his brain also. He died December 30, 1995. My dad was 57 years old when he passed away.

I still miss him, but as the years have passed, the grief is not as severe as it was. I hope time will help ease your sorrow too.

Answer 6

Yes, My Mom died at age 65 with liver cancer, one week before Thanksgiving of '99. My 2nd son was born 2 weeks after my Mom passed away. I missed her very much. Some time I felt like I haven't done enough for her, but truly, I did. I'm sorry to hear your lost. Don't forget, she'll always be in your heart and memories.

Answer 7

I lost both my parents when I was 7. My father had a massive coronary & this was unexpected. My mother died of cancer. They were both 42 years old. It's been many years ago but I still miss them both every single day.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Time will make it easier to find coping tools & it will take the edge off the grief, but you will always feel the absense of your loved ones....and after so many years, I'm finally glad because unlike some who lost parents even younger than me that don't even remember them. I've never forgotten.

Answer 8

My grandmother died about 9yrs ago from melanoma. She was 69 yrs old. And she was diagnosed about 4-5 yrs before she died.
She had a tumor behind her eye, so they removed her eye. And about a year later they found the skin cancer.
She was in chemo until they gave her 3-6 months to live, and a week later she passed away.
They later told us they thought she had 3-6 months to live when they first diagnosed her and she lived 4 yrs after the initial diagnosis.
It was devestating because I was 14 and she was my mother, I grew up with my grandparents, not my parents.

Answer 9

My dad died with cancer 4 months before he turned 70. He had colon cancer and was diagnosed in November and passed away in March.

Answer 10

i lost my husband 6 yrs ago to liver cancer.I also lost my mom 3 yrs ago to pancrease cancer,she was 63.she suffered horribly.Nothing helped her pain. she was diagnosed in july 03 and died october 03. I miss her so much but i know she's in a better place and her pain is gone. Not a day goes by that i don't think about her